This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The FN chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and, therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.
Ingredients
- 4 (1 1/2-pound) lobsters
- 1 1/2 cups tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped onion
- 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped celery, including leaves
- 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped carrot
- 1 sprig thyme
- 3 sprigs flat-leaf parsley, plus extra, for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon saffron
- 6 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup cream sherry
- 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
Directions
Fill large stockpot with water and bring to a boil. There should be enough water to cover lobsters completely when immersed. Place live lobsters in boiling water head first to minimize splashing. When water re-boils, turn down the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Do not overcook lobsters. Remove lobsters from the pot using tongs; save all the water in stockpot as this is now a flavorful stock to be re-used.
Place 10 cups of stock in a clean stockpot and put on low heat. Clean claws and tails of lobsters and reserve meat, legs, and swimmerets. After lobsters are cleaned, place shells in stockpot with 10 cups of stock. Cut bodies in quarters and place in stockpot, making sure to include all roe and tomalley in pot. Add 1 cup tomato paste and simmer on low heat for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to have heat so high as to burn stock. Pour entire contents of pot through sieve into clean stockpot; this should now be 8 cups of glorious red stock.
Place onions, celery, carrots, thyme, parsley and saffron in a large saute pan, add 4 cups stock from original stock pot and put on high heat for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup tomato paste and black pepper. Turn down heat and simmer 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Press entire contents of saute pan through sieve into stockpot of 8 cups previously made stock.
To finish Bisque, put pot on medium heat. Add heavy cream slowly, using whisk to blend. Add sherry. Simmer on low heat for 20 minutes; bisque will thicken slightly. Mix cornstarch with 1/4 cup water and slowly add to bisque with whisk. Simmer on low heat for another 20 minutes.
If you prefer your bisque to be thicker, you may add more cornstarch, or perhaps, flour, but have found the bisque thickens nicely over low heat, and additional cornstarch or flour takes away from the wonderful flavor.
Place pieces of previous cleaned lobster meat in bowl and add 1 cup of bisque. Garnish with legs and swimmerets around the bowl and one parsley leaf in center, if desired.
Photo: Lobster Bisque Recipe

















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By stcancook
on April 04, 2013
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This is a classic lobster bisque recipe that turned out delicious . It is the preparation time that needs to be considered as the veggies need to be sautéed and then the sieving of the ingredients. I tried it because I wanted the real deal and was willing to put the time into it as I had a bag of lobster shells in my freezer and wanted to make a gourmet rich lobster bisque. It turned out fabulous. Of course the whipping cream and sherry add to the rich final touches. I saved some broth without the cream and froze it for another day.
By kambgood
Bristol, CT
on February 03, 2013
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I have been looking for a bisque recipe that does not use paprika because of the flavor paprika imparts. Never thought to use tomato paste. If you follow this recipe It comes out beautiful. Great taste creamy very full of lobster flavor. Excellent. The one thing I found helpful was during the mirepoix cooking I kept adding a little of the reserved lobster stock during cooking and it is important to stir it often
By omnivofoodie
on December 24, 2012
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Just made this, as an afterthought after devouring a steamed lobster.What I did differently from the recipe was to use replacement ingredients: Ketchup! blasphemous! but had no tomato paste. Rice cooking wine instead of sherry; again, didn't have. I sauteed finely chopped vegs in olive oil, not butter, left out the carrots, and used onions-had no shallots, & when translucent added some bisque liquid; whipped to a smooth slip with electric whisk and added back to pot of bisque. All else pretty much according to the recipe except I used a bit less heavy cream than the recipe suggested. Fresh chopped cilantro (my favorite! went into the bowl after ladling the soup. Even with my alterations, it is still absolutely delicious. Great recipe! You can play with this recipe: be courageous!
But next time I make lobster I'm going to make sure I have all the correct bisque ingredients on hand, per this recipe, and I'm sure it will be even more brilliant!
Read all 46 reviews