One of the richest, creamiest soups around, bisque is traditionally a puree of seafood, rice, and cream. This luscious version is New Orleans’s eating at its finest. The elegant flavors call for little more than an equally impressive white wine to serve alongside this dish. The aromatic vegetables, tomatoes, tarragon, and liqueur make this recipe particularly distinctive.
You might want to reserve a few whole shrimp for garnish (or simply sauté a few extra). This recipe makes a lot, but it freezes well.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 10 to 12 servings
Ingredients
Preparation
Heat the butter in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, celery, carrots, and scallions and cook, stirring, for about 10 minutes, then add the garlic and shrimp and cook 3 more minutes. Add the tomato dice, tomato paste, shrimp stock, 4 cups water, and bay leaf and stir. Bring it to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir in the rice and tarragon and cook another 20 minutes, until rice is completely soft. Let it cool for about 10 minutes. Carefully puree in a blender, in batches if necessary, and strain through a fine sieve into another pot. Whisk in the cream, brandy, and Herbsaint and taste for seasoning. Add salt and hot sauce and adjust consistency as desired with water, stock, or more cream. Serve hot, garnished with scallions or chives.
