Bisque

Bisque is a creamy, smooth soup that is typically made from seafood. The word "bisque" is French in origin, and it originally referred to a thick, creamy soup made from lobster. These days, bisque can be made from a variety of different ingredients, but the most popular recipes still call for seafood.

Bisque recipes have been around for centuries, and the dish has been enjoyed by people all over the world. The first recorded recipe for bisque dates back to 1691, and it was included in a French cookbook. The cookbook, titled Le Cuisinier Royal et Bourgeois, was written by François Massialot.

The recipe for bisque that is included in Massialot's cookbook is quite different from the bisque recipes of today. It calls for the use of live lobsters, which would be boiled and then ground up into a paste. This paste would then be mixed with cream and egg yolks to create the soup.

Advice

When making bisque, it's important to be mindful of the ingredients and flavors you use, as the final outcome will depend on them. Start by using high-quality seafood and fresh vegetables, as they will really enhance the flavor of the dish. Additionally, sautéing the vegetables before adding them to the soup will help bring out their natural sweetness. Lastly, be sure to season with salt, pepper and other herbs and spices to give the bisque a more complex and flavorful taste.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Crab and Shrimp Seafood Bisque

  • heavy cream
  • tomato paste
  • black pepper
  • celery
  • green onion
  • sherry wine
  • milk
  • all purpose flour
  • green onion
  • butter
  • shrimp
  • crabmeat
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Lobster Bisque

  • cayenne pepper
  • salt
  • heavy cream
  • sherry
  • carrot
  • onion
  • grain white rice
  • fish stock
  • olive oil
  • tomato paste
  • garlic
  • live lobster
  • celery
  • tarragon
  • thyme
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Rustic Shrimp Bisque

  • lemon juice
  • shrimp
  • bay leaf
  • fennel
  • salt
  • grain rice
  • cayenne pepper
  • brandy
  • tomato paste
  • celery
  • garlic
  • leek
  • white wine
  • thyme
  • butter
  /public/immaculate-bites-logo.svg

Lobster Bisque

  • heavy cream
  • tomato paste
  • thyme
  • creole seasoning
  • white wine
  • onion
  • paprika
  • white pepper
  • celery
  • cayenne pepper
  • olive oil
  • worcestershire sauce
  • garlic
  • lobster stock
  • butter
  • lobster tail
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Butternut-Squash Bisque

  • crème fraîche
  • salt
  • ginger
  • butternut squash
  • pod star anise
  • tarragon
  • fennel
  • all purpose flour
  • vermouth
  • pumpkinseed
  • cayenne pepper
  • cognac
  • lime juice
  • garlic
  • tomato juice
  • butter
  • double smoked bacon
  • lobster stock
  • pods green cardamom
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Classic Lobster Bisque

  • celery
  • sherry
  • heavy cream
  • shallot
  • tomato paste
  • garlic
  • cornstarch
  • bay leaf
  • lobster
  • fish stock
  • water
  • butter
  /public/immaculate-bites-logo.svg

Shrimp Bisque

  • heavy cream
  • tomato paste
  • thyme
  • creole seasoning
  • celery
  • shrimp
  • butter
  • bay leaf
  • thyme
  • white wine
  • onion
  • paprika
  • onion
  • white pepper
  • celery
  • black peppercorn
  • salt
  • cayenne pepper
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • garlic
  • worcestershire sauce
  • shrimp stock
  • butter
  • garlic
  • water
  • olive oil
  • salt
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

French-Style Lobster Bisque

  • cognac
  • paprika
  • chicken stock
  • heavy cream
  • white wine
  • black pepper
  • lobster meat
  • carrot
  • onion
  • salt
  • milk
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Lobster Bisque

  • lobster
  • steak sauce
  • sherry
  • butter
  • milk
  • all purpose flour
  • black pepper
  • salt
  /public/themodernproper-logo.svg

Simple Seafood Bisque

  • 16oz creamed corn
  • green onion
  • tony' cajun seasoning
  • crawfish meat
  • butter
  • half
  • heavy cream
  • cayenne pepper
  • bay seasoning
  • salt
  • all purpose flour
  • crab meat
  • shrimp meat
  • black pepper
  /public/seriouseats.svg

Lobster Bisque Recipe

  • cayenne pepper
  • coriander seed
  • salt
  • chive
  • white wine
  • butter
  • bay leaf
  • heavy cream
  • olive oil
  • brandy
  • tomato paste
  • carrot
  • onion
  • parsley
  • tarragon
  • live lobster
  • celery
  • garlic
  • chicken stock
  /public/savor-the-best-logo.webp

Corn and Shrimp Bisque

  • cream
  • dill
  • thyme
  • potato
  • onion
  • bell pepper
  • milk
  • white wine
  • parmesan cheese
  • salt
  • all purpose flour
  • black pepper
  • chicken broth
  • corn
  • olive oil
  • celery
  • shrimp
  • dill
  • lemon lemon juice
  /public/themodernproper-logo.svg

Tomato Bisque with Fried Cheese

  • Tomato Bisque Recipe
  • onion
  • heavy cream
  • pepper
  • olive oil
  • tomato
  • bay leaf
  • carrot
  • chicken stock
  • salt
  • butter
  • basil
  • Fried Cheese
  • all purpose flour
  • block tillamook yellow cheddar
  • salt
  • garlic
  • pepper
  • panko
  /public/savor-the-best-logo.webp

Fire Roasted Tomato Bisque

  • sugar
  • thyme
  • tomato
  • onion
  • heavy cream
  • salt
  • white pepper
  • celery
  • all purpose flour
  • tomato paste
  • chicken broth
  • butter
  • garlic
  • crouton
  • olive oil
  /public/immaculate-bites-logo.svg

Tomato Bisque

  • onion
  • olive oil
  • brown sugar
  • tomato
  • heavy cream
  • chicken broth
  • all purpose flour
  • butter
  • thyme
  • celery
  • italian seasoning
  • garlic
  • crouton
  • chive
  • salt
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Butternut Squash and Bourbon Bisque

  • salt
  • leek
  • onion
  • ginger
  • olive oil
  • butternut squash
  • sherry
  • cumin
  • bourbon
  • nutmeg
  • garlic
  • cornstarch
  • maple syrup
  • soy sauce
  • evaporated milk
  • chicken stock
  /public/the-stay-at-home-chef-logo.webp

Restaurant Quality Lobster Bisque

  • heavy cream
  • tarragon
  • thyme
  • carrot
  • onion
  • sherry
  • white rice
  • cayenne pepper
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • garlic
  • live lobster
  • celery
  • clam broth
  • tomato paste
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Butternut-Cider Bisque

  • salt
  • butternut squash
  • olive oil
  • celery
  • carrot
  • onion
  • apple cider
  • heavy cream
  • thyme
  • chicken stock
  /public/themodernproper-logo.svg

Corn and Leek Bisque

  • avocado
  • cilantro
  • jalapeño
  • micro green
  • tomato
  • bay leaf
  • pepper
  • salt
  • cayenne pepper
  • garlic
  • heavy cream
  • leek
  • chicken stock
  • butter
  • corn
  /public/themodernproper-logo.svg

Tomato Bisque

  • red chili pepper flake
  • onion
  • heavy cream
  • black pepper
  • olive oil
  • bay leaf
  • carrot
  • tomato
  • chicken stock
  • salt
  • butter
  • basil
  /public/the-recipe-critic-logo.svg

Lobster Bisque

  • heavy cream
  • thyme
  • salt
  • shallot
  • water
  • white wine
  • pepper
  • all purpose flour
  • tomato paste
  • garlic
  • carrot
  • celery
  • butter
  • lobster tail
  • lobster stock
  /public/40-aprons-logo.svg

Shrimp Bisque

  • shrimp
  • heavy cream
  • celery
  • garlic
  • onion
  • carrot
  • tomato
  • sherry
  • brandy
  • tomato paste
  • cornstarch
  • water
  • bay leaf
  • tarragon
  • olive oil
  • whipping cream
  • seafood stock
  • thyme
  • black peppercorn
  • chive
  /public/bonappetit-logo.svg

Shrimp Bisque

  • chive
  • salt
  • tomato paste
  • leek
  • shallot
  • butter
  • onion
  • butternut squash
  • cognac
  • heavy cream
  • cayenne pepper
  • navy bean
  • carrot
  • shell
  • carolina gold
  • celery
  • bay leaf
  • parsley
  • thyme
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Banana Bisque

  • coffee ice cream
  • cream
  • butter
  • sugar
  • vanilla bean
  • salt
  • banana
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Scallop Bisque

  • salt
  • heavy cream
  • scallop
  • chive
  • lemongrass
  • white wine
  • olive oil
  • bay leaf
  • carrot
  • onion
  • celery
  • bone
  /public/gimmie-some-oven-logo.svg

Lobster Bisque

  • onion
  • white wine
  • smoked paprika
  • bay leaf
  • thyme
  • carrot
  • celery
  • heavy cream
  • lobster meat
  • cognac
  • cayenne pepper
  • seafood stock
  • butter
  • all purpose flour
  • tomato paste
  • garlic
  • salt
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Crab and Irish Whiskey Bisque

  • salt
  • irish whiskey
  • bread
  • carrot
  • onion
  • crab shell
  • black peppercorn
  • tomato paste
  • bay leaf
  • tomato
  • parsley
  • thyme
  • tabasco sauce
  /public/40-aprons-logo.svg

Tomato Bisque

  • onion
  • heavy cream
  • olive oil
  • sugar
  • carrot
  • celery
  • basil
  • paprika
  • salt
  • san marzano tomato
  • pepper
  • chicken broth
  • garlic
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Lobster Bisque

  • salt
  • cayenne pepper
  • brandy
  • heavy cream
  • cornstarch
  • maine lobster
  • garlic
  • bay leaf
  • onion
  • parsley
  • white wine
  • chive
  • olive oil
  • tomato paste
  • carrot
  • celery
  • shallot
  • egg yolk
  • fish stock
  • butter
  • thyme
  /public/delish-logo.svg

Crab Bisque

  • parsley
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • bay leaf
  • onion
  • fish stock
  • bay seasoning
  • double cream
  • garlic
  • celery
  • tomato pureé
  • white wine
  • butter
  • all purpose flour
  • lump crab meat
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Shrimp Bisque

  • cayenne pepper
  • chive
  • crème fraîche
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • heavy cream
  • brandy
  • rice
  • bay leaf
  • onion
  • carrot
  • rib celery
  • tomato paste
  • plum tomato
  • lemon juice
  • shrimp shell
  • parsley
  • thyme
  • butter
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Lobster Tamarind Bisque

  • salt
  • cilantro
  • cayenne pepper
  • sugar
  • tamarind pulp
  • serrano chile
  • lemongrass
  • live maine lobster
  • shallot
  • olive oil
  • tomato paste
  • green onion
  • lobster broth
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Shrimp and Crab Bisque

  • salt
  • white wine
  • brandy
  • tabasco sauce
  • lump crabmeat
  • shrimp
  • butter
  • carrot
  • onion
  • half
  • chive
  • celery

Ingredient Breakdown

 
salt
butter
onion
celery
heavy cream
garlic
olive oil
carrot
tomato paste
thyme
bay leaf
cayenne pepper
white wine
all purpose flour
chive
black pepper
shrimp
tomato
sherry
butternut squash
chicken stock
chicken broth
brandy
green onion
shallot
sugar
tarragon
leek
water
parsley
pepper
paprika
cornstarch
milk
ginger
fish stock
cognac
black peppercorn
half
live lobster
white pepper
lobster stock
lobster tail
lobster meat
sage
bay seasoning
basil
nutmeg
bell pepper
plum tomato
lemon juice
fennel
creole seasoning
worcestershire sauce
crème fraîche
lobster
whipping cream
cream
dill
corn
crouton
cilantro
cinnamon
seafood stock
chestnut
lemongrass
tabasco sauce
sherry wine
crabmeat
brown rice
herb
coconut milk
red habanero chile
makrut lime
mushroom
red pepper flake
goat cheese
grain white rice
grain rice
pod star anise
vermouth
pumpkinseed
lime juice
tomato juice
double smoked bacon
pods green cardamom
pumpkin seed oil
pumpkin seed
shrimp stock
clam juice
steak sauce
red kuri squash
white
heat oil avocado
apple
16oz creamed corn
tony' cajun seasoning
crawfish meat
crab meat
shrimp meat
coriander seed
potato
parmesan cheese
lemon lemon juice
block tillamook yellow cheddar
panko
sour cream
chipotle
brown sugar
italian seasoning
cumin
bourbon
maple syrup
soy sauce
evaporated milk
white rice
clam broth
almond
marjoram
apple cider
avocado
jalapeño
micro green
rice flour
red chili pepper flake
pumpkin puree
cajun spice
vegetable broth
navy bean
shell
carolina gold
red wine
ruby port wine
idaho potato
parsnip
hedgehog mushroom
bacon
vermont maple syrup
coffee ice cream
vanilla bean
banana
scallop
bone
smoked paprika
irish whiskey
bread
crab shell
san marzano tomato
maine lobster
egg yolk
double cream
tomato pureé
lump crab meat
crab claw meat
rice
rib celery
shrimp shell
tamarind pulp
serrano chile
live maine lobster
lobster broth
lump crabmeat

Insights

Staple Ingredients

  • salt 39%
  • garlic 31%
  • butter 28%
  • heavy cream 28%
  • olive oil 28%
  • onion 28%
  • celery 27%

Common Ingredients

  • tomato paste 21%
  • carrot 20%
  • cayenne pepper 19%
  • thyme 19%
  • bay leaf 17%

Usual Ingredients

  • all purpose flour 16%
  • white wine 12%
  • sherry 11%
  • shrimp 11%
  • tomato 11%
  • black pepper 9%
  • butternut squash 9%
  • chicken broth 9%
  • chicken stock 9%

Rarey Ingredients

  • leek 8%
  • tarragon 8%
  • chive 7%
  • water 7%