Seafood Bisque: Silky French Shellfish Soup with Cognac 59 2026

This seafood bisque is a smooth, velvety cream soup built from the shellfish you enjoy most. The prawns or shrimp give it their sweet flavor, while the toasted shells, tomato concentrate and carrots lend it that deep reddish color.

Its base is a fish fumet or shellfish stock, either a good-quality store-bought one or a homemade batch. A splash of brandy, reduced down, adds a lovely aromatic note that you can swap for cognac or white wine if you prefer.

One of the best things about this bisque is that it can be made ahead and gently reheated just before serving, tasting just as good as freshly made. Add the prawns only when you reheat it so they stay perfectly juicy.

Ingredients for Seafood Bisque

For 4 servings

• 300 g prawns or shrimp
• 50 ml olive oil
• 80 g onion
• 100 g carrots
• 80 ml brandy
• 500 ml prawn or fish stock
• 1 tablespoon tomato concentrate
• 1 tablespoon thyme leaves
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• 100 ml cooking cream

How to Make Seafood Bisque Step by Step

1. Cook the prawn shells

Peel 300 g of prawns or shrimp and remove the intestines, reserving the bodies. Sauté the shells in a pot with 50 ml of olive oil for 2 minutes.

2. Press the shells

After these 2 minutes, remove the shells from the pot and leave the oil in it, as you will use it to sauté the vegetables. Press the prawn or shrimp shells and reserve the resulting liquid.

3. Cut the onion and carrot

Peel and cut 80 g of onion and 100 g of carrots into slices.

4. Sauté the vegetables

In the same prawn pot, sauté the onion for 5 minutes over low heat. Add the carrot and cook for 5 more minutes.

5. Add and reduce the brandy

Pour in 80 ml of brandy and let it reduce for 2 minutes over high heat.

6. Pour in the stock

Add 500 ml of prawn or fish stock, the juice from the prawn or shrimp shells, 1 tablespoon of tomato concentrate, 1 tablespoon of thyme leaves, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

7. Cook for 20 minutes

Cook the mixture over medium heat for 20 minutes, until the carrots are tender.

8. Add the cream and blend

Blend with 100 ml of cooking cream until you have a smooth, homogeneous cream with a fine texture.

9. Add the prawns, cook and serve

Add the peeled prawns or shrimp to the bisque and cook just until they change color, about 2-3 minutes. For a very attractive presentation, you can take the prawns out once cooked and place them on the surface of each bowl, whole or chopped. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Tips for the Best Seafood Bisque

Make it with other shellfish

This bisque works just as well with langoustines, crabs or lobster, so feel free to use whatever shellfish you like best. The toasted shells are what give the soup its color and depth of flavor.

Prepare it ahead of time

You can make the bisque in advance and reheat it gently over low heat before serving. Add the prawns or shrimp only when you reheat it to serve, so they don't become overcooked.

Serve the prawns your way

Some recipes cook and serve the prawns separately, but cooking them right in the bisque keeps them very juicy. The number per person is up to you; you can also chop them so they're evenly distributed through the soup.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back To at Home

Maybe you're wired the same way I am: your kitchen rotation is a blend of cozy standbys, well-loved dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

Some nights I want something luxurious, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a deeply rich Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only fruit-forward comfort will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For quick morning meals and lighter plates, I regularly whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

On evenings built around tapas and Mediterranean tastes, I cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also comes out whenever the occasion calls for a little extra polish.

For stick-to-your-ribs midday meals and comforting suppers, my go-tos are this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something even more substantial, I turn to this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the supremely cozy French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Anytime street food or party fare is on my mind, I'll throw together this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crunchy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a light starter or snack.

And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks to go with a full spread, dinner often gets paired with this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this sweet Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring it all together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or capping the meal with this dramatic Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After countless rounds of testing and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest dishes are built on straightforward steps, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely cook on repeat—whether it's a fast solo meal or something festive for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the lush, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is my pick when I want a dessert that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another treat I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the celebrated Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When light and easy is what I'm after, I lean on the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly done Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For more filling comfort fare, I frequently suggest the crowd-pleasing Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the luscious Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is yet another category I turn to often, since it delivers speed without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado