Description
A rich and indulgent New Orleans-style shrimp and corn bisque featuring fresh Gulf shrimp, sweet corn, and the Cajun Holy Trinity. Perfect for special occasions or a comforting meal at home.
Ingredients
- Shrimp (41/50 size, fresh or frozen) – 1 pound
- Bacon, chopped – 6 slices
- Onion, diced – 1 cup
- Bell Pepper, diced – 1 cup
- Celery, diced – 1 cup
- Garlic, minced – 3 cloves
- Cooking Sherry – 2 tablespoons
- Butter – 4 tablespoons
- Homemade Shrimp Stock – 3 1/2 cups
- Cajun Seasoning – 1 tablespoon
- Heavy Cream – 1 cup
- Fresh Sweet Corn – 20 ounces
- Optional Additions: Bay leaf, tomato paste, crab meat, or crawfish tails
Instructions
1. Prepare Homemade Shrimp Stock:
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- Simmer shrimp heads and shells with celery, thyme, onion, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns for 10-20 minutes. Strain and reserve.
2. Cook the Holy Trinity:
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- In a large pot, sauté bacon until crispy. Remove and set aside. Cook onion, bell pepper, and celery in the bacon fat until tender. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
3. Create the Roux:
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- Add butter to the pot and melt. Whisk in an equal amount of flour, stirring constantly for 5 minutes until slightly darkened.
4. Build the Bisque:
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- Gradually whisk in homemade shrimp stock and bring to a simmer. Stir in Cajun seasoning and cooking sherry.
5. Add Shrimp and Corn:
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- Stir in shrimp and corn, cooking until shrimp is opaque and cooked through.
6. Finish with Cream:
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- Lower the heat and slowly stir in heavy cream. Simmer gently without boiling to avoid curdling.
7. Optional Enhancements:
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- Add a squeeze of lemon juice or garnish with fresh herbs.
Notes
- For added depth, blacken the shrimp in a skillet before adding to the bisque.
- The bisque can be made ahead and freezes well for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Creole, Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: ~350
- Sugar: ~4 g
- Sodium: ~900mg
- Fat: ~22g
- Saturated Fat: ~12g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: ~18g
- Fiber: ~2g
- Protein: ~24g
- Cholesterol: ~200mg