Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque: A Luxurious Comfort Dish
Welcome, seafood enthusiasts and soup lovers! Prepare to discover a truly exceptional recipe that promises to elevate your culinary experience: the Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque. Imagine succulent shrimp and tender scallops, swimming in a rich, velvety tomato soup, lovingly crafted with a medley of fresh vegetables and the indulgent creaminess of cream cheese. This bisque isn’t just a meal; it’s a comforting embrace, perfect for a cozy evening or a special gathering. If you appreciate the delicate flavors of the ocean paired with the hearty warmth of a gourmet soup, this easy seafood bisque recipe is an absolute must-try for your kitchen.
This isn’t your average weeknight dinner. The blend of sweet tomatoes, aromatic vegetables, and the finest seafood creates a symphony of flavors that is both sophisticated and incredibly satisfying. We’re talking about a bisque that tastes like it came straight from a five-star restaurant, yet is surprisingly simple to prepare at home. Get ready to impress your family and friends with a dish that combines elegance with heartwarming comfort. Once you taste this homemade seafood bisque, you’ll wonder why it wasn’t a staple in your recipe rotation sooner!
A Special Recipe with a Heartfelt Story: Supporting Our Friend Michelle
This exquisite Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque recipe comes from the talented kitchen of our dear friend, Michelle. Michelle is the creative force behind A Dish of Daily Life, a wonderful food and travel blog based in Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York City. Her blog is a treasure trove of easy-to-make, healthy, and delicious recipes, alongside practical how-to guides, exciting travel adventures, and heartwarming glimpses into her bustling family life.
Michelle is truly an inspiration: a dedicated wife, a loving mother to three children, and a “fur mom” to seven delightful pets. Beyond her culinary prowess, she’s an avid sports fan, cheering on her kids in their various athletic pursuits, and a passionate runner herself. Her life is a testament to balancing many roles with grace and enthusiasm.
Recently, Michelle underwent a very serious surgery and is now in the crucial phase of recuperation. For a blogger, especially one who relies on her platform for family income, taking time off can be a daunting prospect due to potential loss of website traffic. Understanding this challenge, a group of us, her fellow blogger friends, wanted to offer our unwavering support. Our aim is to help Michelle relax and recover without worrying about her blog. We decided to rally together, sharing her fantastic recipes and encouraging our readers to visit her site, not only to discover another incredible blog but also to find more delicious creations like this creamy tomato bisque.
The Blogging Community Rallies Together
Our community is all about connection and support. We gathered at a blogging event back in 2015, where I had the pleasure of spending time with Debbie, Michelle, and Linda. The bond among bloggers runs deep, and when one of us needs help, we come together. This is why many of us are sharing recipes from Michelle’s incredible collection this month and next, sending love and traffic her way.
Are you curious to see what other fantastic dishes her friends are making? Check out this master list of recipes from Michelle’s blog that have been shared by our fellow bloggers:
December Recipes to Inspire
- Easy Crab Dip Recipe by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Seafood Bisque by An Affair from the Heart (This very recipe!)
- Marinated Olives by Take Two Tapas
- Refried Beans by Lisa’s Dinnertime Dish
- Lemon Herb Chicken with Roasted Potatoes by Hostess At Heart
- Red Quinoa & Butternut Squash Salad by My Life Cookbook
- Italian Panini by Full Belly Sisters
- Rigatoni Salsiccia e Rapini by LeMoine Family Kitchen
- Thai Chicken Noodle Soup by Love Bakes Good Cakes
- Italian Bowtie Pasta by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Pink Vodka Sauce by Lady Behind The Curtain
- Crab Imperial by Life Currents
- Homemade Taco Seasoning by Bowl Me Over
- Southwestern Bean Dip by Aunt Bee’s Recipes
January Recipes You Won’t Want to Miss
- Homemade Enchilada Sauce by The Foodie Affair
- White Bean and Mint Hummus by Take Two Tapas
- Spicy Carrot Refrigerator Pickles, Mexican Style by Lady Behind The Curtain
- Chicken Pesto Pasta with Artichokes by Love Bakes Good Cakes
- Rueben Sliders by Bowl Me Over
Diving into the Deliciousness: Ingredients and Preparation
I often find myself wondering why I don’t cook seafood at home more frequently, especially given how much I enjoy it. When I first stumbled upon this recipe on Michelle’s blog, I admit I was a bit apprehensive. A creamy seafood bisque sounded incredibly complex and challenging to prepare, right? To my absolute delight, I was proven wonderfully wrong! This recipe is incredibly easy to make, and the resulting flavor is simply divine. It’s quickly become a new favorite that I know I’ll be making repeatedly.
I kept most of Michelle’s original recipe intact, making only one minor adjustment to suit our household’s preferences. Instead of thyme, which isn’t a favorite in my home, I opted for oregano. This simple switch infused the bisque with a slightly different, yet equally aromatic and complementary flavor profile. The beauty of cooking lies in these small customizations, allowing you to tailor dishes to your specific taste.
A Step-by-Step Culinary Journey to a Perfect Bisque
Let’s walk through the simple steps that transform humble ingredients into this spectacular Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque. The magic begins with a foundation of beautifully tenderized vegetables, forming the aromatic base of our soup.
First, in a sturdy soup pot, five tablespoons of butter are melted over medium-high heat. To this fragrant butter, you add a large chopped onion, one peeled and chopped large carrot, two chopped celery stalks, and a large minced garlic clove. The addition of a single bay leaf adds a subtle, earthy depth. These vegetables are gently cooked until they become wonderfully tender, a process that takes about 10 minutes. This slow sautéing process is crucial as it allows the vegetables to release their natural sweetness and build a robust flavor foundation for the bisque.
Once your vegetables are tender, two tablespoons of flour are stirred in, cooking for a couple more minutes to create a roux that will thicken our bisque. Then, the vibrant flavors of one 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes, six cups of rich chicken broth, and two teaspoons of oregano (or thyme, if you prefer!) are added. The mixture is stirred thoroughly, brought to a boil, and then reduced to a gentle simmer for 30 minutes, allowing all the flavors to meld and deepen. This simmering stage is where the soup truly begins to develop its character.
The next step introduces the incredible creaminess that makes this bisque so irresistible. Add an 8-ounce block of cream cheese and two teaspoons of cooking sherry. Stir continuously until the cream cheese completely melts into the hot liquid, creating a luxuriously smooth consistency. Continue to simmer for another 10 minutes to ensure everything is well combined and heated through. Before the final step, remember to remove the bay leaf. Using an immersion blender (or carefully transferring to a regular blender), puree the soup until it’s perfectly smooth and velvety. This step transforms the chunky soup into a refined bisque.
Finally, the stars of our show—the seafood! Return the pureed bisque to the stove. Add two pounds of chopped seafood; Michelle’s brilliant suggestion of shrimp and bay scallops, cut into bite-sized pieces, worked perfectly. Simmer for just a few more minutes until the seafood is fully cooked through. Seafood cooks quickly, so be careful not to overcook it, as it can become tough. Once cooked, season the bisque to taste with salt and black pepper. A sprinkle of fresh parsley for garnish adds a touch of color and freshness, if desired. And there you have it – a magnificent Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque, ready to be enjoyed!
The Recipe: Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque
Don’t forget to give this recipe a star rating and leave a comment below once you’ve tried it! Your feedback is invaluable and helps others discover delicious dishes like this.
Print Recipe
Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque
Ingredients
- 5 Tablespoons butter
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 large carrot peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 1 large garlic clove minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 6 cups of chicken broth
- 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 8 ounce brick of cream cheese
- 2 teaspoons cooking sherry
- 2 pounds seafood chopped (I used shrimp and bay scallops, chopped into bite size pieces)
- salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish if desired
Instructions
- In a soup pot, melt butter over high heat.
- Add all vegetables and bay leaf. Cook until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
- Add flour and cook for another couple minutes, stirring to combine.
- Add tomatoes, oregano and broth; stir to combine; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Add sherry and cream cheese, stir and let cream cheese melt; reduce heat and simmer for another 10 minutes.
- Remove bay leaf. Puree with emulsion blender.
- Return to stove; add in shrimp and scallops; continue to simmer for another couple minutes until seafood is cooked.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Perfect Pairings and Serving Suggestions
This Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque is a meal in itself, but it truly shines when paired with a few thoughtful accompaniments. A crusty baguette or a rustic artisan bread is absolutely essential for soaking up every last drop of the rich, flavorful broth. Imagine dipping a warm piece of bread into the creamy soup – pure bliss! For a complete meal, consider serving it alongside a fresh, crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette to balance the richness of the bisque. A glass of crisp white wine, such as a Sauvignon Blanc or a dry Rosé, would also beautifully complement the seafood flavors.
Variations to Make It Your Own
While this recipe is perfect as written, feel free to customize it to your taste or what you have on hand. Don’t limit yourself to just shrimp and scallops! Consider adding other types of seafood like chunks of firm white fish (cod, snapper, or halibut), mussels, or even crab meat for an extra layer of luxury. If you’re not a fan of sherry, a splash of dry white wine or even a touch of brandy could be used to deglaze the pot and add depth. For a touch of heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes could be stirred in with the oregano. You could also experiment with other herbs like dill or parsley for a different aromatic profile. This bisque is incredibly versatile, inviting your own culinary creativity.
Discover More from A Dish of Daily Life
As part of our effort to support Michelle, I wanted to highlight a few more of her fantastic recipes that I can’t wait to try over at A Dish Of Daily Life. She truly has a gift for creating approachable yet flavorful dishes that resonate with home cooks everywhere.
Final Thoughts: Savoring Every Spoonful
This Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque is more than just a recipe; it’s a testament to the power of delicious food and the warmth of community. It’s a dish that brings comfort and joy, much like the spirit of our friend Michelle. I genuinely hope you’ll take the opportunity to make this incredible bisque. It’s an approachable recipe that delivers truly remarkable flavor, proving that gourmet dining can be achieved right in your own kitchen.
Whether you’re an experienced chef or a novice cook, the simplicity and elegance of this creamy seafood soup will surely win you over. So gather your ingredients, follow these easy steps, and prepare to savor every spoonful of this delightful creation. And please, don’t forget to send some love and support Michelle’s way by visiting her wonderful blog, A Dish of Daily Life, for more culinary inspiration. Happy cooking, and enjoy your delicious bisque!