Short Cut Creamy Lobster Bisque

Giant Lobster Claw

Last weekend, I hosted my annual Lobsterfest where I boiled ten 2 – 2 ½ pound lobsters for my party of nine. Not being one to run out of food at parties (the Canadian in me), I bought and extra lobster….just in case. Needless to say, with all the sides and appetizers, the extra lobster went uneaten. There were even two leftover claws!

I try to keep things somewhat low-carbs during the week, so I opted to make lobster bisque with some of the leftovers. I call this recipe “short cut” as someone who shall remain nameless threw out all the shells before I could make a stock, so clam juice was used instead of the long-to-make stock I typically use. If, unlike me, you don’t have 3 pounds of leftover cooked lobster to use up, just buy cooked lobster tails from the store.  

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• ½ large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. dried thyme
• ½ tsp. paprika
• ½ tsp. ground cayenne pepper
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. freshly-ground black pepper
• 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 cups lobster stock or clam juice
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 1 tsp. corn starch combined with ¼ cup cold water (this is called a slurry)
• 1 ½ pounds cooked lobster meat, chopped in bite-size pieces

My Lobster Boil

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add the onions and cook for 4 minutes, until softened and pale golden, stirring frequently.
3. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
4. Add the wine, Worcestershire, thyme, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. Cook for 2 minutes.
5. Add the tomato paste and lobster stock (or clam juice) and simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Using an immersion blender (could use a regular blender also), purée the soup until smooth.
7. Add the cream and butter, stir then bring the soup to a low simmer over medium-high heat (don’t allow to boil).
8. Add the slurry and stir until the soup has thickened slightly, about 2 minutes.
9. Add the lobster meat and simmer for another 5 minutes over medium-low heat.

Serves four generously.

Cheers,

Veronique

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