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Ina garten's shrimp bisque

Adapted from Ina Garten in Barefoot Contessa At Home

Once you taste this creamy & delicious soup, you'll make it again and again.

Servings 4 to 6 servings
Author Rosemary Stelmach

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 pounds large shrimp, peeled & deveined, shells reserved (leave tail on 6 shrimp, for garnish)
  • 4 cups seafood stock
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (plus extra for shrimp garnish)
  • 2 cups chopped leeks, white & light green parts (about 3 leeks)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped garlic (3 cloves)
  • pinch of cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 cup brandy or cognac
  • 1/4 cup madeira wine or dry sherry
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour
  • 2 cups half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Place the shrimp shells and seafood stock in a large saucepan.  Simmer for 15 minutes.  Strain and reserve the stock, adding enough water to make a total of 3 3/4 cups.

  2. Heat a small saucepan or grill pan over medium heat.  Add a drizzle of olive oil and sauté the 6 garnish shrimp until cooked through with a golden edge.  Set aside.

  3. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven.  Add the chopped leeks and cook them for 10 minutes over medium-low heat, or until the leeks are tender but not browned.  Add the chopped garlic and cook 1 more minute.  Add the cayenne pepper & shrimp.  Cook over medium to low heat for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.  

  4. Add the brandy or cognac and cook for 1 minute, then the Madeira wine or dry sherry and cook for 3 minutes longer.

  5. Transfer the shrimp and leeks to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until coarsely pureed.  Alternatively, transfer the shrimp and leeks to a deep bowl and roughly blend with an immersion blender.  Set aside.

  6. Using the same pot or dutch oven, melt the butter.  Add the flour and cook over medium-low heat for 1 minute, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.  Add the half-and-half and cook, stirring constantly with a whisk, until thickened, about 3 minutes.

  7. Stir in the pureed shrimp, the stock, tomato paste, salt & pepper and heat gently until hot but not boiling.  Season to taste.  Serve immediately garnished with fresh parsley, a sprinkling of fresh ground pepper and 1 grilled shrimp.