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Easy Crab Bisque Recipe with Tarragon

Seafood Soups

easy crab bisque recipe

Bisques have always intimidated me a bit. They can be time-consuming affairs, especially if you make them from scratch. But they can be ridiculously easy too! And the “easy” in this easy crab bisque recipe is all about having a pre-made seafood broth.

This is why I’m a big proponent of making homemade broths and stocks in large batches.

This past winter I made a large amount of lobster broth and froze about 6 quarts of it. When I found myself with a bunch of leftover crab meat recently (from a family crab cake dinner), I realized I could thaw the broth and make an easy crab bisque recipe.

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Of course, it’s ideal to use a crab stock for a crab bisque, but other shellfish broths are very interchangeable and lobster broth works great too.

And if for some reason you do find yourself with a bunch of live crabs or lobsters, you can certainly make a nice broth from the leftover shells. It’s not hard at all. It just takes a little more time and ingredients. You can check out my post, how to make a lobster broth, for some good guidelines.

What to Do When You Don’t Have a Homemade Seafood Broth

I’m guessing that 99% of you reading this post will not have a homemade seafood broth on hand. No worries! Check out my post on the best store-bought seafood stock for a review of the best options.

Bar Harbor has a new lobster juice which I’ve seen in some health food stores and even conventional grocery stores.

Another choice would be their canned seafood stock which is a blend of clam, fish, and lobster stocks.

Either would be good to use in the recipe though I think the seafood stock would be a slightly better fit.

Your second option would be to use a clam broth in place of a seafood broth. It’s not a perfect fit but its strong briny flavor is a better option than just using water.

Bar Harbor also has a good quality bottled clam juice.

Four Additional Tips

1. White rice

The first is the thickener. Many bisque recipes use a roux of flour and butter but I much prefer using white rice. I find it easier to get the right consistency. You’ll add the rice with the broth, cook it until tender and then blend everything together. Its neutral flavor won’t compete or detract in any way from the other flavors. It gives the soup a wonderful grainy texture that is characteristic of many bisques.  Also, using white rice makes this a gluten-free recipe!

2. Use an immersion blender

An immersion blender is used for pureeing the soup. It will save you SO. MUCH. TIME.

If you don’t have an immersion blender, please get one NOW! It’ll come in handy when you make other blended soups in the future.

Here’s the one I use by Cuisinart, which is basic and affordable:

blender for stinging nettles soup

Find this immersion blender here.

Alternatively, you can use a regular blender for pureeing the bisque. Beyond taking more time, it’s also a lot more messy and even potentially dangerous. You’ll have to transfer the hot soup from the stockpot to the blender in batches and then back to the stovetop again. Make sure to hold the blender top down firmly to prevent burning yourself with splattering hot soup. Better yet, just get an immersion blender!

3. Tarragon

It is quickly becoming my new favorite herb, especially for seafood dishes. It has an anise-like flavor and works beautifully in bisques. If for whatever reason you can’t get fresh tarragon, try other fresh herbs like thyme, parsley, or oregano.

4. New England Soups from the Sea
new england soups from the sea cookbook cover

Yes, this recipe is included in my new cookbook, New England Soups from the Sea! It includes 80 recipes total and features 9 seafood bisque recipes!

More Bisque Recipes to Try

Easy Crab Bisque Recipe with Tarragon

easy crab bisque recipe

Easy Crab Bisque Recipe

This crab bisque recipe only takes about a half hour from start to finish (once you have your broth). It’s really only 4 steps – 1. saute onions in oil 2. add broth, wine, rice and tomato paste 3. Add 1/2 of crabmeat and blend and 4. add cream, other 1/2 of crabmeat and tarragon and stir together. That’s it!

Course Soup
Cuisine American, French
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Author Craig Fear

Ingredients

  • 3 TBSPs butter
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 1 cup dry white wine such as sauvignon blanc
  • 3 TBSPs tomato paste
  • 1 1/2 quarts lobster broth or crab broth
  • 1/4 cup white rice
  • 2 pounds cooked crabmeat
  • 2 cups heavy cream or half and half
  • 1/4 cup fresh tarragon, lightly packed
  • generous pinch cayenne
  • sea salt, to taste

Additional Optional Garnishes and Seasonings, to taste

  • fresh tarragon leaves chopped
  • fresh chives chopped
  • pinch cayenne
  • squeeze lemon juice
  • sea salt

Instructions

  1. Melt butter in stockpot over medium heat and add onions. Saute for about 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
  2. Add lobster broth, white wine, tomato paste and white rice. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cook about 15-20 minutes until rice is tender.
  3. Add 1 pound of crabmeat (half of the total) and blend everything well using an immersion blender. Alternatively, transfer small batches to a blender, blend well and return to stock pot.
  4. Add cream or half and half, other 1/2 of crabmeat, tarragon and cayenne. Stir together. Add sea salt, to taste.
  5. Ladle into individual bowls and add optional seasonings, to taste.
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About the Author

Craig Fear is the creator of Fearless Eating and the author of three books, The 30-Day Heartburn Solution, Fearless Broths and Soups and The Thai Soup Secret. After years helping clients with digestive issues, Craig decided to pursue writing full-time. He intends to write many more books on broths and soups from around the world! Click here to learn more about Craig.

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