A Famous and Most Phenomenal White Lobster Bisque Recipe Fit for All Seasons (2024)

The first time I went to Congress, a five-star restaurant in Austin, TX, headed by renowned chef David Bull, I was with two of my best eating buddies on our monthly outing to try a new place. Per usual, between the three of us we ordered almost every version of the three-course tasting menu and among the roulette of beautiful dishes passed between us, one plate reigned so memorable I recall secretly praying it would end up in front of me and losing all desire to share.

That epic deliciousness was Chef Bull's White Lobster Bisque served with Fresno tomato jam and topped with a piping hot lobster fritter. Our waiter brought the bowl to the table with the deep red smoked jam, fresh lobster meat and fritter at the center of the plate and partially submerged the middle round as he decanted the creamy liquid into the dish. The varying textures, dramatic presentation and gorgeous ingredients created equal parts impressive visual appeal and delight in the prospect of eating it, as well as a bisque that was incredibly luxurious in flavor but not overwhelmingly heavy.

I have spent some time since dreaming about that meal, so when I recently had the chance to speak with Chef Bull in person right before the Austin Food & Wine Festival, I figured it my golden opportunity to ask, without any idea what the response would be, exactly how he creates this magic; after all, the famous bisque has been on the menu since Congress's day one and he joked that if they removed it there could be anarchy.

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To my surprise, however, the man graciously shared his secrets:

The lobster bisque has obviously got a ton of cream in it, ricotta cheese in the fritter, and then there's the smoked element with the tomato jam. And then when you mix it together, I think part of the excitement of that dish is that you actually see the bisque form within the bowl and together it turns from white to red. It's kind of that interactive soup which really brings a lot to the dish as well... it's crunchy and smooth and velvety, it's sweet lobster, but then it's tart tomato and smoke behind it.

My mouth was watering just hearing him talk about it and whether it's the perfect combination of textures or spot-on flavors, the dish amounts to an extremely special soup experience. Read on for the recipe below and for my own part, I'm grateful the low maintenance version is served a few blocks from my house and for the potential to create this sublime, fancy take on an old favorite at home.

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A Famous and Most Phenomenal White Lobster Bisque Recipe Fit for All Seasons (1)

White Lobster Bisque Assembly

White Lobster Bisque | Fresno-Tomato Jam | Lobster Ricotta Fritter

1 Quart / 4 Cups

White Lobster Bisque (recipe to follow)

Fresno-Tomato Jam (recipe to follow)

Lobster Ricotta Fritters (recipe to follow)

Micro Celery or Celery Hearts for Garnish

For the Assembly:

1. In four large soup bowls, mold the fresno tomato jam in the center of the bowl using a two-inch ring mold.

2. Top the jam with one fritter and garnish the base of the bowl with micro celery.

Using a small creamer pitcher or beaker pour the hot soup into the bowl at the table.

For the White Lobster Bisque:

Canola Oil

Yellow Onion, chopped

Celery Ribs, chopped

Fennel bulb, chopped

Shallot, chopped

Garlic cloves, chopped

Black peppercorns

Fennel Seed

Bay Leaf

Brandy

Sherry Wine

White Wine

Lobster or Chicken Stock

Lobster Heads

Heavy Cream

Corn Starch

Water

1. In a large sauce pot, add the canola oil over medium heat.

2. Add the onion, celery, fennel, shallot and garlic and sweat for 10-15 minutes, being careful not to gain any color on the vegetables.

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3. Add the peppercorns, fennel seed and bay leaf and toast for 2-3 minutes.

4. Deglaze with the brandy, sherry and white wine. Bring the mixture to high heat and bring to a boil.

5. Add the lobster stock and lobster heads and reduce the liquid by half.

6. Add the heavy cream and bring mixture once again to a boil.

7. In a separate bowl combine the cornstarch and water. Whisk in the cornstarch slurry into the
boiling cream. Turn heat down and cook the bisque for 20 minutes at a low simmer.

For the Fresno Tomato Jam:

(recipe makes more than needed for above recipe)

Mesquite Wood Chips, as needed

Whole Canned Tomatoes, completely drained, medium diced

(reserve tomato juice)

Butter

Shallots, minced

Fresno Chilis, seeded, stemmed and small diced

Sugar

Red Wine Vinegar

Reserved Tomato Juice from above

Salt

1. Smoke the diced tomatoes using an outdoor smoker or stove top smoker for 30-35 minutes at 155 degrees or until the tomatoes have retained a medium smoky flavor.

2. In a large sauce pan add the butter and sweat the shallots and fresno chilis for 3-4 minutes.

3. Add the sugar, red wine vinegar and tomato juice and bring liquid to a boil. Reduce mixture to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes or until a syrup consistency is reached.

4. Remove the mixture from the heat and fold in the smoked tomatoes.

5. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature before attempting to mold for assembly.

For the Lobster Ricotta Fritter:

All Purpose Flour

Baking Powder

Fine Sea Salt

Parsley, finely chopped

Cornmeal

Ricotta Cheese

Whole Milk

Maple Syrup

Cooked Lobster Meat, small diced

Oil as needed for frying

Salt to taste

1. Combine the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and parsley.

2. In a separate bowl combine the ricotta, whole milk and maple syrup.

3. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and mix to incorporate.

4. Fold in cooked lobster meat and combine. Allow mixture to rest for 30 minutes.

5. Heat frying oil to 350 degrees in a cast iron skillet or heavy gauge sauce pot or deep fat fryer.

6. Using a small quarter sized ice cream scoop, scoop and drop the fritter batter carefully in to the hot oil. Fry the fritters for 2-3 minutes on all sides or until golden brown and crisp.

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7. Remove fritters from oil and immediately season with salt. Reserve fritters warm on paper
towels until ready for assembly.

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A Famous and Most Phenomenal White Lobster Bisque Recipe Fit for All Seasons (2024)

FAQs

What liquor is used in lobster bisque? ›

The lobster bisque, a classic lobster dish from New England, traditionally uses both white wine and brandy in its preparation. Brandy is made from grapes, so you can consider it like an extremely pepped up version of wine.

What is the classic thickener for a bisque? ›

Most modern bisques are thickened using rice. Some cook the rice in the broth and strain it out later, using only the left-behind rice starch to thicken the soup. Others puree the rice into the soup to thicken it. Almost all bisques are finished with hot cream for a velvety texture.

How does classic bisque get its flavor? ›

Aromatic vegetables like celery, onion and carrot are typically used alongside the main ingredient to make a flavourful base, and the dish is well-seasoned, using various herbs and spices. Cream is a must for making bisque, and sometimes butter is also added for extra creaminess.

Why is lobster bisque so good? ›

In American recipes, using a combination of lobster shells, bodies, claw meat, and tail meat provides the bisque its telltale taste and feel. Depending on the recipe, you will remove the lobster from the body, dice it, and add the chopped lobster meat to the broth and develop flavors that way.

What is the main flavoring ingredient in a bisque? ›

Here's what you can generally expect in a well-made bisque: Lobster Shells — The core flavoring ingredient (shrimp and other crustaceans can work too). Most bisques do not call for the meat itself, just the shells. Seasoning — Primarily based around whole vegetables, like celery, carrots, onions, and tomatoes.

What is the most common ingredient used in bisque? ›

A bisque is a thick cream soup that chefs purée and strain for a fine, smooth final result. Traditional bisque recipes feature seafood like lobster, crayfish, shrimp, or crab as the main ingredient—chefs typically grind the crustacean shells into a fine paste to thicken the mixture.

How can you add richness to bisque soup? ›

Tomato – A fresh tomato will help add color and flavor to this soup. Tomato Paste – You will need tomato paste to add flavor, color, richness, and body to the bisque. Garlic – A few cloves go a long way to enhancing this flavor.

What is the thickening agent in lobster bisque? ›

Lobster Bisque is a classic smooth and creamy French soup made from homemade lobster stock. Lobster shells are cooked with aromatics in broth to extract the flavor from the shells to create a deeply flavorful stock. The lobster stock is then strained and thickened with rice or heavy cream.

What is the difference between bisque 04 and 06? ›

Firing at cone 06 causes the clay to shrink and become porous and therefore will easily accept glaze. Firing to cone 04 increases the pottery's strength and durability.

What is bisque vs lobster bisque? ›

A bisque refers to a soup that typically has cream in it for a thicker consistency, and is usually pureed. A bisque will often be vegetable or seafood-based, like our classic Lobster Bisque. For ours, we use chunks of lobster claw and knuckle meat for texture and flavor.

How do you make store bought lobster bisque taste better? ›

So, my plans of doctoring up canned lobster bisque were dashed. I cooked the bisque according to the directions on the can, except I used 1/2 cup cream instead of 1/3 cup per can. And I added in some Cajun spices and fresh herbs.

What is a traditional bisque? ›

A bisque is a French style of soup that is made from crustaceans, such as lobster, crab, shrimp, and crayfish; their shells are used to make a stock and the meat is incorporated into the finished dish. So, in a way, calling the soup a "seafood bisque" is somewhat redundant.

What pairs well with lobster bisque? ›

Main Course Pairings for Lobster Bisque

Consider lighter fish dishes like baked or grilled salmon, which offer a different texture and a slightly less rich flavor profile. A herb-crusted cod or a simple pan-seared sea bass can also complement the bisque well.

Is there a lot of sugar in lobster bisque? ›

Nutritional Information & Ingredient Listing. Lobster Bisque: (222g) calories 310, calories from fat 210, total fat 24g, saturated fat 15g, trans fat 1g, cholesterol 115mg, sodium 680mg, total carbohydrate 13g, dietary fiber 1g, sugars 1g, protein 12g, vitamin a 20%, vitamin c 8%, calcium 10%, iron 4%.

What's the difference between lobster soup and lobster bisque? ›

While lobster bisque is considered to be a type of soup, there are a few differences that set the two appetizers apart. Bisque is far creamier and richer than traditional soup, which consists mostly of broth, veggies and spices.

What alcohol goes with lobster? ›

The Best Wines to Pair with Lobster

Acidity is key in pairing wine with lobster. Think about how great a squeeze of lemon is on fish – a light, crisp wine with great acidity can do the same thing. Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio can be great in this regard, but so can Riesling and Chardonnay.

Does brandy go in lobster bisque? ›

Ingredients and Substitutions

Cream – You will need some heavy whipping cream at the end to monte the lobster stock. Wine – This is optional, but I use port wine and dry vermouth. Liquor – I deglaze and finish the bisque with Brandy. Another option would be dry or cream sherry.

What is a substitute for sherry in lobster bisque? ›

Your best bet is going to be another dry fortified wine such as dry (white) vermouth. Dry versions of Madeira and marsala are also acceptable. You can also substitute a dry white wine like sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, pinot blanc, or sémillon. Dry sparkling wines will also work when used in small amounts.

What alcohol do you drink with lobster? ›

A classic gin and tonic can be an excellent match for lobster, particularly if the dish has a citrusy or herbal element. The botanicals in gin can echo the herbs used in the dish and really set your taste buds alive. To enhance the pairing, choose a high-quality tonic water that isn't overly sweet.

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