Prawn Fennel Bisque Recipes

Steps:

• Shell the prawns, then fry the shells in the oil in a large pan for about 5 mins. Add the onion, fennel and carrots and cook for about 10 mins until the veg start to soften. Pour in the wine and brandy, bubble hard for about 1 min to drive off the alcohol, then add the tomatoes, stock and paprika. Cover and simmer for 30 mins. Meanwhile, chop the prawns.
• Blitz the soup as finely as you can with a stick blender or food processor, then press through a sieve into a bowl. Spend a bit of time really working the mixture through the sieve as this will give the soup its velvety texture.
• Tip back into a clean pan, add the prawns and cook for 10 mins, then blitz again until smooth. You can make and chill this a day ahead or freeze it for 1 month. Thaw ovenight in the fridge. To serve, gently reheat in a pan with the cream. If garnishing, cook the 8 prawns in a little butter. Spoon into small bowls and top with the prawns and snipped fennel fronds.

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan over medium heat. Add the fennel and saute for 5 minutes, until tender but not browned. Turn the heat to medium-low, add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook at a very low sizzle for 2 to 3 minutes, until the garlic just begins to color.
• Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels, add them to the pan, and toss together with the fennel and olive oil. Spread the shrimp in one layer and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes on one side. Turn the shrimp and cook for 2 minutes on the other side, until they¿re pink and just cooked through.
• Off the heat, sprinkle with the parsley, 1 tablespoon of chopped fennel fronds, the Pernod (if using), the fleur de sel, and black pepper and serve it with bread to soak up all the pan juices.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut 9 shrimp in half lengthwise, and reserve for garnish. Arrange shrimp shells in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast until completely dry and slightly browned, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add remaining whole shrimp, and cook until pink and just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Add shallots, fennel, and carrot to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender but not browned, about 15 minutes. Add shells, and cook for 2 minutes. Add tomato paste, and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add Cognac, and simmer until liquid has almost evaporated. Add the water, salt, peppercorns, bay leaf, and parsley. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes. Uncover, and let cool to room temperature. Discard bay leaf.
• Working in batches, puree soup and cooked shrimp in a blender until smooth. Strain each batch through a fine sieve into a large bowl, pressing liquid through with a rubber spatula. Return solids to blender to be pureed with next batch. Discard remaining solids after all soup has been pureed.
• Transfer soup to a clean large pot, and place over low heat, stirring occasionally, until just warmed through. (Do not boil or soup will curdle.) Stir in evaporated milk.
• Heat a medium saute pan over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil. Add reserved raw shrimp, and cook until pink and just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with pepper. Divide soup among 6 bowls, and garnish each with 3 shrimp halves and a sprig of chervil. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• In a large pot over high heat, cook shrimp shells in 1 tablespoon butter and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring frequently, until lightly browned in spots, about 3 minutes. Add wine and brandy and boil until most of the liquid is evaporated. Add 6 cups water, thyme and bay leaf and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Strain shrimp stock into a bowl, pressing on shells before discarding them.
• In same pot, melt 2 tablespoons butter with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add shrimp and sauté until they are pink, 2 to 4 minutes depending on size. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shrimp to a bowl.
• Add remaining 3 tablespoons butter to pot along with celery, leeks, garlic and fennel and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the rice, tomato paste, cayenne and remaining salt and sauté for 2 minutes. Add shrimp stock and simmer, covered, until rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Set aside 4 to 6 nice-looking shrimp and stir remainder into bisque; let cook for 2 minutes. Working carefully and in batches, pour bisque into a blender and process to a smooth purée or pulse to a chunky mixture, as you like. (You may use an immersion blender to purée soup.) Return bisque to pot. Stir in the lemon juice and additional salt to taste. Reheat if necessary before serving. Garnish each bowl with a shrimp and a piece of fennel frond.