Rich Lobster Bisque Recipes

Steps:

• Stock: In a large pot lined with a steamer basket, bring 1 inch salted water to a boil. Steam lobster tails, top-side down, until just cooked through and tails curl under, 6 to 8 minutes for small tails and 8 to 10 minutes for large. Transfer to a plate and let cool. When cool enough to handle, use kitchen shears to cut through underside of tails. Remove meat from shells; reserve shells. Run a paring knife along back of each tail and remove vein. Cut meat into bite-size pieces; cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high. Add shells and cook until fragrant and deep red in color, about 4 minutes. Add fish stock, wine, and 6 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, skimming impurities from surface, until reduced to 6 cups, 40 to 45 minutes. Strain stock into a large liquid-measuring cup or heatproof bowl. Wipe out pot. (Stock can be stored in airtight containers in the freezer up to 3 months.)
• Bisque: In same pot, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add fennel, onion, and garlic and season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, thyme, bay leaf, paprika, and cayenne; cook 1 minute. Add brandy, sherry, and strained lobster stock; season generously with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer 30 minutes. Remove thyme and bay leaf.
• Working in batches, puree soup in a blender until smooth. Return soup to pot. Let cool 15 minutes. Whisk together cream and cornstarch, then stir into bisque. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring, until thickened slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning as desired.
• Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add lobster meat and cook until just warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour soup into bowls and serve, topped with lobster, fennel fronds, and a squeeze of lemon, if desired. Soup can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 2 days.

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the mushrooms, onion, celery, and carrot. Cook and stir until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth, and season with salt and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
• Pour the vegetable and broth mixture into the container of a blender, and add 1/4 cup of the lobster meat. Cover, and process until smooth. Return to the saucepan, and stir in the half-and-half, white wine, and remaining lobster meat. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently until thickened, about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• If using frozen lobster tails, allow to thaw completely before beginning. Split tails in half lengthwise; this is easier if you start at the fan end. Devein the tails.
• In a saucepan with a steamer insert and a tight-fitting lid, bring water and salt to a boil. Place lobster tails into steamer insert shell-side down; cover tightly and steam 5-7 minutes. Remove lobster and reserve steaming liquid.
• When cool enough to handle, remove meat from shell with a fork, preferably in one piece. Chill meat until needed.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet until shimmering. Add lobster shells and saute 5 minutes until flavors are released. Without removing the shells, deglaze the pan with white wine, chicken stock and the reserved steaming water. Simmer until reduced to about 6 cups, about 45 minutes. Strain.
• Meanwhile, melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan. Add fennel and shallot. Saute 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add strained lobster stock, tomato, brandy, rice, tomato paste, paprika, cayenne pepper, bay leaf and thyme. Simmer 45 minutes.
• Remove bay leaf and thyme. Puree with immersion blender or bar blender, using appropriate safety techniques for blending hot liquids.
• Off heat, stir in heavy cream and lemon juice. Keep warm.
• Melt 1 T butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Saute reserved lobster tails until warmed through. Slice tail meat and use to garnish large bowls of soup. Serve hot.