4.5 from 231 votes
Easy-Peasy Prawn Bisque
Balanced, flavorful, and enjoyable—this recipe has it all.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 6 as a starter/appetizer
Calories: 276 kcal
Course:
Appetizer , Soup
Cuisine:
French
Ingredients
- 1 kg (2lbs) Prawns Shells and heads remove, meat reserved
- 6 cups (1.5l) chicken/fish stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 teaspoon whole white peppercorns
- 2 pieces of lemon peel yellow part only
- 1 teaspoon sea salt flakes
- 1 red onion finely chopped
- 1 garlic cloves crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup cream
- salt & pepper to taste
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- fresh parsley chopped, to serve
- 1.5 tablespoons flour mixed with 1/2 cup water (to thicken if necessary)
Instructions
- Place the prawn shells and heads in a pot and add the stock, bay leaves, peppercorns, salt, lemon peel and garlic. Bring up to a boil and allow to simmer for 30 minutes, covered until the stock is well infused by the shells.
- After 30 minutes, blend with an immersion blender until as smooth as possible then run through a sieve and discard all of the shells.
- In a separate pot, melt a little butter and fry the onion until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and fry for a few seconds before adding the smoked paprika, tomato paste and sugar.
- Allow to fry for 30 seconds then pour in the prawn stock.
- Cook for 20 minutes then add the prawn/shrimp meat and cook for a few minutes until the prawns are cooked through. Blend the soup until smooth. I do this in my high-powered blender to make sure it's very smooth but you can use any blender and then pass the soup through a fine-mesh sieve again.
- Pour the strained/blended soup back into a pot set over medium heat. Pour in the cream and lemon juice and bring to a simmer. Season to taste and allow to simmer for 5 minutes. At this point, if the soup seems too thin, whisk in some flour mixed with water and allow to cook until thickened. Serve the bisque with a swirl of cream and parsley. I fried some whole shrimp/prawns in a splash of oil to add to the top but this is optional.
- Season to taste and serve with a sprinkling of chopped parsley.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
276kcal
(14%)
Carbohydrates
6g
(2%)
Protein
40g
(80%)
Fat
10g
(15%)
Saturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Cholesterol
442mg
(147%)
Sodium
1782mg
(74%)
Potassium
410mg
(12%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
325IU
(7%)
Vitamin C
9mg
(10%)
Calcium
269mg
(27%)
Iron
4mg
(22%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6as a starter/appetizer
Amount Per Serving
Calories 276
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 276kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 6g | 2% |
| Protein | 40g | 80% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 442mg | 147% |
| Sodium | 1782mg | 74% |
| Potassium | 410mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 325IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 9mg | 10% |
| Calcium | 269mg | 27% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.