If you’re looking for a festive starter for the holiday season, this easy Shrimp Bisque recipe is the perfect choice. It’s a silky, smooth bisque with deep flavor, and the succulent shrimp, creme fraiche, a dash of cayenne pepper, and fresh tarragon are the perfect complements.
It’s a wonderful first course that can be made mostly made-ahead and would be the perfect starter to my Make-Ahead Christmas Menu.
Or serve it as a starter to my Rosemary Beef Tenderloin, or Rack of Lamb or Roasted Turkey Breast recipes.
Make-Ahead Tips:
The shrimp bisque can be made ahead up until the blending stage.
Then allow it to cool, and place it in the refrigerator.
Then all you have to do the next day is reheat the bisque until very hot, drop in the chopped raw shrimp, and simmer just until the shrimp are cooked through.
Be careful not to overcook the shrimp or they’ll turn rubbery!
Serving and Garnishing Tips
This bisque looks really pretty when served in shallow white bowls. Especially for a starter because you can fill it up with 2 ladles full of soup and not have it be too filling, saving room for the other courses in the meal.
Once you fill the bowls, mound the shrimp up in the center of the bowl and then dollop the creme fraiche on top. This will prevent it from sinking and melting into the soup too quickly.
I like using creme fraiche as a garnish instead of adding heavy cream to the bisque because it preserves the deep flavor of the bisque without diluting it.
Then add a light dusting of cayenne pepper and the fresh tarragon leaves.
More Festive Seafood Recipes!
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This book is a compilation of the top 101 recipes I believe everyone should know how to make, from a classic Christmas Dinner to a casual brunch. These recipes are my go-to favorites that I turn to time and time again because they involve minimum effort but deliver maximum impact.
Let’s face it: entertaining can be stressful enough, so the recipes should not be hard!
This book will guide you through a year of seasonal entertaining, including drinks, appetizers, mains, sides, brunch dishes, and desserts.
Why You’ll Love This Book:
There is a photo of every recipe!
Each recipe has a notes section for tips and tricks to help you achieve success!
Each recipe has a “Make-Ahead Game Plan” to identify things you can prep beforehand.
Each recipe has a “Pairs well With” section that leads to other recipes in the book that pair well with each other, helping you create menus.
Or leave the planning to me! The back of the book has eight seasonal menus, from Thanksgiving to Mother’s Day, designed using recipes from the book and complete with game plans to help you manage the prep.
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