Joe's Maryland Shrimp Bisque

Dive into the rich, coastal flavors of Joe's Maryland Shrimp Bisque—a velvety, seafood-packed soup that brings the essence of the Chesapeake Bay straight to your table. This comforting dish begins by simmering shrimp shells with a medley of aromatic vegetables, creating a deeply flavorful homemade stock as the base. Infused with the bold kick of Old Bay seasoning and a touch of dry white wine, the bisque is pureed to a smooth, luxurious texture and finished with a swirl of heavy cream for added decadence. Perfectly cooked shrimp float in every spoonful, making it a hearty yet elegant starter or main course. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra shrimp for a beautiful presentation, and serve it with crusty bread for dipping. Whether you’re recreating a taste of Maryland or exploring something new, this shrimp bisque is a show-stopping seafood delight that’s ready in under an hour.

Nutriscore Rating: 64/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound Raw shrimp (shell-on, medium size)
• 4 tablespoons Unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon Olive oil
• 1 medium Yellow onion (finely chopped)
• 2 stalks Celery (finely chopped)
• 2 medium Carrots (finely chopped)
• 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
• 1 cup Dry white wine
• 4 cups Seafood stock (or chicken stock)
• 1 Bay leaf
• 3 sprigs Fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
• 1 cup Heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
• 0.25 teaspoon Cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Peel and devein the shrimp, reserving the shells. Set the shrimp aside for later use.

Step 2

In a large pot, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter with the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shrimp shells and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-6 minutes until they become pink and fragrant.

Step 3

Add the chopped onion, celery, and carrots to the pot with the shrimp shells. Sauté for 5 minutes until the vegetables soften.

Step 4

Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking for 2 more minutes until the tomato paste darkens slightly.

Step 5

Pour in the dry white wine and scrape the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits. Let the wine simmer for 2 minutes.

Step 6

Add the seafood stock, bay leaf, and thyme sprigs to the pot. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.

Step 7

Strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl, discarding the solids. Return the broth to the pot.

Step 8

In a separate skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the shrimp and sprinkle with Old Bay seasoning and cayenne pepper (if using). Cook for 3-4 minutes until the shrimp are just cooked through, then remove from heat.

Step 9

Add the cooked shrimp to the pot with the strained broth, reserving a few shrimp for garnish if desired.

Step 10

Using an immersion blender (or a countertop blender in batches), carefully puree the bisque until smooth.

Step 11

Stir in the heavy cream and season with salt and black pepper. Heat gently over low heat for 5 minutes without boiling.

Step 12

Ladle the bisque into bowls, garnish with reserved shrimp and fresh parsley, and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2306.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2103.5

Total Fat 150.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 79.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g
Cholesterol 997.7mg	0%
Sodium 5828.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 43.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 8.1g	0%
Total Sugars 17.2g
Protein 93.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 352.3mg	0%
Iron 5.0mg	0%
Potassium 2101.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 71.2%

Protein: 19.7%

Carbs: 9.1%