Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque Recipe - A Dish of Daily Life (2024)

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You will love the flavors of this Seafood Tomato Bisque! The richness of cream cheese blended with the classic seafood flavors of shrimp and scallops, will give you a main dish bisque that everyone will find perfectly filling.

Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque Recipe - A Dish of Daily Life (1)

It is soup season which is why this Seafood Tomato Bisque is a must try recipe! My family loves soups, and when fall and winter come around, we eat soup every single day, even though we live in the south where it doesn’t get crazy hot. We just love soup!

We regularly have thisLemon Chicken Orzo Soupand thisThai Chicken Noodle Soup.

It is one of those easy recipes that gives you amazing flavor. My kids call it a tomato seafood soup, but I like to call it a bisque.

The word bisque is used a lot to describe different styles of soups and stews, but traditionally a bisque is a very creamy soup made from blended up ingredients you have simmered or sauteed together, and then you add plenty of cream to.

So it’s basically the best part of soup. But you can also have the perfect filling chunks of seafood to give you texture changes in your very thick bisque.

This tomato shrimp bisque is one of my favorite ways to serve it.

Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque Recipe - A Dish of Daily Life (2)

What is Seafood Tomato Bisque?

Seafood Tomato Bisque is a creamy soup that blends the flavors of seafood and tomatoes. Simmered low and layering flavors gives you a perfect blend of tastes. This creamy tomato seafood bisque recipe will quickly become one of your family favorites.

Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque Recipe - A Dish of Daily Life (3)

What Ingredients Are in Seafood Tomato Bisque?

  • Butter: gives the base of the soup a rich, buttery flavor.
  • Onion: adds a layer of flavor to the creamy tomato soup
  • Carrot: adds a hint of sweetness to the base of the soup
  • Celery: gives depth of flavor to the creamy seafood bisque
  • Garlic: adds flavor and depth to the seafood stock
  • Bay Leaf: one of the easy ways to take your tomato seafood bisque to the next level of flavor
  • Fresh Thyme: fresh makes a big difference; you won’t get as strong of a flavor using dried thyme (but if you do use thyme, not ground thyme)
  • Flour: thickens the bisque base to a creamy consistency.
  • Chicken Broth: using chicken stock or broth provides a savory base.
  • Chopped Tomatoes: canned tomatoes taste just as good and are easier to work with than fresh tomatoes when making soup
  • Cream Cheese: we use this instead of heavy cream to give you a thicker, creamier bisque
  • Cooking Sherry: this brings out flavors and adds a lot of flavor to the dish
  • Your Favorite Seafood:I think shrimp and bay scallops give the best seafood flavors in this recipe
  • Salt and Black Pepper: seasons everything to perfection
  • Chopped Parsley: use this as a garnish for a touch of freshness at the finish

Pro Tip:Change your fresh seafood meats to customize your flavors. Make a tomato crab bisque by adding crabmeat or lobster bisque by adding lobster meat. Leave out the scallops and it gives you a focused shrimp tomato bisque. Find your favorite flavors as you try different seafood combinations!

Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque Recipe - A Dish of Daily Life (4)

How to Make Seafood Tomato Bisque:

  1. Meltbutter in a large pot or dutch oven.
  2. Sautémirepoix, garlic, and herbs in the butter over medium heat.
  3. Addflour andstir well, thenaddtomatoes and broth;simmer.
  4. Addcream cheese and sherry;simmer.
  5. Removeherbs, and use an immersion blender topureethe bisque.
  6. Returnto medium-low heat,addseafood, andsimmerbriefly.
  7. Season, garnish, and serve.

Pro Tip:Using an emulsion blender is the safest way to blend hot liquids. If you need to use a standard blender, let the bisque cool slightly before blending to avoid splattering hot liquid.

Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque Recipe - A Dish of Daily Life (5)

What to Serve with Seafood Tomato Bisque:

My favorite thing to serve with seafood tomato bisque are a green salad and breadsticks. Soup, salad, and breadsticks are the perfect comfort food.

And that is a great way to make sure there is something on the table that everyone loves to eat.

How to Store Leftover Seafood Tomato Bisque:

Store leftover seafood tomato bisque in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Put it into individual serving size containers for easy meal prep!

Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque Recipe - A Dish of Daily Life (6)

How Long Does Seafood Tomato Bisque Last in the Fridge?

Stored properly in the fridge, seafood tomato bisque will last 3-4 days. It is a thick soup that will thicken as it sits, so be sure to stir and reheat gently.

Can You Freeze Seafood Tomato Bisque?

Yes you can freeze tomato seafood soup. The texture of the fresh seafood will change, so if you are planning to freeze it, make and blend the soup, then freeze it.

It can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw slowly in the refrigerator, then reheat and add the seafood fresh before serving.

Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque Recipe - A Dish of Daily Life (7)

Is Seafood Tomato Bisque Healthy?

Tomato Seafood Bisque is mostly healthy. That means moderation and portion control is key. Seafood has great lean protein, but the cream cheese makes it more of an occasional treat.

Can Dogs Eat Seafood Tomato Bisque?

No, dogs should not eat this seafood bisque recipe. The dairy content and seasonings are dangerous for your pups.

Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque Recipe - A Dish of Daily Life (8)

Additional Soup Recipes You’ll Love…

  • Colorado Green Chili Recipe
  • Lemon Orzo Kale Soup
  • Thai Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Instant Pot Queso Chili
  • Chicken Corn Chili Recipe
  • Ginger Butternut Squash Soup
  • Salmon Corn Chowder
  • Mexican Clam Chowder
  • Wisconsin Cheese Soup
  • Quick Beef Stew
  • Bacon and Beans Soup
  • Corn Chowder with Bacon and Potatoes
  • Recipe for Pasta fa*gioli
  • Instant Pot Tortellini Soup
  • Chicken Noodle Soup

Seafood tomato bisque is one of those delicious recipes that can double as an easy weeknight meal but still stand strong at an elegant dinner party. However you serve it, everyone is sure to want another helping of this perfect bisque.

I hope you enjoy this tomato seafood bisque recipe as much as we do!

Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque Recipe - A Dish of Daily Life (9)

Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Tomatoes and cream cheese add a rich creaminess to this delicious seafood bisque recipe. You won't be able to stop at just one bowl!

Ingredients

  • 5 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 large onion, peeled and chopped
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
  • 1 celery rib, chopped
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 6 cups of chicken broth (I used chicken broth because I tend to always have that on hand)
  • 28 oz can of chopped tomatoes
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 2 teaspoons cooking sherry
  • 2 pounds seafood, chopped (I used shrimp and bay scallop, chopped the shrimp into bite size pieces)
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • chopped parsley as garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a large sauce pot, melt butter over high heat.
  2. Add all vegetables, bay leaf and fresh thyme.
  3. Cook until vegetables are tender, approximately 10 minutes.
  4. Add flour and cook for another couple minutes, stirring to combine.
  5. Add tomatoes and broth; stir to combine; bring to a boil.
  6. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
  7. Add cream cheese and sherry; stir and let cream cheese dissolve; simmer for another 10 minutes.
  8. Remove bay leaf and thyme sprigs.
  9. Puree in blender, or use an immersion blender.
  10. Return pot to stove; add shrimp and scallops; continue to simmer for another couple minutes until seafood is cooked.
  11. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  12. Garnish with chopped parsley, if desired.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 488Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 191mgSodium: 1866mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 2gSugar: 8gProtein: 39g

Originally Posted: January 12, 2015

Photos & Text Updated: October 23, 2023

Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque Recipe - A Dish of Daily Life (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between creamy tomato soup and tomato bisque? ›

While both are delicious, they are quite different, especially when it comes to the texture. Tomato bisque is thicker and creamier in texture, and calls for the use of milk and/or cream.

What is the classic thickener for a bisque? ›

Bisque is traditionally thickened at the end of cooking with both cream and cooked rice. The latter, when blended in, adds a smooth, starchy thickness without introducing much flavor of its own.

Is tomato bisque soup good for you? ›

Tomato soup is an excellent source of antioxidants, including lycopene, flavonoids, and vitamins C and E, among many others ( 3 , 7 ). Consuming antioxidants has been linked with a lower risk of cancer and inflammation-related diseases, such as obesity and heart disease ( 3 , 8 , 9 ).

What ingredient does bisque typically have? ›

The main ingredient of a bisque is usually a shellfish like lobster, crab, shrimp, or crayfish, but occasionally other ingredients such as tomato, pumpkin or chicken are used.

Is Campbell's tomato bisque the same as tomato soup? ›

But seriously the primary difference is that a bisque includes cream, where a traditional tomato soup does not. Bisque is a smooth, creamy, highly seasoned soup of French origin, classically based on a strained broth of crustaceans.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

How can you add richness to bisque soup? ›

Tomato – A fresh tomato will help add color and flavor to this soup. Tomato Paste – You will need tomato paste to add flavor, color, richness, and body to the bisque. Garlic – A few cloves go a long way to enhancing this flavor.

What are the finishing ingredients for most bisques? ›

Almost all bisques are finished with hot cream for a velvety texture. The richest bisques also include butter! Bisque should feel smooth and luxurious so it must be very thoroughly blended.

How long does homemade tomato bisque last? ›

In a sealed nonreactive container, tomato soup will keep up to one week in the refrigerator, or six months in the freezer.

Can diabetics eat tomato bisque soup? ›

I am collaborating with Know Diabetes by Heart a collaboration between the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association to bring to your recipe ideas. This tomato basil bisque not only is heart healthy but great for people living with diabetes.

Is tomato bisque anti-inflammatory? ›

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an anti-inflammatory nutrient that fights inflammation throughout the body.

What alcohol is in bisque? ›

The lobster bisque, a classic lobster dish from New England, traditionally uses both white wine and brandy in its preparation. Brandy is made from grapes, so you can consider it like an extremely pepped up version of wine.

What is the difference between bisque and cream soup? ›

A bisque is a cream soup, but a cream soup isn't always a bisque. To be a bisque the soup has to be made with a shellfish stock and will often include pieces of shellfish. Quite simply, no shellfish, no bisque.

How long does tomato bisque last in the fridge? ›

Storing, Freezing, & Reheating Tomato Bisque

Leftovers are good in the fridge for up to 4 days. Be sure to store in an airtight container and only reheat as much as you plan on eating at any one time. Reheating then re-chilling is the perfect recipe for bacteria and food-borne illness.

What makes a soup a bisque vs creamy soup? ›

Key Differences

Ingredients: Bisque is often made with seafood and enriched with heavy cream, whereas soup can be made with a wide range of ingredients, offering more versatility. Consistency: Bisque is consistently smooth and velvety, while soup can have a diverse range of consistencies, depending on the recipe.

What's the difference between bisque and cream? ›

A bisque is a cream soup, but a cream soup isn't always a bisque. To be a bisque the soup has to be made with a shellfish stock and will often include pieces of shellfish. Quite simply, no shellfish, no bisque.

Is bisque a creamy soup? ›

A traditional French chef would define a bisque as being a thick, creamy soup made with shellfish and thickened by a paste made from their shells.

What does bisque mean in tomato soup? ›

The difference is a misnomer. If it's not made from crustaceans, it's not bisque. The word comes from the French bis cuites which means "twice cooked". It's a reference to the method for making bisque from crustaceans where you first cook them in the shell (to make the broth" and then poach the meat in the broth later.

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