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Bisque tends to be a smooth, creamy soup, that is easy on the stomach – since its warmth can be comforting, especially if you're not in the mood for a heavy meal. Their rich flavour profile despite being relatively light, makes them quite satisfying and indulgent. The process of making a bisque often involves cooking shellfish shells or vegetables for an extended period, which helps extract more flavours that result in a rich, complex soup. Typically made with various ingredients like lobster, crab, shrimp or even vegetables like tomatoes or mushrooms, bisques have scope to experiment with a wide range of flavours and options. Bisques are often associated with more upscale or special occasions due to their ability to add a touch of sophistication to a meal.
Prawn Bisque
A creamy tomato bisque punctuated with plump, tender prawns – this bisque is the ideal meal for two. Once the prawns have been cleaned and deshelled, cook the shells with aromatics, herbs and some stock for a delicious, seafood flavoured base in which you can add the cream and tomatoes. Serve with a toasted piece of sourdough or croutons on the side, to make an impressive dinner.
Zucchini Bisque
Put a vegetarian spin on the classic seafood variation with zucchini that you can roast or sauté before grinding along with other ingredients. Since zucchini has a fairly neutral flavour, build up the layers using ingredients like fresh thyme, fennel, garlic, mint and cumin. Alternately, you could also use milder flavours like fresh ginger and spring onions, if you prefer to let the taste of the vegetable shine through.
Chicken-Tomato Bisque
Image Credits: Turkish Style Cooking
Tangy tomatoes combined with shredded cooked chicken makes for a kid-friendly meal that is also healthy and nourishing. Add a handful of rice to the bisque to make a complete bowl meal that feeds a large family; or bulk up your bisque with diced vegetables of your choice for added nutritional value. Serve with freshly baked dinner rolls or some kind of crusty bread to mop up any leftover juices.
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Vegan Mushroom Bisque
Swap the milk in a classic recipe with coconut milk and garlicky mushrooms, instead of seafood – to make an umami-packed vegan version. Infuse the mushrooms with flavours of garlic, herbs and cream before you blend it into a thick liquid that you can also elevate to a different level of luxuriousness with the addition of a few drops of truffle oil.
Seafood Bisque
The classic bisque of all bisques – throw in any fresh seafood you can find or pick between a combination of squid, shrimp, fish and mussels. Make sure that you add the seafood to your simmering flavour base in order of what takes longest to cook, in order to preserve the delicate freshness and texture of your seafood. Go easy on the herbs and use a teaspoon of citrus zest instead to complement the seafood and accentuate their saline tastes.
Sweet Corn Bisque
One of the most underrated types of bisques, the sweet corn version uses simple flavours of spring onions, red chilli flakes and a drizzle of pesto to boost flavours. The nursery sweetness of the corn, combined with mild aromatics and herbs make this a bisque recipe ideal for when you’re feeling under the weather and want to eat something that soothes the discomfort. Spice it up with a drizzle of chilli crisp, if you like your food to be hot.
