Indulge in Our Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque: An Easy Shrimp & Scallop Recipe for the Ultimate Comfort
Imagine tender shrimp and succulent scallops, swimming in a rich, velvety tomato soup. This creamy seafood bisque, brimming with wholesome vegetables, tangy tomatoes, and luscious cream cheese, is an absolute must-make for every seafood enthusiast out there! Prepare to fall in love with this comforting bowl of deliciousness.
Happy cooking, everyone! Today, I’m thrilled to share something truly special that will undoubtedly become a treasured recipe in your kitchen collection. If your heart sings for fresh seafood and you find unparalleled comfort in a steaming bowl of soup, then this Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque is exactly what you need to create this weekend. It’s a dish that promises to warm you from the inside out, offering a gourmet experience with surprising ease.
This isn’t just any soup; it’s a celebration of flavors and textures, where the delicate sweetness of shrimp and scallops harmonizes perfectly with a rich, tangy tomato base. The addition of cream cheese transforms it into an incredibly smooth and luxurious bisque that feels indulgent yet is remarkably straightforward to prepare. Get ready to impress your family and friends with this show-stopping, yet simple, seafood delight.
The Inspiration Behind This Incredible Seafood Bisque
This delightful recipe hails from my dear friend and fellow blogger, Michelle, the creative mind behind A Dish of Daily Life. Michelle’s blog is a fantastic resource, focusing on food and travel, and offering a treasure trove of easy-to-make, healthy, and delicious recipes. Based in Connecticut, just a short distance from New York City, Michelle consistently delivers helpful how-to guides, shares her exciting travel adventures, and offers glimpses into her bustling family life. She’s a dedicated wife, a loving mother to three children, and a devoted fur mom to seven pets! Beyond her culinary prowess, Michelle is also an avid sports fan, cheering on her kids in their various athletic endeavors, and a passionate runner herself. Her ability to balance so much while consistently producing high-quality content is truly inspiring.
The blogging community is a unique and supportive network, where connections often grow into genuine friendships. We share a common passion for creating engaging content and connecting with our readers, but we also lean on each other through life’s challenges. This past week, Michelle underwent a very serious surgery, and she is now facing a period of recuperation. In the world of blogging, especially for those who rely on their platforms as a source of income, taking time off can unfortunately mean a significant loss of website traffic. The thought of this added stress during recovery was something her friends simply couldn’t stand by and watch.
Understanding the importance of community and wanting to ensure Michelle could focus entirely on her recovery without worrying about her blog, a group of us, her fellow blogger friends, decided to organize a special initiative. Our goal was twofold: to help alleviate any financial concerns by driving traffic to her amazing blog, and to allow her the peace of mind to truly rest and heal. We’re sending all of you, our wonderful readers, over to A Dish of Daily Life to discover another incredible food and travel blog, and to explore her collection of delicious, healthy, and easy-to-make recipes – just like this fantastic Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque. This collective effort is a testament to the bonds we share and our desire to lift each other up. It’s a wonderful feeling to be part of a community that comes together in times of need, transforming a challenging situation into an opportunity to celebrate a cherished friend and her work.
Here’s a throwback picture from a memorable blogging event in 2015, featuring myself alongside some fantastic women: Debbie, Michelle, and Linda. These are the kinds of connections that truly enrich our lives and careers.
As part of our support for Michelle, many bloggers are preparing and sharing recipes from her extensive collection. If you’re curious to see who is making what, and discover even more amazing dishes, here’s the master list of recipes being featured by her friends:
December Recipes
- Easy Crab Dip Recipe made by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures – A delightful appetizer perfect for any gathering.
- Seafood Bisque made by An Affair from the Heart – This very recipe you are reading about!
- Marinated Olives made by Take Two Tapas – A simple yet elegant snack or appetizer.
- Refried Beans made by Lisa’s Dinnertime Dish – A versatile side dish for Mexican nights.
- Lemon Herb Chicken with Roasted Potatoes made by Hostess At Heart – A flavorful and hearty meal for any weeknight.
- Red Quinoa & Butternut Squash Salad made by My Life Cookbook – A healthy and vibrant salad option.
- Italian Panini made by Full Belly Sisters – A warm, pressed sandwich packed with Italian flavors.
- Rigatoni Salsiccia e Rapini made by LeMoine Family Kitchen – A classic Italian pasta dish featuring sausage and rapini.
- Thai Chicken Noodle Soup made by Love Bakes Good Cakes – A comforting and aromatic Asian-inspired soup.
- Italian Bowtie Pasta made by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures – A quick and easy pasta dish for the family.
- Pink Vodka Sauce made by Lady Behind The Curtain – A creamy and decadent pasta sauce.
- Crab Imperial made by Life Currents – A rich and luxurious crab dish.
- Homemade Taco Seasoning made by Bowl Me Over – Essential for elevating your taco nights.
- Southwestern Bean Dip made by Aunt Bee’s Recipes – A hearty and flavorful dip for parties.
January Recipes
- Homemade Enchilada Sauce made by The Foodie Affair – Transform your enchiladas with this authentic sauce.
- White Bean and Mint Hummus made by Take Two Tapas – A refreshing twist on a classic dip.
- Spicy Carrot Refrigerator Pickles, Mexican Style made by Lady Behind The Curtain – A zesty and crunchy condiment.
- Chicken Pesto Pasta with Artichokes made by Love Bakes Good Cakes – A vibrant and flavorful pasta dish.
- Rueben Sliders made by Bowl Me Over – Mini versions of the classic sandwich, perfect for appetizers.
My Journey to Making the Best Seafood Bisque
I confess this almost every time I share a seafood recipe: I don’t know why I don’t prepare seafood at home more often! It’s always a delight, yet it often feels like a special occasion dish. When I first stumbled upon this particular Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque recipe on Michelle’s blog, I admit I was a little apprehensive to even look at the recipe details. Seafood bisques often have a reputation for being complicated, demanding intricate steps and lengthy cooking times. My immediate thought was, “It HAS to be difficult, right?”
To my absolute surprise and joy, this recipe proved to be incredibly easy to make! The process was straightforward, and the outcome was nothing short of spectacular. This isn’t just a one-time wonder; this is a recipe that will undoubtedly be made again and again in my kitchen. It truly demystifies the idea of gourmet seafood cooking at home.
I followed Michelle’s recipe very closely, making only one minor adjustment to suit our family’s preferences. While Michelle uses thyme in her version, we aren’t big fans of thyme in our household. So, I opted to substitute oregano instead, which added a wonderful, aromatic, and slightly Mediterranean flavor that blended beautifully with the tomatoes and seafood. This simple swap highlighted the adaptability of the recipe, proving that you can easily customize it to your own taste without compromising on flavor or complexity.
The beauty of this creamy tomato seafood bisque lies in its ability to deliver a restaurant-quality taste with minimal fuss. It’s perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner, yet elegant enough to serve guests. The combination of fresh seafood, a rich tomato base, and the creamy tang of cream cheese creates a truly unforgettable experience. Let’s delve into the simple steps that bring this exquisite soup to life.
Building the Flavor Base: Sautéing the Aromatics
The journey to a perfect bisque begins with building a robust flavor foundation. We start by sautéing a classic mirepoix of carrots, celery, and onion in butter, along with a fragrant bay leaf. This initial step is crucial for tenderizing the vegetables and allowing their natural sweetness to develop, creating a savory aromatic base for the soup. Cook them gently until softened, not browned, to ensure a delicate flavor profile.
Developing Richness: Tomatoes, Broth, and Creaminess
Once the vegetables are tender, we introduce the vibrant flavors of diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and our chosen herb (oregano, in my case). This mixture is simmered for about 30 minutes, allowing all the flavors to meld beautifully. The next magical step involves adding a block of cream cheese and a touch of cooking sherry. Stir constantly until the cream cheese is fully melted and incorporated, creating that signature creamy texture. For an incredibly smooth and luxurious bisque, an immersion blender is your best friend here. Puree the soup directly in the pot until it reaches a silky-smooth consistency.
The Grand Finale: Adding the Seafood
Finally, the star ingredients take center stage. Add 2 pounds of your chosen seafood, chopped into bite-sized pieces. I followed Michelle’s excellent suggestion and used a delightful combination of shrimp and bay scallops. Their delicate flavors and quick cooking times are perfect for this bisque. Continue to simmer the soup for just a few minutes until the seafood is perfectly cooked through. Be careful not to overcook, as seafood can become rubbery quickly. The shrimp will turn pink and opaque, and the scallops will become firm and opaque.
A quick taste test for seasoning – add salt and black pepper to your preference – and your masterpiece is complete!
Serve this exquisite creamy tomato seafood bisque hot, ideally with some warm, crusty bread to soak up every last drop of that rich broth. Garnish with fresh parsley for a touch of color and freshness, if desired. Now, let’s get to the full, detailed recipe! 
This creamy seafood bisque is more than just a recipe; it’s an experience. It’s the kind of dish that warms your soul on a chilly evening, brings elegance to your dinner table, and delights with its vibrant flavors. The ease of preparation combined with the gourmet results makes it a true culinary gem. Whether you’re an experienced cook or just starting out, you’ll find this recipe approachable and rewarding. Enjoy every spoonful!
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Print Recipe
Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque
Ingredients
- 5 Tablespoons butter
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 large carrot peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 1 large garlic clove minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 6 cups of chicken broth
- 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 8 ounce brick of cream cheese
- 2 teaspoons cooking sherry
- 2 pounds seafood chopped (I used shrimp and bay scallops, chopped into bite size pieces)
- salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish if desired
Instructions
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In a soup pot, melt butter over high heat.
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Add all vegetables and bay leaf. Cook until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
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Add flour and cook for another couple minutes, stirring to combine.
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Add tomatoes, oregano and broth; stir to combine; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
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Add sherry and cream cheese, stir and let cream cheese melt; reduce heat and simmer for another 10 minutes.
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Remove bay leaf. Puree with emulsion blender.
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Return to stove; add in shrimp and scallops; continue to simmer for another couple minutes until seafood is cooked.
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Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Explore More Delicious Recipes from A Dish of Daily Life
As we continue to celebrate Michelle’s amazing work and support her during her recovery, I thought I would highlight a few more of the fantastic recipes from A Dish Of Daily Life that I simply can’t wait to try myself (and I encourage you to check them out too!):
I hope you enjoy making this Creamy Tomato Seafood Bisque as much as I did, and please take a moment to visit Michelle over at A Dish of Daily Life. You’ll find a welcoming community and a wealth of fantastic recipes that are sure to inspire your next culinary adventure. Happy cooking, and thank you for supporting our wonderful friend!