A classic shellfish bisque is thickened with riceΓÇöthis recipe is no exception. The soup should be thick but not too thick, so thin it as necessary before serving.
Combine in a wide, deep pot or Dutch oven and bring to a boil over high heat:
5 cups water
2 cups dry white wine
2 cups Fish Stock or Fish Fumet
1 cup Classic Beef Stock or Brown Beef Stock
Place in the pot:
1 pound shell-on shrimp
Cover the pot tightly, return the liquid to a boil, and cook until the shells turn pink and curl, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Remove the shrimp from the broth. When cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the shells. Cover and refrigerate the meat and return the shells to the broth, and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and discard the solids. You need 6 cups of broth. If you have more, boil it over high heat until reduced to 6 cups. If you have less, add water to make 6 cups. Melt in a large saucepan over medium heat:
3 to 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Add and cook, stirring, until tender but not browned, 5 to 10 minutes:
1 cup finely chopped onions
1/3 cup finely chopped carrots
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
Stir in the 6 cups of broth along with:
1 1/2 cups chopped, seeded, peeled tomatoes, fresh or canned
Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, partially covered, for 40 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the shrimp into 1/4-inch dice. Melt in a medium skillet over medium heat:
2 to 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Add the shrimp and cook, stirring, until heated through. Stir in:
1/4 cup Cognac or brandy
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper, preferably freshly ground
Cook, stirring, until nearly all of the liquid is evaporated. Set aside 1/3 cup of the shrimp for garnish. Add the rest of the shrimp and any juices to the soup mixture. Remove the bay leaf. In a food processor or, preferably, a blender, puree the soup in small batches until smooth. Return the soup to the saucepan and stir in the reserved shrimp along with:
1/2 to 1 cup heavy cream
Heat the bisque through over low heat. Thin, if necessary, with: