Shrimp Bisque Brandy Flambe Soup

Shrimp Bisque Brandy Flambe
source: recipe and photograph created by www.finedinings.com

Serves 8

Ingredients

9 ounces raw Shrimp, shelled, de-veined
2-1/4 cups cold water
1 celery rib, coarsely chopped
2 medium onions, divided
3 Bay leaves, divided
3 black peppercorns
2-1/4 teaspoons butter
1 carrot, finely chopped
2 1/4 teaspoon tomato paste
1 1/4 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Sherry wine
3 tablespoons Brandy
small bunch of fresh Parsley
3 cups heavy cream
Salt and pepper, to taste
parsley sprigs for garnish



Directions

Put shrimp shells in a saucepan with cold water, celery, 1 onion coarsely chopped, 1 bay leaf and peppercorns; bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Do not let it cook over 30 minutes or it will become bitter. Strain, reserving the stock, discard the solids.

Finely chop the remaining onion. In a medium saucepan, melt butter, saute onion and carrot. Add the tomato paste, thyme, paprika, Sherry wine and Brandy. Bring to a boil. Move the saucepan off the heat and carefully ignite the brandy. Allow the flame to burn out.

Add the reserved stock, puree in a blender and return mixture to the saucepan.

Add to the bisque flambe a bouquet garni which is wrapping the remaining 2 bay leaves and parsley in cheesecloth with a string attached to the handle of the saucepan making it easy to retrieve when removing the bouquet garni from the stock.

At this point the bisque soup can be made ahead, covered and refrigerated.

When ready to serve, bring the soup up to the boiling point but do not boil; add the cream, salt and pepper. Remove the bouquet garni, add the raw shrimp cooking 2 minutes, do not overcook or they will become tough. Ladle the shrimp bisque flambe into soup bowls, garnish with parsley sprigs and serve.

Wine recommendation: Pinot Gris; Chardonnay