Shoreside Lobster Bisque

This decadent, rich lobster bisque requires some effort to make, but it is worth every minute! Serve this soup with a buttered crouton and a dollop of creme fraiche.

• Ready In: 1 hr 45 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 (1 lb)  live lobsters
• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  onion, sliced
• 1  stalk celery, sliced
• 1  small carrot, sliced
• 1  head garlic, cut in half crosswise
• 1  tomatoes, sliced
• 2  tablespoons  chopped fresh tarragon
• 2  tablespoons  chopped fresh thyme
• 2  bay leaves
• 8  whole black peppercorns
• 1⁄2 cup brandy
• 1⁄2 cup dry sherry
• 4  cups  fish stock or 4  cups bottled clam juice
• 1⁄4 cup tomato paste
• 1⁄2 cup  whipping cream
• 2  teaspoons cornstarch
• 1  tablespoon water

Directions

1. Bring large pot of water to boil.
2. Add lobsters head first and boil until cooked through, about 8 minutes.
3. Using tongs, transfer lobsters to large bowl.
4. Reserve 2 cups cooking liquid.
5. Cool lobsters.
6. Working over large bowl to catch juices, cut off lobster tails and claws.
7. Crack tail and claw shells and remove lobster meat.
8. Coarsely chop lobster meat; cover and chill.
9. Coarsely chop lobster shells and bodies; transfer to medium bowl.
10. Reserve juices from lobster in large bowl.
11. Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over high heat.
12. Add lobster shells and bodies and sauté until shells begin to brown, about 8 minutes.
13. Add onion and next 8 ingredients (celery through peppercorns).
14. Mix in brandy and Sherry.
15. Boil until almost all liquid has evaporated, about 4 minutes.
16. Add fish stock, reserved 2 cups lobster cooking liquid and lobster juices.
17. Simmer 1 hour.
18. Strain soup through sieve set over large saucepan, pressing firmly on solids.
19. Whisk tomato paste into soup.
20. Simmer until soup is reduced to 3 cups, about 15 minutes.
21. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Add cream to soup and simmer 5 minutes.
22. Dissolve cornstarch in 1 tablespoon water.
23. Add to soup and boil until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
24. Mix lobster meat into soup and stir to heat through.
25. Ladle soup into bowls.