SLOW-COOKER SHRIMP & CRAB BISQUE
But Mother Nature is screwing that up! This warm streak of weather has been L-O-V-E-L-Y but so unexpected. I’m still down for soup and sweater weather, but I think I may be alone. People are eating up this spring-like weather like crazy. Not that I blame them. I just wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to cozy time. Also, side bar: I kind of think it means our world is ending. I know. I’m cray.
Let’s just ignore the weather for a moment so I can get back to my original point: this bisque is incredible and should happen in your life ASAP. Plus, it all happens in a slow cooker or crock pot, which makes it totally appropriate for warmer weather. It will keep your kitchen nice and cool.
Slow-Cooker Shrimp & Crab Bisque
Yield: 8 servings
ingredients
For the Bisque:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
3 leeks, washed well and sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
Pinch of red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 cups seafood or fish stock
2 cups water
1 (15-oz) can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup dry sherry (or brandy, cognac, dry white wine)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
1 lb peeled/deveined shrimp
1 cup fresh jumbo lump crab
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Toasted bread or croutons, for serving
For the Crab Topping:
Juice of ½ a lemon
2 tablespoons of mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon whole grain mustard
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup fresh jumbo lump crab
Salt and pepper, to taste
directions
For the Bisque:
Heat a skillet** over medium heat and add the oil and butter. Add the leeks and garlic, along with a pinch of salt and the red pepper flakes, and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes.
Transfer the leek mixture to the bottom of your slow cooker pot.
Add in the tomato paste, stock, water, tomatoes, Old Bay seasoning, and sugar, stirring well to combine.
In a mixing cup, whisk together the brandy/sherry and flour until smooth. Stir into the stock mixture. Add in the salt and pepper and cook in the slow cooker on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.
Taste the bisque base for seasoning and adjust as necessary. Stir in the shrimp, cream, fresh crab, and parsley and continue cooking for another 15 minutes or until the shrimp are pink and cooked through. Keep warm until you are ready to serve.
For the Crab Topping:
While your bisque is cooking, make the crab topping by combining the lemon juice, mayo, mustards, and parsley in a mixing bowl. Gently fold in the crab meat, being careful to not break it up too much. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper, Keep chilled until you are ready to serve.
To Serve:
Ladle the bisque into serving bowls and top with some of the cold crab salad. Garnish with additional parsley, if desired, and serve while warm with toasted bread of croutons.
NOTE:
I have a slow cooker that can be used like a skillet, so I made this entire thing in the slow cooker pot. If you have a sear/saute option on your slow cooker, you can save a couple steps (and the second pan!) and do the whole thing in the slow cooker.