This Spiced Seafood Bisque with Sesame Prawn Croutons is a luxurious and flavorful seafood soup that’s topped with mini sesame prawn toasts for an added crunch. The bisque itself is rich and aromatic, made with a blend of mussels, haddock, and prawns, infused with spices like cayenne, paprika, and cumin. The sesame prawn croutons are made from a smooth prawn paste spread over bread, dipped in sesame seeds, and fried until golden. This dish is perfect for impressing guests or enjoying a special meal at home.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Sesame Prawn Croutons:

• 10 2/3 oz prawns, peeled and roughly chopped

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• ¼ oz fresh ginger, roughly chopped

• 1 egg white

• 1 tsp light soy sauce

• 4 slices white bread

• 1 ¾ oz white sesame seeds

• 1 ¾ oz black sesame seeds

• 1 1/16 pint vegetable oil (for frying)

• Salt, to taste

For the Spiced Seafood Bisque:

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp unsalted butter

• 3 ½ oz white onion, finely diced

• 3 ½ oz celery, finely diced

• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• ¼ oz fresh ginger, finely chopped

• 1 oz plain flour

• 1 tsp cayenne pepper

• 2 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tsp turmeric powder

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• 2 tbsp tomato paste

• 5 1/16 fl oz white wine

• 2 ⅛ pints fish stock

• 8 ¾ oz live mussels, cleaned

• 2 skinless haddock fillets, sliced into smaller portions

• 8 large king prawns, whole

• 1 lemon, juiced

• 1 fl oz double cream

Directions

1. Make the Prawn Paste for Croutons: Combine prawns, garlic, ginger, egg white, and soy sauce in a food processor and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

2. Prepare the Croutons: Spread the prawn paste evenly over the bread slices. Dip them, paste-side down, into the sesame seeds. Place the bread on a plate and refrigerate.

3. Cook the Bisque Base: In a large pot, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add onion and celery and cook until softened. Add garlic and ginger, cooking until fragrant. Stir in flour and spices and cook for 2 minutes. Add tomato paste, white wine, and fish stock, bringing to a boil before lowering the heat and simmering for 15 minutes.

4. Fry the Croutons: Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan. Fry the sesame prawn toasts for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and slice into triangles.

5. Finish the Bisque: Blitz the bisque with a hand blender until smooth, then strain it through a fine sieve. Add mussels, haddock, and prawns, cooking for 4 minutes until the mussels open and the fish is opaque. Stir in lemon juice and double cream.

6. Serve: Ladle the bisque into bowls and top with sesame prawn croutons. Serve immediately.

Nutrients (per serving)

• Calories: 350 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 8g

• Protein: 30g

• Fat: 25g

  • Saturated Fat: 12g

• Cholesterol: 200mg

• Sodium: 800mg

• Potassium: 400mg

• Fiber: 2g

• Sugar: 1g

• Calcium: 150mg

• Iron: 3mg

The Sesame Prawn Croutons: Crunchy and Savory

The sesame prawn croutons are a standout feature of this dish, adding texture and flavor to the rich bisque. To make the croutons, prawns are blended with garlic, ginger, egg white, and soy sauce to create a smooth prawn paste. This paste is then spread over slices of white bread, and the bread is dipped in a mixture of white and black sesame seeds. The sesame seeds coat the bread with a fragrant crunch, and when fried in hot oil, the croutons become golden brown and crispy, offering a delightful contrast to the creamy soup.

These prawn croutons are the perfect accompaniment to the bisque, offering both texture and flavor. They are crunchy on the outside with a savory, seafood-filled interior that complements the smooth, spiced bisque perfectly. Served as a garnish, they bring an added layer of indulgence and depth to the dish.

The Spiced Seafood Bisque: Aromatic and Rich

The bisque itself is a deeply flavorful soup made with a blend of fresh seafood, vegetables, and a combination of aromatic spices. The base starts with finely diced onion and celery, which are cooked until softened, followed by garlic and ginger, which add fragrant, warm notes to the soup. A blend of cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, turmeric powder, and ground cumin infuses the soup with rich, bold flavors, creating a beautiful depth that balances the sweetness of the seafood.

Tomato paste and white wine are added to the pot, adding a slight acidity and complexity to the bisque. Fish stock is then poured in, creating a flavorful liquid that is simmered with the spices and vegetables for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Once the bisque base is ready, it’s blended with a hand blender until smooth, then strained through a fine sieve to remove any solids, leaving a velvety, rich soup. The addition of mussels, haddock, and prawns gives the soup its seafood base. The mussels open during cooking, releasing their briny juices into the soup, while the haddock and prawns cook until tender and succulent.

Finally, lemon juice and double cream are stirred in to balance the richness with a touch of acidity and smooth creaminess. This finishing touch gives the bisque its luxurious, silky texture.

Cooking and Assembly: Easy to Prepare with Stunning Results

While the dish may seem elaborate, it’s relatively simple to prepare. The croutons are made in advance, and the bisque base requires a short cooking time before adding the seafood. The final steps are just a matter of assembling the bisque with the cooked seafood and adding the croutons for garnish. The contrast of the creamy bisque with the crispy prawn croutons makes for a stunning presentation that is both visually appealing and incredibly satisfying.

The combination of spices in the bisque, the sweetness of the seafood, and the savory crunch of the prawn croutons creates a multi-layered flavor profile that will impress anyone you serve it to.

Serving Suggestions

Spiced Seafood Bisque with Sesame Prawn Croutons is a perfect dish to serve as a starter for a special dinner party or as a main course for a more intimate gathering. The richness of the bisque and the seafood makes it a filling dish, while the lightness of the prawn croutons offers the perfect balance.

For a complete meal, pair the bisque with a light salad of mixed greens or a side of roasted vegetables to balance out the richness of the soup. A glass of white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, pairs beautifully with this dish, complementing the seafood and spices.

This dish is sure to impress at any gathering, whether it’s a holiday dinner, a celebration, or simply a luxurious treat at home. The combination of flavors and textures makes it a memorable, crowd-pleasing dish that will leave guests raving.

Nutritional Information

Each serving of Spiced Seafood Bisque with Sesame Prawn Croutons contains approximately 350 calories. The dish is rich in fat (25g), with 12g of saturated fat, primarily coming from the butter, cream, and oil used in cooking. This makes it a decadent dish, best enjoyed on special occasions.

With 30g of protein, this dish is an excellent source of lean protein from the seafood, providing a healthy and filling meal. It also contains 8g of carbohydrates, which is relatively low, making it a good option for those following low-carb diets. The dish is also a good source of fiber (2g), calcium (150mg), and iron (3mg), providing some essential nutrients while indulging in a flavorful seafood meal.

The bisque is relatively high in sodium (800mg), mainly due to the fish stock and soy sauce used in the croutons, so it’s best to enjoy in moderation, especially for those on a sodium-restricted diet.

Customizing the Recipe

While the recipe is delicious as written, there are several ways to customize it to suit your tastes. For a milder flavor, reduce the amount of cayenne pepper and smoked paprika in the bisque. If you prefer a spicier version, feel free to add more cayenne or even a pinch of chili flakes to the soup.

You can also use different seafood depending on availability and personal preference. Scallops, lobster, or crab can be substituted for the haddock and prawns for a different flavor profile.

For a lighter version, consider using a reduced-fat cream or replacing the butter with olive oil in the bisque. The sesame prawn croutons can also be made healthier by using whole grain bread and reducing the amount of oil used for frying.

Conclusion

Spiced Seafood Bisque with Sesame Prawn Croutons is a luxurious, flavorful dish that brings the richness of seafood and spices together in one unforgettable meal. The aromatic bisque, with its bold spices and tender seafood, is complemented by the crispy, savory sesame prawn croutons, making every bite a satisfying experience. Perfect for impressing guests or enjoying a special meal at home, this dish captures the essence of French fine dining in a way that’s both elegant and indulgent.