18 bisque recipes

This tantalizing and delicious bisque is made with juicy tomatoes, chopped onions and light cream.

Creamy squash, apple, and corn bisque: butternut, Granny Smith apples, and sweet corn simmered with leeks, finished with cream and nutmeg. A tart-sweet fall bowl topped with toasted pumpkin seeds.

Rich shrimp bisque built from sautéed shells, fish stock, brandy, paprika, heavy cream, and dry sherry. A classic French technique that extracts every ounce of shrimp flavor.

Lemon bisque is a vintage no-bake dessert: whipped evaporated milk and lemon Jello layered between sweet graham cracker crumbs for a tangy, fluffy refrigerator cake.

Party lemon bisque is a vintage no-bake chilled dessert: lemon gelatin and partially-frozen sweetened condensed milk whipped into a cloud-light mousse over graham cracker crumbs. Tangy, sweet, and built for a crowd.

Cold clam bisque blended with baby clams, half-and-half, Worcestershire, and hot pepper sauce. A creamy no-cook chilled seafood soup sprinkled with chives and paprika, ready in 15 minutes.

Martinique-style crayfish bisque simmered with fennel, garlic, and hot pepper, then enriched with coconut milk and egg yolks. A Caribbean French Creole soup that's silky, spicy, and deeply savory.

Here's a recipe for pumpkin soup. It comes from Jon Gatewood, the executive chef of Emma's restaurant in the Silas Griffith Inn in Danby, Vermont.

Puff-top shrimp bisque: individual soup cups crowned with golden puff pastry lids, hiding a creamy shrimp and zucchini bisque. Impressive starter for two.

Easy fish bisque built on canned cream of cheddar and tomato bisque soups, then simmered with milk, dry sherry, dill and flaky whitefish. A creamy seafood soup ready in under 10 minutes.

Creamy sherried lobster bisque for two, made with lobster tails, red potatoes, clam juice, and light sour cream blended silky smooth. An intimate, elegant soup finished with dry sherry and thyme.

Potato-tomato bisque with rehydrated sun-dried tomatoes, corn, celery, and thyme in a half-pureed base thickened naturally with blended potatoes and low-fat milk. A creamy, low-fat soup with concentrated tomato flavor.

A 3-ingredient chilled bisque that blends frozen cream of potato soup with peppery fresh watercress and milk into a smooth, elegant cold soup. Ready in minutes, no cooking required.

A rich, velvety Chesapeake-style oyster bisque simmered with bay leaf, finished with cream and a splash of dry sherry. Serves 24 for elegant entertaining.

Quick potato and salmon bisque made in the microwave with canned salmon, instant mashed potatoes, chicken broth, and lemon zest. A creamy, no-fuss soup ready in about 15 minutes.

Fresh corn bisque with turmeric, aromatic vegetables, and green onion garnish. A dairy-free, vegan-friendly soup that works hot or chilled. Ready in 25 minutes.