Lobster Bisque: The Best Cheeses To Pair

Lobster bisque is a luxurious comfort food that can be enjoyed all year round. While it is a treat on its own, some people like to add cheese to the dish, despite the rule that cheese and seafood do not mix. Lobster bisque can be served with grilled cheese sandwiches, or the cheese can be added directly to the bisque to make it extra creamy and indulgent.

Lobster Bisque Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

• Lobster
• Pasta
• Cheese (Gruyère, Parmesan, White Cheddar, Crotonese, Goat, Avalon Cheddar, Brie, Mozzarella)
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Flour
• Milk
• Breadcrumbs
• Parsley
• Peas
• Onion
• Lobster bisque

Method

Start by making a basic lobster bisque. Combine lobster, olive oil, and seasoning in a large pot, and cook until the lobster is done. Remove the lobster and set aside, then strain the bisque into a separate bowl.

Next, cook your pasta according to the packet instructions. Drain the pasta and toss with some of the lobster bisque.

In a skillet, melt butter and add olive oil and crushed garlic. Cook for a few minutes, then add flour and cook until a paste forms. Gradually add milk, stirring until smooth. Add in the drained pasta, some cheese, and lobster, and stir.

Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and breadcrumbs. Bake in the oven until the cheese is melted and the top is golden.

Finally, plate your mac and cheese and pour some of the lobster bisque into the bottom of the bowl. Top with lobster chunks and fresh parsley.

Tips and Variations

• For an extra crispy topping, place the dish under the grill for a few minutes before serving.
• Try adding some caramelized onions and peas to the mac and cheese for extra flavor and texture.
• If you want to make a grilled cheese to go with your lobster bisque, try using brie or a combination of brie and mozzarella.
• For a fondue-inspired twist, serve the lobster bisque in a pot with a selection of dippers, such as bread, asparagus, and roasted vegetables.

Lobster Bisque with Cheese Tortelloni

Ingredients:

• Lobster tails or lobster meat (fresh or frozen)
• Cheese tortelloni (fresh or frozen)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Dry white wine
• Chicken broth or stock
• Unsalted butter
• Fennel bulb
• All-purpose flour
• Fresh tomato (peeled, seeded, and diced)
• Cayenne pepper
• Lemon juice
• Onion
• Garlic
• Brandy (optional)
• Tomato paste
• Paprika
• Thyme
• Bay leaves
• Cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

Step 1: Prepare the Lobster

If using frozen lobster tails, ensure they are completely thawed. Steam the lobster tails shell-side down in salted water for 5 minutes. Transfer the tails to a plate and let them cool. Remove the tail meat from the shells in one piece and set it aside.

Step 2: Make the Lobster Bisque

In a large pot, heat extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the lobster shells for 5 minutes. Deglaze the pan by adding white wine, chicken stock, and reserved lobster water from steaming the tails. Simmer for about 45 minutes until reduced. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, sauté diced onion and fennel in butter for 4-5 minutes. Add flour and stir to combine. Pour in the strained lobster stock, diced tomato, brandy (if using), tomato paste, paprika, cayenne pepper, bay leaves, and thyme. Simmer for 45 minutes, then remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Blend the mixture until smooth. Stir in cream and lemon juice, and keep warm.

Step 3: Cook the Cheese Tortelloni

Prepare the cheese tortelloni according to the package instructions. Sauté the lobster meat in butter over medium-high heat just until warmed through. Chop or slice the lobster meat to your desired size.

Step 4: Assemble and Serve

Divide the cooked tortelloni among your soup plates. Ladle the lobster bisque over the tortelloni, add the lobster meat, and garnish with fennel fronds, pepper, and paprika. Serve immediately and enjoy the creamy, indulgent flavors of your Lobster Bisque with Cheese Tortelloni!

Variations and Tips:

• You can add other ingredients to the bisque such as carrots, celery, or celery sticks as per your taste preference.
• For an extra creamy touch, add some whipped cream to the bisque and blend until smooth.
• If you prefer a thicker bisque, you can make a roux and mix it through.
• Feel free to adjust the seasoning and spice levels to your taste.
• You can also try making your own tortelloni from scratch, filling it with a mixture of lobster meat, ricotta cheese, and lemon zest.

Lobster Bisque with Brie Grilled Cheese

A delicious and indulgent meal, Lobster Bisque with Brie Grilled Cheese is the perfect comfort food for a cold day. This recipe will show you how to make a delicious lobster bisque and the perfect grilled cheese to go with it, using brie cheese.

Lobster Bisque Ingredients:

• Lobster
• Water
• Salt
• Butter
• Panera Bread Lobster Bisque (or your favourite brand)
• Chives

Lobster Bisque Method:

Start by filling a large pot with 8 cups of water and 4 tablespoons of butter. Cover with a lid and heat until boiled. Once boiling, add your lobster for 8-10 minutes, then return the lid. While the lobster is boiling, add 3 containers of your chosen Heat n Serve Lobster Bisque and heat thoroughly.

Once the lobster is done, drain it and add it to a bowl of water and ice to create an ice bath. After a few minutes, remove the lobster from the ice bath and use scissors to peel it. Slice the lobster into pieces or chunks.

Once the soup is heated, set it to low until you are ready to serve. For added flavour, you can melt some butter in a saucepan and toss the lobster in the sauce.

To serve, add the soup to a bowl and top with the lobster and some chopped chives.

Grilled Cheese Ingredients:

• Sliced Brie Cheese
• Sliced Mozzarella Cheese (optional)
• 8 slices of Butter Bread
• Butter (softened)

Grilled Cheese Method:

Start by slicing your brie cheese and, if using, your mozzarella cheese. Next, spread some softened butter on the outside of your bread slices. Add the cheese slices to one side of the bread and place the other bread slice on top.

Heat a skillet with some butter and add the sandwich once the butter has melted. Cut the sandwich in half and serve while hot, alongside your lobster bisque.

Lobster Bisque Fondue

Ingredients

• 1 lb gruyere cheese, grated
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 garlic clove, peeled and left whole
• 1 cup dry white wine
• ½ cup lobster or seafood stock
• 3 tablespoons brandy (or more to taste)
• Drizzle of half-and-half
• Cooked and shelled lobster meat (often bought cooked at the store)
• Juice of half a lemon
• Cubed bread or toasted croutons
• Blanched asparagus spears
• Sliced roasted red peppers
• Radishes, sliced or roasted
• Grilled zucchini or summer squash
• Roasted brussels sprouts
• Roasted baby potatoes

Method

• Toss the grated cheese thoroughly with the cornstarch. Set aside.
• Place the garlic clove, white wine, and stock in a fondue pot. Place the pot over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Discard the garlic clove.
• Gradually whisk in the cheese and stir until smooth and melted.
• Whisk in the brandy and half-and-half and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Whisk in the lemon juice.
• Just before serving, stir in the cooked lobster meat.
• Transfer your fondue pot to the warmer and serve with desired accompaniments/dippers.

Tips

• This fondue is a little thinner in consistency than your traditional cheese fondue (but still plenty melty and cheesy)!
• It is best to make fondue when you are ready to eat it, but you can make it ahead of time and reheat it. The author of this recipe found that they were able to make this about two hours ahead in a small Dutch oven (not the fondue pot). Once it was ready, they turned off the heat, put a lid on the pot, and reheated the fondue on the stove in the same pot a couple of hours later with no issue.

Lobster Bisque in a Bread Bowl

A luxurious and indulgent dish, Lobster Bisque in a Bread Bowl is the ultimate comfort food. This recipe combines the creamy, rich flavours of lobster bisque with the satisfying crunch of a bread bowl. The perfect dish to elevate your dinner or impress at a dinner party, it's also a great way to use up leftover lobster and bread. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating this delicious meal.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds fresh live lobster, cut in half
• Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 3 cups full-fat milk
• 2 ounces Parmesan, grated
• 3 1/5 ounces white cheddar, grated (or a cheese of your choice, see below for suggestions)
• 10 1/2 ounces macaroni pasta
• Butter, for spreading
• 1 loaf of crusty bread, such as sourdough or a baguette

Optional:

• 1/2 bunch of green onion stalks
• Fresh parsley or chives, chopped
• Lemon juice, to taste
• Cayenne pepper, to taste

Method:

Start by making the lobster bisque. In a large pot, combine the lobster, salt, pepper, olive oil, and green onion stalks (if using). Cover and simmer until the lobster meat is cooked and the shell has turned pink, about 10 minutes. Remove the lobster from the pot and set aside. Drain the bisque through a mesh strainer into a separate bowl.

Preheat your oven to 400°F. In a separate pot, cook the pasta according to the package instructions in heavily salted water. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Remove the meat from the lobster shells and roughly chop it.

In a large skillet, melt butter and add olive oil and crushed garlic. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add flour and cook for a few more minutes, stirring consistently, until a paste forms. Gradually add the milk, stirring until smooth. Simmer until the sauce coats the back of a spoon. If needed, add a little pasta water to thin the sauce.

Stir in the cooked pasta, half of the cheese, and lobster meat to the sauce. Add a splash of lemon juice and cayenne pepper, if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Slice the top off the loaf of bread and hollow out the inside, creating a bowl. Spread butter on the inside of the bread bowl, if desired. Spoon the lobster bisque mixture into the bread bowl, filling it generously. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and place the bread lid back on top.

Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from the oven and let it stand for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or chives, if desired.

Cheese Suggestions:

While the recipe above suggests using Parmesan and white cheddar, there are several other cheeses that pair well with lobster bisque. Here are some options to consider:

• Gruyère: A classic Swiss cheese with a slightly sweet and nutty flavour that melts beautifully.
• Brie: A soft and creamy French cheese with a mild flavour that pairs well with the richness of the bisque.
• Goat Cheese: Tangy and creamy, goat cheese adds a nice contrast to the sweet lobster.
• Crotonese (Pecorino): A sheep's milk cheese with a sharp and savoury flavour that can enhance the seafood taste.
• Mozzarella: For those who prefer a milder, stretchy cheese, mozzarella can add a gooey texture to the dish.

Feel free to experiment with different cheeses or combine a few to create a unique flavour profile that suits your taste buds.

Serving Suggestions:

Enjoy the delicious flavours of the sea and the comfort of a bread bowl with this Lobster Bisque recipe!

Frequently asked questions