Smokinlicious® Wood Recipe Blog

 

With its French origin, bisque is known as a creamy, thick soup that originally was made with stock from various crustacean shells like lobster, crab and shrimp. Over the years, it has been simplified with many acceptable variations, one of which I will be using in my recipe.

What brings up the flavor of this seafood bisque recipe is my technique of wood-firing the seafood meats for an elevated taste. I’m going to give you a few methods of adding this flavor with some equipment choices. Then I’ll tell you how to use that great hearty seafood in an easy wood fired seafood bisque recipe that blends the creaminess with that bit of bold from the wood fire.

Wood Fired Seafood Bisque- Gas Grill Method

One of the benefits of using a gas grill is the heat level control and speed at which the grill can do what you want. For this method of grilling, I’ll use just two wood chunks from SmokinLicious® in the double filet size and place in a smoker box. Set the burners to medium on one side of the grill only and allow the wood chunks to begin to smoke (the smoker box is placed on the grill grate above the lit burners). Then place a grill-safe pan (I like to use disposable aluminum pans) containing your choice of seafood. I’m using mussels, shrimp, squid, and imitation crab or pollock. I place all these items in my pan with just a touch of oil and place the prepared pan on the unlit side of the grill. This will just take about 10 minutes to flavor the seafood. Remember, there is no need to fully cook all the items as we will finish that process in the soup pot. Once done, remove the seafood to a bowl.

Wood Fired Seafood Bisque- Stovetop Smoker Method

Stovetop smokers are perfect for the person who lives in a location that a grill isn’t possible, or who prefers to cook indoors but craves smoke flavor. I’m using a simple DIY stove top smoker you can make using a stockpot, foil, and a round roasting rack. You can find our step-by-step directive on this here.

SmokinLicious® offers a great assortment of wood chip sizing with recommendations specifically for stovetop smokers. I am using a custom blend of Grande Sapore® Wood Chips that includes Cherry, Alder, and Maple hardwoods.

Unlike the gas grill method, with this one, you will be infusing the seafood with direct heat and wood infusion by placing your cooking container directly on the roasting rack. Given the smaller size of the smoker area, you may need to wood-fire your seafood choices in batches.

Wood Fired Seafood Bisque- Chimney Starter Method

As I mentioned that this is a quick means of introducing wood flavor to seafood, you can use a chimney starter equipped with a small grill grate to do the actual smoking. This is the method I’ll be using for this recipe.

I simply fill a chimney starter with charcoal, place it on a cylinder block, and lite it. Once the coals have turned grey and no active flame is present, I place a small grill grate on the top of the chimney starter, then add my pan of seafood meat. This will take about the same time as the gas grill method – 10 minutes. Once ready, I remove the pan and set aside while I start the bisque base for the soup.

Making a Bisque

 

The ingredients you will need to make the bisque base are:

1 cup of butter (2 sticks or 226g)

1 small onion diced

2 cloves of garlic, minced

½ cup of all-purpose flour (65g)

2 tablespoons of tomato paste

2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning

2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning

½ cup of white wine or sherry (59ml)

4 cups heavy cream (1 quart or 945ml)

4 cups whole milk (1 quart or 945ml)

1-1/2 pounds (680g) raw seafood of choice that has been wood-fired as noted above)

Start by melting the butter in a stockpot placed over medium-high heat. Once melted, add the flour and whisk together to begin the roux or thickening process. Add the onion and garlic next, whisking as you add each ingredient. Allow these to cook for about 30 seconds, then add the Cajun and Old Bay seasonings and tomato paste. Reduce the heat to medium at this point, as you continue to whisk everything together. Add the wine, whisking. Now time to add the final liquids. This will be done in small portions to keep the consistency and flavors blending. Start with 1 cup of the milk, whisking, then 1 cup of the cream. Stay vigilant with the whisking while you add the milk and cream to ensure binding. Once the bisque is made, add the bowl of previously wood fired seafood and reduce the heat to low. Heat completely through.Velvety Smooth Richness

For serving this creamy soup, I prefer to sprinkle each bowl with some fresh chopped parsley or cilantro. I also slice up some crusty bread like a great French baguette. That’s it! Super easy but flavors that appear as if this bisque took days to make.

Now you can enjoy a video tutorial on this recipe as we collaborated with our friends at Passing It On. Get the visual step-by-step directive on making this fabulous, rich bisque!

Tasting Notes:

Although you can use any crustacean, fish or seafood of your choice, the best options are: lobster, crab, clam, oyster, mussel, cod. Since this has a lot of fat content already in the soup base, it is best to avoid fattier fish like salmon.

What’s your favorite way to make seafood bisque?

Bringing you great recipes for all types of food ingredients to grill, ember cook, hot smoke, and cold smoke. We are always ready to give you ideas for specific foods so leave us a comment and subscribe for more great recipes, techniques, tips, and the science behind the flavor, that’s SmokinLicious®.

Wood Fired Lobster Tails Chili

Hot Seared Scallops

Charred Broccoli Soup

Smoked Squash

Purchase products:

Wood Chunks- Double and Single Filet

Wood Chips- Grande Sapore®

 

 

Try this Smokey Sweet Potato and Chipotle Soup Click To Tweet

Let’s make Smokey Sweet Potato and Chipotle soup with our Smoked Sweet Potatoes!

You did it! You stepped outside the norm and you smoked sweet potatoes. Congratulations! You now have a flavor level to a root vegetable that can only be achieved from wood smoke infusion. Now, what do you make with this flavorful root vegetable?

(more…)

Peaches on the Grill Anyone! Click To Tweet

 

One of the easiest techniques to do with fruit on a gas or charcoal grill is wood firing peaches. Take advantage of the season with this fruit by bringing different flavors and textures for great recipe. Why not start with my recipe for a summer gazpacho that will cool you off during the hot season. It’s time to take advantage of the summer harvest with fresh peaches and yellow tomatoes for fabulous summer cuisine

(more…)

SMOKED BONE BROTH FOR HEALTH & FLAVOR Click To Tweet

Summary:

Smoked beef bones by using cooking wood chunks over the grill heat shields or gas grill diffusers are easy! The smoke flavor and slow simmer root vegetables are building flavor profiles for this unique smoked bone broth recipe. Simmering food with aromatic vegetables sometimes lacks taste that smoking wood chunks add. Read how easy it is!

 

(more…)

Make a tasty smoked okra soup! Stove top smoking okra with wood chips! Click To Tweet

Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to check out my smoked okra technique so you’ll be ready to take on this recipe for Wood Fired Okra Soup. This is incredibly easy to prepare soup recipe that has a total of 12 common ingredients which includes our super smoked fresh okra.

For those who may never have eaten okra, this is a great first recipe to give it a try. Okra is considered a warm-season vegetable but you can find imported varieties available so you can enjoy during colder months as well. Okra is rich is fiber, Vitamin K and folate, as well as being considered an anti-cancer fighting food.

(more…)

CHARRED BROCCOLI SOUP WITH GRILLED BROCCOLI FLORETS

 

Known as the mini tree, broccoli is part of the cruciferous vegetable family that includes cabbage, Brussels sprout, cauliflower, and kale to name a few. Broccoli is low in calories and packed with nutritional value including Vitamin K, C, folate, and potassium.

Although popular as a steamed or stir-fry vegetable, one of the great things when grilling broccoli is it doesn’t lose any nutritional value and you gain great flavor.

(more…)

 

 

When the temperatures go down and you simply can’t stand the thought of firing up the grill, but you crave something smoked, think plancha. This is a great method of bringing wood fired flavor to foods using the heat from your gas, electric, conduction, or infrared stove top.

I’m going to add a unique flavor to traditional chili by cooking lobster tail meat on the plancha using Ash Minuto® Wood Chips. This will give not only great sear to the lobster meat but a true smoked flavor.

Get ready as we give the SmokinLicious® take on Wood Fired Lobster Tails Chili.

(more…)

SMOKED SQUASH & KALE SOUP

If you joined our SmokinLicious® Instagram series on stove top smoking of butternut squash, then it’s time to take your wonderful smoke-infused butternut squash to the next level and make a fabulous soup just in time for the holidays and cold season. Smoked Butternut Squash with Baby Kale Soup. This recipe will serve 4-6. Gather the following ingredients:

Smoked Squash & Kale Soup- Ingredients:

• 1 medium smoked butternut squash that was smoked in ½” slices
• 1 cup of baby kale with stems and membranes removed, washed and dried
• ¼ cup sour cream or crème Fraiche (I prefer the crème Fraiche for extra smooth texture in soups)
• 6 strips of bacon
• 1 cup broth (you can use chicken or vegetable but water is fine too)
• 1 medium white onion, diced

Keep in mind, you can keep this vegan but omitting the bacon and cream. For equipment, you will need a food processor or blender, cutting board, chef’s knife, frying pan for the bacon, and soup pot.

 

Smoked Squash & Kale Soup- Cooking Process:

To start, place a frying pan over medium-high heat and allow to heat completely as this will ensure crisp bacon. Add the 6 strips of bacon and cook until well done about 6-8 minutes. You will want to flip the bacon after the first 3-4 minutes. Take the cooked bacon from the pan and place on a plate lined with paper towels to remove the excess drippings. Reduce the heat under the frying pan to medium keeping the fat renderings from the bacon. To the bacon drippings, add the diced white onion. Cook until slightly translucent.

 

 

Processing Ingredients:

While the onion is cooking, place the previously smoked butternut squash slices into a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Don’t worry if you don’t get all the lumps out as this will be processed a second time. Add this mixture to the cooked onion and combine. After 3 minutes, reduce the heat to low and add the ¼ cup of sour cream or crème Fraiche, mixing in well to ensure creaminess throughout.

While the onion, squash, cream mixture is simmering on low heat, add 1 cup of baby kale leaves to the food processor and pulse until reduced to fine particles. Add the chopped kale to the squash mixture and combine well. Then remove the mixture from the heat and allow to cool slightly. While the mixture is cooling, chop four slices of the crisped bacon into small pieces. Add to the squash mixture and combine well.

 

A Velvet Smooth Finish:

Add the slightly cooled smoked squash mixture to a blender or food processor, and start the machine on a low setting. As the mixture is pureed, slowly add 1 cup of broth to thin out the puree. You may use water if you prefer. You may add additional broth until the consistency is at your preferred level but 1 cup should be about the mark. I like this particular soup to coat a spoon which means it will coat my insides! Take your reduced smoked squash mixture and pour into a soup pot and place on a low setting for about 20 minutes to allow the flavors to marry.

 

The Finish:

Now, ladle this silky, smooth soup into serving bowls and place a small amount of the chopped bacon from the remaining two slices to each serving bowl. As you put this luscious soup into your mouth, your palate will pick up the subtle sweetness of the cinnamon and light smokiness from the stove top smoking process, while the silkiness of the cream provides a balance to the heartiness of the bacon. This is a great way to use seasonal squash and keep those of us in the cold portion of the world warm this winter. Bon Appetito with our SMOKED SQUASH & KALE SOUP Recipe!

 

Bon-Bar-B-Q!

 

Purchase Products:

Wood Chips- Minuto®

 

Dr. Smoke & the Culinary Crew

Follow us on: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Flipboard, Google+, Reddit, Medium, Blogger, BuzzFeed, Bloglovin’

Please check your feed, the data was entered incorrectly.