Make your own gourmet soup at home with this easy keto lobster bisque recipe. The best part about this keto soup recipe? This homemade version is also gluten-free and only has 390 calories and 4 net carbs per serving!
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Keto Lobster Bisque Soup
As the winter weather returns, I thought it'd be great to make a low carb soup to bring in to work in my lunch crock. It's the perfect comfort food for cold winter days!
This is what really inspired me to put together a soup recipe...
Over the weekend, I bought some frozen Maine lobster tails at ALDI. They were a special holiday item and the price wasn't bad!
Maine lobster is readily available off the shores of Connecticut, so this is the first time I've bought frozen tails. Usually, I buy live lobsters which are always discounted in the summer but, I dislike cooking them live, so I sometimes order them to be freshly cooked at the grocery store.
Lobster meat is excellent for salads or dipping in butter for a delicious dinner. Better yet, it's simple to make a homemade lobster bisque, which is one of our favorite ways to enjoy this tasty seafood!
What's Lobster Bisque?
Bisque is a French soup with a smooth yet thick and creamy texture. It's somewhat very similar to chowder.
However, chowder is typically thicker and full of chunky pieces of meat and vegetables while bisque has a smooth texture that contains a blend of wine and cream.
The soup consists of a tasty broth containing heavy cream and butter for more flavor and tomato for color. A classic bisque will also contain shellfish, such as crab, shrimp, or lobster.
To get the smooth texture, the soup base is puréed before adding in the seafood meat. The only shellfish in an authentic lobster bisque recipe is lobster, which you can pair with vegetables and other garnishes.
Ingredients To Make Gluten-Free Lobster Bisque Soup
To make this lobster bisque recipe from scratch, all you need are 9 ingredients plus a couple of spices you probably already have in your spice cupboard. It's really that simple!
The spices we like to use in this soup recipe are celery salt, dried thyme, paprika, ground cayenne pepper, and ground black pepper.
Please note: Check out the recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients used to make this low carb recipe.
Quick Tips:
- Use a low carb Worcestershire sauce. In case you didn't know it, many of the Worcestershire sauce bottles you will find at the store have a ton of carbs and sugar in it. Instead, try making my homemade version of keto Worcestershire sauce instead!
- Frozen vs. live lobsters. This honestly depends on what is easiest for you. I completely understand that lobster is not readily available for everyone in some areas. If you can get live lobsters, then great! If not, make sure to properly de-thaw the lobster tails before using it in this bisque.
How To Thicken This Keto Lobster Bisque Recipe
Unfortunately, most bisque soups are thickened with flour or rice. It's not a lot, but since going low-carb and gluten-free, I avoid any questionable foods at restaurants.
I've read that some of the more traditional bisques actually contain ground-up seafood shells that have been made into a paste which is used to thicken the soup!
To be honest, I didn't think the soup was that thin without adding a thickener. However, since I'm used to seeing it really thick, I sprinkled in some glucomannan powder.
If you aren't opposed to xanthan gum or guar gum, you could always sprinkle in a little of either or both to thicken it up. But, just using a large amount of cream in this lobster bisque recipe tends to thicken the soup base.
And, you always have the option to puree some of the lobster shells and use those as a thickener as well!
How To Make Easy Lobster Bisque From Scratch
When it comes to making this soup recipe yourself, there are a few extra steps you will need to take to make this the best lobster bisque you have ever made!
How To Properly Cook and Shell A Lobster Tail
Before you do anything else, the lobsters will need to be cooked in boiling water first.
If fresh, they will need to be dipped into boiling water while still alive. This is because lobsters contain bacteria that quickly releases toxins when the lobster dies.
However, if you would rather not cook something that is still moving, frozen lobster tails are available uncooked. The bacteria is not an issue because the tail meat isn't spoiled with the head removed immediately then frozen.
To cook the lobster:
- Boil a large pot of water.
- Add the lobster tails and boil until the shell becomes a bright red. This usually takes about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Remove the lobster tails and set aside to cool down. They will be extremely hot!
Cooking Note: Do NOT throw away the boiled water. We are going to use it as a stock for the bisque.
To remove the meat from the lobster tail:
After letting the lobster tail cool down, you are going to butterfly the tail to remove the meat.
- Taking a pair of kitchen scissors, start by cutting the top of the shell, lengthwise, and cut straight down the middle right before the tail fins.
- Very carefully, spread the shell open and use your fingers to remove the meat from the lobster shell in one piece.
- Then, loosely chop up the lobster meat and set it to the side.
Start Cooking The Base Of The Soup
To start the bisque, all of the vegetables are sautéed in oil or butter. Because I like to make my soup simple, I only used a little onion and garlic.
However, celery and carrots are often used so you can add a little of those if desired. Then, wine is slowly added to deglaze the pan followed by the addition of the seasonings. Don't worry about the alcohol, it rapidly cooks off so there isn't any in the finished dish.
The lobster stock and a bit of tomato paste is added to the base.
Allow the bisque to simmer for about ten minutes!
Blend The Lobster Bisque Soup Together
After the soup has finished simmer, it's time to blend the soup altogether. A blender or food processor is then used to make the soup base smooth.
It's best to use an immersion blender so you can puree the mixture right in the pot. This works well for other soups like Brussels sprout soup too!
Add The Cream And Butter
I add in cream and butter after the base has been blended. If needed, I'll adjust the seasonings to taste as well. Finally, the lobster is added and the lobster bisque soup is simmered a bit longer.
Serve The Lobster Soup And Enjoy!
After the soup has finished simmering one last time, use a ladle to serve yourself a bowl of soup and enjoy!
What To Serve With Keto Lobster Bisque
Lobster bisque can be served as the start to a full course dinner complete with seasonal low carb vegetables and roasted radishes. Although the main entree is usually another seafood dish, it doesn't have to be! I love to combine lobster with air fryer steak for a classic surf and turf meal.
The creamy lobster soup is also perfect for lunch. It can be the main dish by providing a large serving in a bowl with keto crackers on the side. But, my favorite option is to combine it with a tossed salad and a slice of low carb bread.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lobster Bisque
The entire recipe and instructions are at the bottom of this post. First, I want to answer some common questions about this bisque soup.
How many carbs are in a lobster bisque?
A traditional lobster bisque soup contains about 58 grams of carbs, which is a bit more than what a daily keto diet requires. You can tweak your lobster bisque recipe to have under ten net carbs per serving by switching out some ingredients.
For example, instead of using pureed rice or flour to thicken the soup, use glucomannan powder, xanthan gum, or guar gum.
Alternatively, use pureed cauliflower instead of cream to make the meal light yet creamy!
Is lobster keto-friendly?
Seafood is generally keto-friendly, and lobster is not an exception. It is high in protein like meat but contains other nutrients that improve cardiovascular health, mental health, and more.
Is lobster bisque healthy?
If you wonder how to make lobster bisque healthy, you don’t have to do much since the standard recipe contains several nutrients. My keto lobster bisque recipe takes things a step further by offering fewer calories but more nutrients by adding veggies!
Can I store lobster bisque in the freezer?
Having lobster bisque on standby in the freezer means you can have this keto-friendly meal whenever you want. However, keeping bisque in the freezer and reheating it without the proper precautions will ruin its texture and flavor.
Here’s how to store lobster bisque in the freezer without it clumping and curdling:
- Let the bisque cool to room temperature after cooking.
- Stir it thoroughly before pouring it into an airtight, freezer-safe container.
- Place it in the freezer where it can stay for up to three months.
When you get a craving for lobster bisque, take the soup out of the freezer and let it thaw overnight in the fridge.
After thawing it, I recommend reheating the soup on the stove, not your microwave or oven. Avoid clumping or curdling by stirring the bisque continuously while it warms over low heat.
Other Recipes To Try
Are you searching for more soup recipes? Take a look at some of these long time favorites:
- Keto Clam Chowder is the perfect substitute if you don't have everything you need to make this lobster bisque recipe. It's just as creamy and delicious!
- Low Carb Broccoli Cheese Soup is perfect if you like the one from Panera Bread. It's practically the same, except this low carb version is made with cheddar and has fewer carbs.
- Unstuffed Cabbage Soup is a dream for cabbage roll fans! Filled with juicy ground beef and chunks of cabbage, this soup recipe is perfect to serve when cold weather strikes.
- Low Carb Taco Soup is a family favorite, especially on Taco Tuesday! All it takes is 15 minutes of your time.
- Keto Cream Of Chicken Soup is rich, creamy, and bursting with delicious flavor! It's hearty enough to serve for dinner with a slice of keto cornbread.
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Recipe
Easy Lobster Bisque
Video
Ingredients
- 4 lobster tails frozen in shells (or fresh)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- ½ cup onion chopped
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic minced
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon celery salt
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste increase to 2 tablespoons for more tomato flavor
- 2 cups lobster stock
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Boil lobster tails for 6-8 minutes or until shells are bright red. Remove tails to cool and reserve water to use as lobster stock.
- Remove meat from shells then return the shell to water and boil for another 10 minutes. Using fine mesh strainer, strain lobster stock and reserve 2 cups.
- Chop lobster meat into bite sized pieces. Set aside.
- Add olive oil to medium-sized sauce pan and heat over medium high heat. Saute onion and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Slowly add the wine, then stir in the Worcestershire, celery salt, thyme, paprika, cayenne pepper, and black pepper.
- Stir in the tomato paste and reserved lobster stock. Simmer about 10 minutes.
- Puree mixture in blender or use a stick blender in the pot until smooth.
- Return mixture to pot, if needed, and add in the heavy cream and butter. Add additional salt if needed.
- Add lobster meat and continue to simmer for another 5-10 minutes.
Notes
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Copyright
© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
First Published on January 27, 2017. Last Updated November 18, 2020, with clearer images and additional recipe information.
Nicolette
I just made this today, but I used frozen precooked claw meat(it was on sale). I just heated up the claws in boiling water and then followed your recipe. This is a wonderful recipe. Best part is that no one in my family eats lobster, so I don't have to share! Also I used the rest of the seafood stock for other recipes. Win, win.
Vivian Sullivan
I haven’t made this but am thinking about how to grind lobster shells to thicken the bisque.. would you toast them after boiling to make them crunchy? I’m thinking that would work, then use a coffee grinder. I’ll give it a go!
Kathryn
Best ever. Keeper!
Sidley
Which of your cookbooks contain the soup recipes?
Lisa MarcAurele
5-Ingredient Keto has soup recipes.
Jackie
What can I use instead of the white wine?
Lisa MarcAurele
Vinegar or lemon juice should work work fine.
Grace Commer
can you use water to replace the wine?
Lisa MarcAurele
You'd be better off using a blend of lemon juice and water.
Pilar
EXCELLENT!! This recipe is so close to the non-keto versions. My DIL couldn't tell the difference and even commented on how "fresh" it tasted. I'll definitely be making some for the freezer 🙂
Krysta
Oh mylanta. I went into this a little hesitant - holy smokes. This soup is INCREDIBLE!!!!! I will be making this very frequently for years to come.
THANK YOU!!
Julya
If we wanted to sub other seafood, about how much shoud it be? Maybe a pound?
Lisa MarcAurele
The meat from 4 Maine lobster tails is about a pound so I'd say a similar amount of another seafood should work too.
Jon
So I just bought some lobster meat at Aldi, specifically because I wanted to try a keto lobster bisque, but it is already out of the shell. Any suggestions on what to use for the stock in this case?
Lisa MarcAurele
You could use clam juice instead which is a popular seafood stock. Or, if you have other shellfish that can be boiled or steamed, that stock can be used.
Jon
Planned to make this today, but realized I've run out of heavy whipping cream, so since I'm going to the store anyway, I'll look for the clam juice, but if I don't find any, I may try a possibly foolish experiment, and boil the lobster meat in some chicken stock, to see if it can influence the flavor a bit in the right direction. Also going to have to check for some celery salt, because amazingly enough, Walmart doesn't even list it as existing. Considering that it's langostino that I picked up, the entire recipe is going to be an approximation, anyway.
I absolutely love Red Lobster's lobster bisque, but the one kind I've found in the supermarket wasn't all that great, so I'm going to at least try making my own today, even if I don't have everything I should have for it. (I'm pretty sure the Red Lobster version is NOT keto friendly!)
Lisa MarcAurele
If you can't find clam juice, you could make a stock from shrimp shells similar to the one made with lobster shells.
HC
Big lobster bisque fan, new to keto and This was just the recipe I was looking for!! Absolutely delicious, followed the recipe, no changes at all, nor did I add a thickening agent!! Did I say it was delicious, lol
Jasmine
Just made this tonight.. Talk about yum. My only alteration to the recipe was to lessen the amount of red pepper.. Next time I will add a little more butter.. it’s a decadent treat.. but definitely worth it.. I added a half teaspoon on xanthum gum to get it closer to usual bisque consistency.
Cassie
Is there anything I can use in place of the wine? I don't like cooking with alcohol.
Lisa MarcAurele
Lemon juice or vinegar may work.
Samantha
Delicious !! Definitely a hit on this Ash Wednesday with my family !
Kerry
Easy to make and very tasty!
ROSEMARY GALBRAITH
Used crawfish tails and it was wonderful. Walmart carries them and they're like tiny lobster tails already
Lisa MarcAurele
Our Walmart carries lobster tails, not crawfish tails. It might be based on location as lobsters are native here. But ALDI has the cheapest price around for frozen lobster tails.
Lee
Your bisque was delicious. I came home with half of my lobster and both of our shells. First I removed the meat & refrigerated it, then boiled the shells for an hour.
There wasn’t much color to it as (less tomato paste took care of that) but the flavor was wonderful. Then I followed your recipe exactly. Everyone raved over it. Thank you Lisa. Moral of the story - always take the shells home.
Lisa MarcAurele
Great tip! I never thought to take the shells home from the restaurant.
Betty
Wonderful delicious recipes thank you so much for sharing ?
Heather
If it’s not as thick as I’d like it to be, do you think I could add a little cream cheese?
Lisa MarcAurele
Cream cheese is a great thickener if you don't mind the added flavor.
Gabby
Yum! Just made this and it was fantastic! Didn’t have thyme so I used an Italian blend, and subbed almond milk in for the cream (just added some xanthan gum for thickness)! Also added some celery with the onions and garlic like you said in your post. It was great; I cannot wait to make it again!
Lisa MarcAurele
So glad you enjoyed this easy lobster bisque recipe. It's definitely one of my favorite soup recipes of all time.
Vicky
Loved this recipe! I did not use the white wine (just used more lobster stock) and it was still great.
ai
I made this for Valentine day,my husband said to make often. he & I both loved it. Very easy and wonderful flavor
Bonnie
this is better than I have had at restaurants I will be making this again and again Thank you
Lisa MarcAurele
I like this better than the restaurant lobster bisque too. Restaurants tend to make it too thick and use wheat flour.
Dorothy
This was a lot of work for me to make, but it was well worth it! I made it for a group of 6 people and everyone loved it. This recipe is definitely a keeper!!!
Lisa MarcAurele
I hope this lobster bisque becomes a regular for you!
Mariann
I made this tonight. It was really easy. BUT it was a bit spicy for me. I will make it again without so much cayenne. Maybe half as much as the recipe says or less.
Lisa MarcAurele
I also find some powdered cayenne is spicier than others. Hope it's better for you with less spice.
Amy
Thank you!! This was so yummy and full of flavor! We had some lobster tail that were getting a little freezer burnt and it turned out perfect anyway! I just wish I had doubled the recipe. Do you have a tomato bisque recipe by chance?
Lisa MarcAurele
I've never done a tomato bisque, but you should be able to make it similarly using a vegetable stock base and more tomato.
Annette Dow
I live on the downeast coast of Maine and am married to a Lobsterman. I have been making lobster stew and lobster bisque for years., but now that I just started a Keto lifestyle I thought bisque would not be the same. I have to say... This Bisque is delicious and even my husband and family loved it.
Thanks for the recipe!!
Michele Clark
All I can taste is thyme and wine.
Lisa
You can certainly cut back on those if they don't suit your taste.
Christin
Since starting Keto, I have missed lobster bisque! However, being in Louisiana, lobster is pricey! My boyfriend and I made this tonight using crawfish tail meat and it turned out excellent! Thanks!
Lisa
I'm sure it's just as tasty with crawfish.
Lauren
Would this be okay to freeze, or do things separate after reheating? Thanks!
Lisa
I don't see why it wouldn't be okay to freeze.
Susan
How many pounds of lobster meat is required?
Lisa
Each tail is about 4 ounces of cooked meat.
ChapelHillBetsy
I couldn't find lobster stock at Whole Foods, but was able to find Seafood Stock. Hopefully it will be just as good. Going to try making it in my Instant Pot.
Lisa
It is a good sub. In fact, you can probably just use water if you can't find anything suitable.
MB
Would anyone suggest substituting lobster tails with shrimp?
Lisa
You could do that.
Claire
Of I'm using the water that I boil the trails in, how much water do I use?
Lisa
I added enough to cover and reserved 2 cups for the soup.
Roxane
November 15,2017 1:00 made it today for first time. I used imatation and seafood stock. They were great,tasted wonderful my husband really liked it as well. Will defiantly be maki g it again .miss using the seafood from back in Connecticut but in Texas you use what you have. But it works.
Lisa
I'm so glad it worked with the imitation meat. I know lobster meat can get very expensive, but luckily it's plentiful here in Connecticut.
Babs
So delicious. I used 2 lbs of frozen cooked langostino lobster tail. Thanks!
Lisa
Frozen meat is perfect! I can't wait to make this soup again for the holidays.
Steve
Here in the Shenandoah Valley, lobster is available, but expensive. Might shrimp or white fish work instead?
Lisa
Absolutely!
Roxane
November 15,2017 1:00pm. Just made lobster bisque low carb. My husband loved it.my first time making it. I put a little Italian twist in it as well really really great will definitely make it again soon.
Lisa
Thanks for sharing Roxane!
Walter
Used canned lobster broth from Whole Foods, added dried tarragon and used langostino from Costco ($28 for 2 lbs, frozen). Used a Sauvignon Blanc (any dry white would do). Added 1 tablespoon of xanthan gum to thicken. It came out **amazing**. Made it in the Instant Pot on Saturday, let it sit on warm overnight and flavors blew up for Sunday dinner.
Thanks Lisa!
Lisa
You're welcome Walter! I'll have to look for the canned lobster broth at WF. It would make it easier if using pre-cooked meat.
Alvin McManus
How much is 309g? I am more used to fluid ounces when it comes to soups and things.
Lisa
A US cup is 8 fluid ounces. The serving size is about that or a little more.
DavetteB
What kind of white wine would you recommend? I don't drink it but I know it is needed for the recipe (it's in all of the ones I like). Thanks.
Lisa
I typically use a Sauvignon Blanc wine.
amber
Could I use imitation lobster meat instead? Trying to save money since I'm the only one who eats it.
Lisa
You can, just watch out for carbs. I know the imitation crab meat uses starchy ingredients.
Jodie
Amazing. I used Swanson seafood stock and had all the rich flavor I was hoping for.
Going to try crab tonight! Thanks
Lisa
I've never seen seafood stock. I'll have to look for it. Lobster is plentiful in our area so we usually have plenty of boiled lobsters available to make stock.
Pam
OMG....just made this...sooooooo good. Thickened it slightly with Thick-It-Up a no carb thickener...I swear this was JUST AS GOOD as the Lobster Bisque we get at Ruth & Whimpies in Bar Harbor Maine!!! Woo hoo, this low carbing just keeps getting better!
Thanks for the recipe!!
Lisa
I've never heard of Thick-It-Up. I'll have to look for it.
Lori
What would be a good substitute for lobster stock? Could I use Vegetable stock? I've never had lobster bisque and can't wait to try this recipe it looks yummy. Thanks
for sharing.
Lisa
You could use vegetable stock, but you won't get the lobster flavor in the liquid part of the soup.
Lori Ingalsbe
Better than bullion makes a lobster stock.