Name: Icelandic Lobster Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients: 1 kg (2.2 lbs) langoustine or lobster shells and heads; 500g (1.1 lbs) langoustine or lobster meat, chopped into bite-sized pieces; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 2 leeks, white and light green parts only, sliced; 2 carrots, peeled and diced; 2 celery stalks, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 100ml (3.4 fl oz) brandy or cognac; 1.5 liters (6 cups) fish stock; 250ml (1 cup) heavy cream; 1 teaspoon paprika; Pinch of cayenne pepper; Fresh dill and chives for garnish

Instructions

Prepare the shells

In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat. Add the lobster/langoustine shells and heads and sauté for 5-7 minutes until they turn bright red and become fragrant.
Create the base

Add the onion, leeks, carrots, celery, and garlic to the pot with the shells. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another 2 minutes.
Deglaze and simmer

Pour in the brandy or cognac and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Let it reduce by half, then add the fish stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25 minutes.
Strain the broth

Strain the soup through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids to extract all the flavor. Discard the solids and return the broth to a clean pot.
Finish the soup

Add the paprika and cayenne pepper to the broth. Bring to a gentle simmer and stir in the cream. Heat through but do not boil. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Cook the lobster meat

In a separate pan, heat the remaining tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Quickly sauté the lobster meat until just cooked through, about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to overcook.
Serve

Place some lobster meat in each bowl and ladle the hot soup over it. Garnish with fresh dill and chives. Serve immediately with crusty bread.

Icelandic Lobster Soup

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutritional Information