There are certain recipes that feel really special when you serve them to family and friends, and if you are lucky, they are pretty quick and easy to put together as well. This is one of them.
We had a lovely physically-distanced brunch with old friends this weekend outdoor under my massive sugar maple tree. We said goodbye to summer in great style, with laughter, memories, and lots of shared food and wine, including some beautiful pastries to top everything off.
I chose foods that I could prep the day before to make the day itself hassle free. I prepped and cooked all the frittata ingredients and in the morning, I just had to beat the eggs, start cooking them, add the veggies, and bake it all off. No time at all. It was easy to keep warm.
Make the day before
I also made the soup the day before and reheated it after we had leisurely done good damage to the appetizer course!
For a starter, I put little Vermont-shaped cutting boards filled with treats at each couple’s place. None of this needed to be cooked, it was all assembly. Several Vermont cheeses: savory Bailey Hazen Blue from Jasper Hill Farms, Tangy Vermont Creamery Herbed Goat Cheese, and the most flavorful soft-ripened bloomy Mt. Alice from Von Trapp Farmstead.
To the board I added a little bowl of Vermont Feta, sun-dried tomato, and black olive combo I mixed together, as well as a bit of prosciutto di Parma, some spiced nuts, and crackers. We nibbled on these all through our four-hour meal!
The soup was a hit, I’ve put emphasis on squeezing out as much flavor from the shrimp as possible. I’ve roasted it, used every bit of shell to make stock, and enhanced the stock every step of the way. I’ve also used a simple medley of vegetables that elevate the flavor of the shrimp without masking it. It might look like a lot of steps, but the process is pretty quick and I reuse both the stock pan and the roasting sheet to cut down on dishes!
Coconut flavor if you wish
If you use full-fat coconut, there will be a slight coconut flavor which is actually delicious with the shrimp and how I made it this weekend. If you use the light coconut milk, it will be a bit less creamy and no coconut flavor. Your choice.
Whenever I peel shrimp, I make a quick stock from the shells. It doesn’t take any longer to put the shells in a pot than the compost bin! Add some water, a bit of salt, bring it to a boil, simmer for a half hour, and you’re done with no babysitting. I freeze it if I’m not using it right away. Use it in soups, stews, as the liquid in rice, or even add to pasta boiling water!
While the veggies and shrimp roast, the stock simmers. Total time for everything is about 45 minutes.
Roasted Shrimp and Coconut Bisque
Makes 8 cups
- 1 large sweet onion, thick slice
- 1 bulb fennel, thick slice (reserve some fronds)
- 1 large tomato, thick slice
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Sweet paprika
- 1 lb. wild raw shrimp with shells, 16-20 ct.
- 6 to 8 cloves of garlic, minced
- ½ dry sherry
- 1 can coconut milk, regular or light
- Fruity hot sauce to taste
Quick Alternative:
Purchase some really good shrimp or other shellfish stock from your fish market and use that rather than making your own. Roast the shrimp and vegetables as above.Boost Flavor Trick:
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I love this combination of flavours!!
Thank you, it was certainly a hit!
Wow! A great way to celebrate! I love summer but autumn has its beauty too!
Lovely menu, and the food is even more delicious when you have your friends around 😉🤩
Thank you! You are so right, the food tastes better when shared with friends!
Lucky guests! This is a great combination of dishes. Soups always benefit from preparing a day in advance. 🙂
Thanks Ronit! That’s such a good point, I should have pointed that out. I’m always so happy at the way the flavors develop over time.
this sounds so delicious dorothy. i like your idea of using the prawn shells for stock…
cheers
sherry
Thank you! It makes all the difference!
Ooh, la-la. Shrimpolicious! 🍂🍤
Very!
Love all your brunch tips! The bisque sounds delicious.
Thanks! Being prepared is even more important in this crazy time!
This sounds lovely and it is also dairy free, which means I can make it for Bruce! I love shrimp and Bruce loves creamy soups.
Then you’ll both be happy with this!
What a lovely brunch. I don’t know why but the setup reminds me of Mad Hatter’s tea party. I mean this in the loveliest way. Love the use of coconut milk. We go through a lot because we put them in curries.
LOL! What’s funny about that is the giant sugar maple that sheltered this tea party is named Alice! I go through a ton of coconut milk as well, love it in curries and creamed soups!
Congratulations to your interesting blog!
have a nice day 🙂
Thank you so much!
Oh gosh, I’m getting hungry now!
This will satisfy!!!