Sometimes I come up with what I think is a great idea for a recipe only to get all tripped up when it comes to execution. In this case the idea was seafood bisque. I’ve never seen a vegan seafood bisque recipe, and people really love seafood bisque. I felt like I needed to veganize it. But how? I mean, for one thing I have absolutely no clue what seafood bisque tastes like. But seafood isn’t the only thing people put into bisques! Tomato bisque is a thing, and it’s generally not vegan. And I actually know what it’s supposed to taste like! So I veganized good old tomato bisque, but seaseoned it up much like one might season seafood bisque. It was delicious!
Vegan Tomato Bisque Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
Olive oilSweet onionCeleryCarrotsGarlicWhite wineFlourCanned tomatoesOld bay seasoningThymeCayenne pepperVegetable brothBay leavesWhite miso paste (optional!)Coconut milkSalt and pepperChives (optional!)
How to Make Vegan Tomato Bisque
Start by heating up your olive oil in a large pot. Once it’s hot, add the onion, celery, and carrots. Sweat the veggies for about 10 minutes, until they begin to soften up. Now add the garlic and cook everything for about a minute more. Pour in your white wine, bring it up to a simmer, and let it cook until most of the liquid has cooked off. Now begin sprinkling in the flour, a bit at a time, stirring all the while so the flour evenly coates the veggies. Cook everything for about a minute. Now stir in your tomatoes, Old Bay, thyme, cayenne pepper, broth, bay leaves and miso. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook for about 20 minutes, until the liquid reduces a bit. Take the pot off of the burner. It’s time to blend! Be sure to remove your bay leaves before blending. I used an immersion blender, but you could also transfer it to a food processor or blender in batches. Always be super careful when blending hot liquids! Blend it until it’s silky smooth, then stir in the coconut milk, and season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. You can place it back on the burner to heat it back up if needed. Ladle your soup into bowls. I topped mine with an extra swirl of coconut milk, some croutons, and fresh chives. Dig in!
Can this soup be made gluten-free? Probably! Try subbing an all-purpose gluten-free blend for wheat flour.Does this soup taste like coconut? Not to me! The spices and acidity of the tomatoes disguise the flavor pretty well. Having said that, if you hate the taste of coconut, you may want to substitute a different non-dairy milk. Cashew or soy would be my choices.Leftover storage: leftovers will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for about 3 days. I haven’t tried freezing it, but I think it would hold up just fine!Where can I buy miso paste? Check you supermarket’s international foods section, or an Asian market. If all else fails, buy it online.Is there a substitute for the miso paste? The miso adds some flavor, but you can leave it out if needed. You’ll probably just need to season your soup with a little extra salt.Is there a way to reduce the sodium in this soup? Sure! Try using reduced sodium vegetable broth and tomatoes, and reducing or omitting the miso paste.Not all white wine is vegan. Check with Barnivore to ensure the brand you choose is!Looking for more creamy vegan soup recipes? Try my blackened cauliflower soup, cream of asparagus soup, or roasted butternut squash soup.
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