what is bisque soup

Bisque is a smooth, creamy French-style soup that is traditionally made from crustaceans like lobster, crab, or crayfish. The soup should include a stock made from the shells of the crustaceans, a large amount of cream, and a base made from blended ingredients. Nowadays, rice is more commonly used for thickening, and the name "bisque" is often used in a broader sense to describe any thick, smooth soup that is made with cream added either during or after cooking. Bisque is different from other types of soup in that it is smooth and has a velvety texture. Most modern bisques are thickened using rice, and almost all bisques are finished with hot cream for a luxurious texture. While bisque is a type of soup, not all soups are bisques. The most similar type of soup to bisque is chowder, which is almost always thickened with a roux instead of blended ingredients and has hearty chunks of meat or vegetables.