3 lb crawfish
2 ounces olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 quart water
1/2 cup each of chopped onion and chopped green bell pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3 cups whipping cream
1/2 cup chopped tomato
2 ounces brandy
Boil crawfish in a large pot of water. Drain and cool until crawfish can be handled easily, remove tail and save shells. Refrigerate tail meat.
Heat oil in large sauce pan or Dutch oven. Add crawfish shells, paprika and cayenne. Sauté 5 minutes. Add water and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes. Strain liquid into another pan. Crush shells to remove remaining liquid and add that liquid. Discard shells.
Return to heat and add onion, bell pepper, tomato paste, cream and tomato. Simmer 1 hour, stirring frequently. Add brandy and crawfish tail meat. Simmer 10 minutes. Serve hot.
NOTE:
To achieve a thicker bisque use a roux of equal parts flour and water.