Southern · soup

Charleston White Bisque

Charleston White Bisque reads richness 4.6, heat 4.5 and nutty 3.9 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Southern soup, about 1 hr 5 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

• Umami & Savory — 3.7 / 10
• Sweet & Fruity — 1.6 / 10
• Sour & Bright — 0.0 / 10
• Bitter & Earthy — 1.2 / 10
• Rich & Fat — 5.8 / 10
• Aromatic & Spice — 4.9 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Richness 4.6 · Heat 4.5 · Nutty 3.9 · Salinity 3.6 · Floral 2.3 · Sweetness 1.5 · Warm Spice 1.4 · Herbaceous 1.2 · Earthy 1.1 · Umami 1.1 · Bitterness 0.6

What's in it (11)

• 6 blanched almonds
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 5 quarts plus 1/4 cup water, divided
• 1 (5-pound) hen, cut up
• 3 blades whole mace
• 1 quart whipping cream, divided
• 1/2 cup soft breadcrumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
• 2 cups hot milk
• Paprika (optional)

Time & effort: about 1 hr 5 min (5 min active) · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 121.2 kcal, 3.6 g protein, 9.8 g fat, 6 g carbs

Dietary: Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (3 steps)

1. Pound almonds to make a paste; set aside. Combine flour and 1/4 cup water to form a smooth paste; set aside.
2. Combine hen, mace, and remaining water in a large stockpot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 1 hour or until hen is tender. Remove hen from broth and cool, reserving broth. Bone breasts and wings, and cut meat into bite-size pieces. Reserve remaining chicken for use in other recipes. Combine chicken pieces, almond paste, and 2 cups whipping cream in container of an electric blender; process until smooth. Set aside.
3. Combine 1 quart reserved broth, remaining whipping cream, breadcrumbs, and pureed chicken mixture in a large Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Stir in reserved flour mixture, salt, pepper, and hot milk. Heat thoroughly (do not boil). Serve immediately in individual soup bowls. Sprinkle each serving with paprika, if desired.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

• Olan (Ash Gourd and Red Cowpeas in Coconut Milk) — Indian · Kerala
• Dal Baati Churma — Indian · Rajasthan
• Yunnan Greens — Chinese
• Aloo Posto (Potatoes in White Poppy Seed) — Indian · Bengal
• Samosa — Indian

Keep reading: what richness, heat, nutty mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.