Herb Soup With Crab Recipes

SHE CRAB SOUP

Steps:

• In a large, heavy bottomed soup pot, saute the onions and celery in the whole butter until translucent. Stir in the flour and cook over a low flame for approximately 5 minutes. Add a splash of Sherry then the cream, stir this then add the water and milk. Now add the salt, Tabassco and crab roe, bring to a simmer then add the crabmeat. Stir in the crab gently as to not break the lumps. If the soup appears too thick, add a little more milk and adjust the seasonings. Serve in a soup cup and garnish with the scallions, chives and a splash of sherry.

TOMATO-FENNEL SOUP WITH CRAB

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the fennel and leeks and season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and the red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are just tender, about 25 minutes.
• Add the Sambuca and cook until evaporated, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, chicken broth, heavy cream and ½ cup water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat; cook until the fennel is soft, about 15 minutes.
• Working in batches, transfer the soup to a blender and puree until smooth (or puree in the pot with an immersion blender). Return the soup to the pot; return to a simmer and season with salt. Top each serving with the crab and fennel fronds.

SPICED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH CRAB AND HERB OIL

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a 4-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat and cook the shallot, stirring, until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the squash, coriander, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Stir until coated. Pour in the broth and bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the squash is very tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Carefully puree the soup with an immersion blender or in a stand blender, in batches, until very smooth. Return the soup to the saucepan and stir in the cream. Season salt and pepper. Reheat the soup before serving if necessary.
• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the parsley and cook, uncovered, until bright green, 30 to 45 seconds. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice water and then drain and pat dry. Puree in a blender with the grapeseed oil until the oil is bright green, about 1 minute. Strain the parsley oil through a fine-mesh sieve. Do not press on the solids. Whisk the harissa and 1 tablespoon water together in a small bowl until smooth.
• Whisk the oil, lemon juice, ginger, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in a medium bowl. Add the crab, cilantro and mint and gently toss to combine.
• Divide the hot soup evenly among 4 serving bowls and mound some crab salad in the middle of each bowl. Drizzle each bowl with parsley oil and harissa.

SWEET POTATO AND CRAB SOUP

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat; saute leeks and garlic until leeks are tender, 4-6 minutes., Stir in sweet potatoes, 3/4 teaspoon salt, cinnamon, cayenne and stock; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, 15-20 minutes., Puree soup using an immersion blender or cool slightly and puree soup in batches in a blender; return to pan. Stir in cream and 2 teaspoons thyme; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt remaining butter over medium heat. Add crab and the remaining salt and thyme; cook 5 minutes, stirring gently to combine. Top servings with crab mixture and, if desired, croutons.

CRABMEAT AND CORN SOUP

Steps:

• In a heavy-bottomed pot, melt butter, add flour, and stir gently until blended; do not burn or let it darken. Add milk gradually, stirring all the while, then add half and half, stirring gently while blending. Add corn and green onions, and cook for a few minutes until tender.
• Add crabmeat, pepper, salt, and soy sauce and simmer until very hot and small bubbles form around the edge; do not let boil. Adjust seasonings to taste. Garnish with sprinkles of chopped fresh parsley when serving and serve hot.
• Variations: You may use 4 cobs of fresh corn instead of frozen or canned. Cut the kernels off the cob, scrape cob for juices, and then add to soup. Cook until corn is tender. Canned crabmeat or imitation crab may be used instead of fresh crabmeat. Use one 7 1/2-ounce can crabmeat (drained) and 8 ounces imitation crab (cut into small pieces). Combine the two and cook as noted above.

THE VERY BEST SHE-CRAB SOUP EVER!

Steps:

• Melt 2 TBSP butter in large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion and bay leaf, cover, sweat 2 minutes.
• OPTIONAL STEP: Pour 1/4 C sherry in pan and ignite. Stir until flames subside. I've made this without doing this step (hence the range in the amount of sherry on the ingredient list) and it is still delicious, but I think this just gives it a little extra oomph.
• Sprinkle the flour in and stir to coat.
• Whisk in the crab stock until there are no lumps.
• Gradually add: milk; cream; paprika; another 2 TBSP dry sherry; worcestershire sauce; hot sauce; white wine; and lemon, stirring consistently.
• Blend with a puree wand, or in batches in a blender.
• Add half of the crab meat and roe (if you are lucky!) Season with salt and pepper.
• Simmer 10-15 minutes, stirring often so it doesn't burn, until it is thick and heated.
• Divide 1/4 C sherry and remaining crab meat and roe amongst 4 bowls. (1 TBSP each sherry and roe and 2 oz. each crab meat).
• Ladle soup over sherry and crab meat.
• Garnish with chopped chives. Serve with crusty french bread.

SHE CRAB SOUP I

Steps:

• Using a saute pan melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, over low heat, and saute onions.
• Using a double broiler melt 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter. Add flour and stir until well blended.
• Combine sauteed onions and flour mixture into a large stock pot. Add 1 quart whole milk and stir constantly until soup is well blended.
• Add the crab meat and roe and stir well; add pepper and mace and cook slowly for 20 minutes. Add 1 pint of milk and stir.
• Remove from heat and add wine.
• Serve in soup bowls which have been heated and garnish with sour cream, parsley sprigs or a sprinkle of paprika.

CRAB VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onion in oil for 1 minute. Add celery; saute until tender. Stir in the tomatoes, water, carrots, potatoes, corn, bouillon, seafood seasoning and lemon-pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in crab and peas; heat through.

SOUTH CAROLINA SHE-CRAB SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Stir in flour to make a smooth paste, and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Mix in the onion, celery, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook and stir for about 4 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in the half and half cream so that no lumps form. Stir in chicken broth and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer, and pour in half of the sherry. Season with dill, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes, until soup has reduced by 1/3. Add crabmeat, and simmer for another 10 minutes.
• Ladle soup into bowls, and top off with a splash of the remaining sherry and a sprinkle of fresh chives.

CREAMY SHE-CRAB SOUP

Steps:

• Fill the bottom of a double boiler halfway with water. Bring to a low boil. Melt butter in top of double boiler, add flour and stir until smooth.
• Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until smooth. Add onion, mace, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and crab meat with roe. Cook over simmering water for 20 minutes.
• To serve, place 1 tablespoon of warmed sherry in each of 4 or 6 soup bowls (depends on how much soup you want). Ladle soup into bowls, top with a dollop of whipped cream, and sprinkle with fresh snipped parsley.

CREOLE CRAB-MEAT SOUP

Steps:

• Remove the zest from 1 lemon in one long strip, if possible, with a vegetable peeler; set aside. Juice the peeled lemon. Thinly slice the remaining lemon into 4 to 6 pieces; set aside for garnish.
• Melt the butter in a deep, large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat and sauté onion and garlic until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juice and the stock and turn the heat up to medium-high. When the mixture boils, turn the heat down to a simmer. Add the bay leaf and the rest of the herbs, the lemon zest strip and 1 1/2 tablespoons of the lemon juice. Simmer, partly covered, for 30 to 45 minutes.
• Add the crab meat and simmer gently until the soup is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Add the salt, cayenne and more lemon juice, if needed. Discard the bay leaf and parsley and marjoram sprigs. Add another tablespoon of fresh mint at the last minute. After you spoon the soup into bowls, top each serving with a lemon slice.

CRAB AND SCALLOP SOUP WITH PEPPERS AND PEAS

Steps:

• Clean crab and crack; remove meat. Reserve shells and crab butter (gray-green coating inside crab shell). Refrigerate crab meat. Place shells and crab butter in 8- to 10-quart stockpot. Add water, clam juice, onion halves, carrot, thyme and cayenne. Boil over medium heat until liquid is reduced to 9 cups, about 1 1/2 hours. Strain stock.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and garlic and sauté until tender, about 6 minutes. Add curry powder and ground turmeric and stir 1 minute. Add crab stock, butternut squash and potato. Simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 35 minutes. Transfer mixture to blender in batches and puree until smooth. Return to Dutch oven. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Rewarm before continuing.)
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large skillet. Add all bell peppers and sauté until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add bay scallops and sauté until almost cooked through, about 3 minutes. Add reserved crab meat and green peas and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Ladle squash puree into bowls. Top with seafood mixture and serve.

BEST OF THE BAY RECIPES...SHE CRAB SOUP

Steps:

• Purchase one dozen female crabs already steamed or buy them live and steam them yourself. Pick the crabs for all their meat and reserve the orange roe. In a sauté pan, melt 4 tablespoons butter and sauté the onion and shallots until just tender.
• Whisk in the flour and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes while stirring, taking care not to brown the flour mixture. Slowly whisk in the heavy cream and stock. Add in the salt, pepper, Worcestershire Sauce and Tabasco (if using). Cook on medium until the soup thickens, about 15 - 20 minutes, stirring frequently.
• While you are thickening the soup, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a sauté pan and toss the crabmeat and roe until heated through, 3-4 minutes. Once the soup has thickened add the crabmeat mixture and stir. Add the sherry and lemon juice and simmer for several minutes until heated through.
• Serve with a light salad of mixed greens and French bread and enjoy!
• You can send a gift of She Crab Soup to a loved one too far away to get Blue Crabs with our popular Chesapeake Bay Tradition Gift Basket. (link: http://www.chesapeakebaygiftbaskets.com/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=156).