Terrapin Stew Recipes

TERRAPIN STEW

Steps:

• Put the terrapins alive in boiling water.
• Let them remain for fifteen minutes and then take the shells from them, being careful not to break the galls.
• Clean the entrails from the meat, and scrape the black skin from the feet with a knife.
• After thoroughly cleaning the terrapins, lay then in a clear water for ten minutes, and then put then in a kettle to stew with 1 cup of water, and stew very slowly for about three hours.
• Boil the eggs hard, and rub the yelks (not misspelled) to a powder.
• Then add the butter to the eggs and beat together until it becomes cream.
• To this cream add the sherry wine and mix it well.
• Then add this preparation to the stew very gradually, stirring well, so as to thoroughly mix it in.
• While the stew is cooking, mix the mustard and the tbsp of wine and put in.
• Slice one lemon add to stew just before dishing it up for table.
• Three hours is sufficient time to cook it.
• You had better put the win in the stew and not mix it with the eggs, for fear you may not mix it in right and that there may be no mistake.
• With the above directions you have a perfect stew.
• ½ cup of sweet cream is an improvement, if you like it: also the allspice.

DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN STEW, CHESAPEAKE BAY STYLE

Steps:

• Drop live terrapin into boiling water and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Remove from water; rub skin off feet, tail and head with a towel, drawing the head out with a skewer.
• Clip off claws.
• Scrub shell with boiling water; break apart with a cleaver or axe.
• Remove meat and liver.
• Discard heart, sandbag, entrails and gall bladder (taking caution not to break it as it's bitter).
• Cut the liver in thin slices.
• Take out eggs, remove film and set aside in cold water.
• Mash yolks of eggs; add flour, nutmeg, lemon juice and rind.
• Stir in 1 cup of soup stock.
• Add onion, celery, terrapin and terrapin eggs and enough more stock to cover meat.
• Cook in double boiler until meat falls from bones.
• Remove bones, add worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, chopped egg whites, cream, sherry and milk (if necessary).
• Heat thoroughly and serve with toast.

TURTLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large soup pot over medium to high heat, melt 1/2 stick butter. Add turtle meat and brown. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Cook for about 18 to 20 minutes or until liquid is almost dry. Add onions, celery, garlic, and peppers, constantly stirring. Add thyme, oregano, and bay leaves and saute for about 22 minutes**. Add stock, bring to a boil, and simmer for 30 minutes. Skim any fat that comes to the top.
• While stock is simmering, make the roux. In a small saucepan, melt remaining butter over medium heat. Slowly add flour, a little at a time, constantly stirring with a wooden spoon. Be careful not to burn. After all of the flour has been added, cook until roux smells nutty, is pale in color, and has a consistency of wet sand, about 3 minutes. Set aside to let cool until soup is ready (roux should be cool when adding to hot soup).
• Using a whisk, stir the roux into the stock vigorously, adding a little at a time to prevent lumping. Simmer for about 25 minutes. Stir to prevent sticking on bottom. Add sherry and bring to a boil. Add hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer and skim any fat or foam that comes to top. Add lemon juice and tomatoes and return to a simmer. Add spinach and eggs, return to a simmer and adjust seasoning.

TURTLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a heavy 4-qt. saucepan, bring turtle meat and water to a boil. Skim off foam. Chop 1 onion and set aside. Quarter the other onion; add to saucepan along with bay leaf, cayenne pepper and salt. Cover and simmer for 2 hours or until the meat is tender. Remove meat with a slotted spoon and cut into 1/2-in. cubes; set aside. Strain broth and set aside. Rinse and dry saucepan; melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook chopped onion until tender. Add flour; cook and stir until bubbly and lightly browned. Whisk in reserved broth; cook and stir until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in tomato puree and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer,, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Add chicken broth, eggs, lemon juice and meat. Simmer for 5 minutes or until heated through. Garnish with parsley if desired.