Blushing She Crab Soup With A Twist Food

CAROLINA SHE-CRAB SOUP

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium low, whisk in the flour and continue to cook, stirring constantly. You are essentially making a roux without browning it. Stir in the seafood seasoning, nutmeg, bay leaf and pepper, then whisk in the sherry and clam juice. Increase the heat to medium and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until very thick, about 10 minutes. Stir in the seafood stock and crab roe, if using, bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
• Add the heavy cream and Worcestershire, return to a simmer and cook until thickened and reduced slightly, another 15 minutes. Remove the bay leaf, then puree the soup with an immersion blender until smooth (or use a regular blender; let cool slightly first, and use caution when blending hot liquids). Season with salt. Stir in the crabmeat and garnish with crab roe if desired.

SOUTH CAROLINA SHE-CRAB SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a stockpot over medium heat. Add the onion and bay leaf, sweat down for 2 minutes until translucent. Sprinkle in the flour and stir until it dissolves. Whisk in the stock, stirring constantly until smooth and free of lumps. Gradually pour in the milk, cream, and paprika; continue to stir until incorporated. Add half the crab meat and roe. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 15 minutes until thick and heated through.
• To serve, divide a tablespoon of sherry among 4 bowls. Ladle the soup into the bowls, spooning the remaining crab meat and roe in the center of each. Garnish with chopped chives. Serve with crusty French bread.
• Pour water in a large stockpot and place over low-medium flame. Add the vegetables and bouquet garni; cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables begin to become tender. Add the lemon juice, crab boil seasoning, peppercorns, wine and salt. Simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring to mingle flavors. Carefully put the crabs in the pot and continue to cook for another 15 minutes. The crab shells will be bright orange when done. Remove and shell the crabs. Strain the stock to discard the vegetable solids, reserving the crab meat and stock.

FAUX SHE-CRAB SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in large saucepan over low heat. Add the onion, celery and garlic and saute until the onions become translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add freshly cracked white pepper and stir in the flour to make a light roux. Set the roux aside.
• In another saucepan, over low heat, combine the clam juice and the half-and-half. Heat slowly until the mixture almost comes to a simmer.
• Slowly whisk the clam juice mixture into the roux. Stir in the sherry and fold in the crabmeat. Add seafood seasoning, to taste. Slowly reheat the sauce. (DO NOT BOIL!) If necessary, add milk to desired consistency. This should be a thick soup, so go slow with the milk.
• Ladle the soup into small serving bowls and top each with a dollop of masago. Grate fresh nutmeg on top and serve with crostini.