Charleston She Crab Soup
User Reviews
5
Charleston She Crab Soup
Description
This soup starts by gently cooking finely diced onion and celery in butter to soften their flavor, then adding flour to create a roux. Fish stock and seasonings like kosher salt, white pepper, and mace are incorporated and simmered to develop depth. The addition of cream, dry sherry, and brandy creates a velvety texture with aromatic complexity. Finally, white crabmeat and crab roe are folded in for their fresh sea essence and richness.
The combination of seafood and liquor results in a refined, subtly sweet, and lightly spiced soup. The cream smooths the mouthfeel, and the crab roe enhances umami and color. A dollop of whipped cream and extra crab roe garnish add elegance when serving in warmed cups.
This soup is traditionally served as a starter or light course. The recipe notes that crab roe can sometimes be substituted with finely chopped hard-cooked egg depending on availability. Additionally, chicken stock with clam juice may replace fish stock, though these alterations might affect the flavor profile.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup onion finely diced
- 1/2 cup celery finely diced
- 10 tablespoons butter
- 8 tablespoons flour
- 6 cups fish stock
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- 2 cups cream
- 2 tablespoons dry sherry
- 1 1/2 tablespoons brandy
- 10 ounces crabmeat white
- 1 teaspoon crab roe
Instructions
- Sauté onion & celery in butter until tender. Add flour, fish stock, mace, salt & pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Add cream, sherry, brandy & simmer for 2 minutes. Add crabmeat & roe.
- Optional: add tomato paste for color. Serve in preheated soup cups & a dollop of whipped cream with an additional sprinkle of crab roe on top.
Notes
- If crab roe is unavailable, finely chopped or crumbled hard-cooked egg can be used as a substitute.
- Chicken stock combined with clam juice can replace fish stock, though the resulting flavor will differ.
- Optional tomato paste adds color while maintaining the soup's delicate taste.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 10Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 341 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 341kcal | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 7g | 2% |
| Protein | 10g | 20% |
| Fat | 30g | 46% |
| Saturated Fat | 18g | 90% |
| Cholesterol | 107mg | 36% |
| Sodium | 1062mg | 44% |
| Potassium | 256mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Sugar | 0g | 0% |
| Vitamin A | 1095IU | 22% |
| Vitamin C | 3.1mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 95mg | 10% |
| Iron | 0.8mg | 4% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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