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Ultimate Creamy She Crab Soup with Old Bay Kick

A steaming bowl of rich, orange-hued crab soup topped with a generous mound of white, flaked crab meat.
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This rich, velvety soup combines the luxury of lump crab meat with the classic flavor of Old Bay seasoning, delivering a restaurant-style experience that is simple to make at home. It is a deeply satisfying comfort food.

Ingredients

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  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups seafood or chicken stock
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup half-and-half
  • 8 ounces lump crab meat, picked over for shells
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning, plus more for garnish
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 1/4 cup dry sherry (optional, for flavor depth)
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Do not brown the vegetables.
  2. Whisk in the flour to create a roux. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
  3. Slowly whisk in the seafood stock until the mixture is smooth and there are no lumps. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook until the soup thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.
  4. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and half-and-half. Heat gently, but do not allow the soup to boil after adding the dairy.
  5. Stir in the Old Bay seasoning, white pepper, and dry sherry, if using. Taste the soup base and add salt as needed.
  6. Gently fold in the lump crab meat. Heat through for 2 to 3 minutes, being careful not to break up the crab meat too much.
  7. Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish each serving with an extra sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning before serving immediately.

Notes

  • For the best texture, use high-quality lump crab meat. Gently pick through it to remove any remaining shell fragments before adding it to the soup.
  • If you prefer a thicker soup, you can reserve about 1/4 cup of the crab meat, blend a small portion of the soup base until smooth, and then return it to the pot before adding the remaining crab.
  • This soup is excellent served with crusty bread for dipping.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://gourmetgaze.com/best-crab-soup-creamy-old-bay-recipe/