She-Crab Soup
To KW who posted this fabulous recipe and to all others who enjoy a rich, succulent crab soup...this is so good. My first taste of She-Crab Soup was down here in Florida from a place called Molly Goodhead's. A dozen raw oysters and a bowl of she-crab soup was to die for. I fell in love at first bite. Whenever I go to a restaurant and if it's on the menu, I will at least get a cup. I have had many renditions of this soup, and I'm telling you...KW's recipe is right there. Got to try it!
She-Crab Soup
She-crab soup has long been a traditional specialty of the Low Country in South Carolina. It is a Southern classic, and a tourist attraction in Charleston. Traditionally, the soup called for female blue crab--a "she-crab"--whose orange roe imparts a distinctive taste and characteristic orange speckles, but good lump crabmeat usually contains enough roe for proper flavor. This soup is rich: a demitasse cupful makes a lavish hors d'oeuvre, and a whole bowl is a satisfying supper, with only a simple salad alongside.
Makes enough to serve 6-8 as a substantial first course or entree, 16-20 if served in demitasse cups as the beginning to an elaborate meal or at a cocktail party
Ingredients:
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
* 7 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 3 cups milk, heated to almost boiling
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 4 cups heavy cream
* 1 pound lump crabmeat, carefully picked free of all shell and cartilage, preferably female crabs
* 1/4 cup Harvey's Bristol Cream Sherry
* 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste
* Finely chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions:
Melt the butter over low heat in a large nonreactive saucepan, and stir in the flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes, then slowly whisk in the hot milk, and continue whisking until perfectly smooth. Add the salt, and cook, stirring often, until the mixture comes to a boil. Stir in the heavy cream, and cook at a low simmer for 3-5 minutes, until the milk and cream no longer taste of raw flour. Add the crabmeat, and cook gently for 5 minutes longer. Cover the saucepan, remove it from the stove, and allow it to rest in a warm place for 30 minutes to develop the flavor of the crab.
Once the soup has rested and you are ready to serve, return it to the stove and gently bring to a simmer. Add the sherry and cayenne pepper. Simmer briefly, and taste carefully for seasoning, adding more salt, cayenne, or sherry as needed.
Serve in heated bowls or demitasse cups. Garnish with a little bit of finely chopped parsley.
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Paula 
Last edited by Kitchen Witch; October 9th, 2009 at 07:33 AM.
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