holiday essentials: creamy crab & shrimp soup

Recipe by
Andy Anderson !
Wichita, KS

Spent some time on this one, but it was worth the effort. An excellent soup with crab, shrimp, a hint of heat, and the conceits of the Big Easy. Very easy to assemble, it will make your houseguests smile with each yummy bite. One thing for certain, as good as it tastes, your guests will think you were working on it all day. But, that will be our little secret. So, you ready… Let’s get into the kitchen.

yield 1 serving(s)
prep time 10 Min
cook time 15 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For holiday essentials: creamy crab & shrimp soup

  • PLAN/PURCHASE
  • 1 Tbsp
    sweet butter, unsalted
  • 1 tsp
    flour, all-purpose variety
  • 1 oz
    cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 c
    half & half
  • 1/2 c
    whole milk
  • 1/2 tsp
    old bay seasoning
  • 1 Tbsp
    dry sherry
  • 4 - 5 lg
    shrimp, shelled, deveined, tails intact, cooked
  • 4 oz
    lump crab meat, cooked
  • salt kosher variety, to taste
  • white pepper, freshly ground, to taste
  • OPTIONAL ITEMS
  • 1 - 2 tsp
    lemon juice, freshly squeezed, for brightness
  • 1/2 tsp
    hot sauce, i prefer frank’s for hidden heat

How To Make holiday essentials: creamy crab & shrimp soup

  • 1
    PREP/PREPARE
  • 2
    Dry Sherry: There are two types of sherry… drinking sherry, and cooking sherry. In the matter of which one to use, I will defer to the late-great Julia Child who said, if it is not good enough to drink, it is not good enough to cook with.
  • 3
    Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
  • 4
    THE SOUP BASE
  • 5
    Add the butter to a saucepan over medium-low heat, and allow to melt, then whisk in the flour until it is blended with the butter. Finally, add the cream cheese, half & half, and milk, then bring up to a simmer, while whisking.
  • 6
    Add the old bay seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste, then bring down to a low heat, where it is barely simmering.
  • 7
    THE SHRIMP
  • 8
    I like to cook the shrimp in butter, wine and lemon juice, over medium heat, until cooked through. So, about a tablespoon of each.
  • 9
    THE CRAB MEAT
  • 10
    I like to take the same pan that I cooked the shrimp in and toss the crab meat for a few minutes in the leftover juices from the shrimp.
  • 11
    Chef’s Note: I like to add a bit of lemon juice, and Frank’s hot sauce to the soup base, to brighten it, and add a bit of hidden heat.
  • 12
    PLATE/PRESENT
  • So yummy
    13
    Add the soup base to a shallow bowl, put the crab meat in the center, and then add the shrimp in a decorative pattern. Saltines or oyster crackers are a must. Enjoy.
  • Stud Muffin
    14
    Keep the faith, and keep cooking.

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