She-Crab Soup

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The Crossroads (Highway 61 & 49)

📍 Where this dish comes from: Clarksdale, Mississippi · The Crossroads (Highway 61 & 49)
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She-Crab Soup, plated and ready to serve

She-crab soup is a Charleston institution, prized for its velvety cream base and delicate sherry finish. This version keeps every bit of that elegance, thickened with cream and a touch of xanthan gum instead of a flour-based base.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for She-Crab Soup

She-Crab Soup

A rich, sherry-touched cream soup built around sweet lump crab meat, Lowcountry style.
Print Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 340kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 shallot minced
  • 2 cups seafood or chicken broth
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
  • 1 lb lump crab meat
  • 1/4 tsp mace or nutmeg
  • 2 tbsp dry sherry
  • Salt and white pepper to taste
  • Chopped chives, for garnish

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook 2–3 minutes until softened.
  • Pour in broth and bring to a gentle simmer.
  • Whisk in cream, then sprinkle in xanthan gum a little at a time, whisking until the soup thickens slightly.
  • Add crab meat and mace, and simmer gently 8–10 minutes, being careful not to boil.
  • Remove from heat and stir in sherry. Season with salt and white pepper.
  • Garnish with chives and serve warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 340kcal | Protein: 18g | Fat: 27g | Fiber: 1g
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Cooking She-Crab Soup in the kitchen

Health Benefits

  • Crab meat is a lean source of protein along with B12 and selenium.
  • Xanthan gum thickens without the carbs of a flour roux.
  • A rich dish best served in modest portions as a starter course.
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