Charleston She-Crab Soup
Portions: 4-6
Ingredients: 1 small onion, minced 4 tablespoons butter 1 pound crabmeat (about 12 crabs) 1 quart milk 2 cups light cream 1/4 teaspoon mace 1/4 teaspoon white pepper 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1/4 cup dry sherry 2 egg yolks 1/4 cup orange crab roe Rind of 1 lemon, grated
Instructions: 1. Sauté onion gently in the butter, add crabmeat, and set aside. Heat milk and cream in the top of a double boiler, add crab meat and onion, seasonings, and sherry. Cover, and let steep over very low heat for 30 to 45 minutes.
2. Beat the egg yolks, pour a little of the hot liquid into them, and then stir the yolk mixture slowly into the soup. Put a spoonful of roe in each soup bowl, ladle in the soup, and sprinkle the top with grated lemon rind. |