Monday, October 3, 2011

Crab Chowdah

I have had half a pound of lump crab meat
sitting in the freezer and I wanted to make something
good with it.
Something new and interesting.

But what?

How about a chowdah,
er, chowder?

Sounds like it's time to to turn to my good
friend Rosie Hawthorne of Kitchens Are Monkey Business
for advice.

Rosie gave me some ideas about
chowder and I went to work.



First I made the shrimp stock.

When we switched over the food from the old
fridge to the new one, I found two bags of shrimp shells.
I added 
1 carrot,
1 1/2 celery ribs
1/4 onion
2 garlic cloves
10 whole black peppercorns

I let this just barely simmer for just under an hour.

Do not let the bubbles reach the surface.


We shooed the Foodie Boyfriend out of the house
before making this as the smell
would have made him sick
since he is allergic to shellfish.



The stock is done.


After straining through cheese cloth,
the shrimp stock is ready for the chowdah.


The rest of the players for the chowdah.

2 slices bacon, chopped
4 ounces lump crab meat
1 carrot, diced
1 celery rib, diced
1/4 onion, diced
1 garlic clove, grated
1 large potato, diced
1/4 cup sherry
not shown: half and half
and the shrimp stock

salt to taste
black pepper

1 tablespoon Italian parsley, finely chopped, for garnish
2 tablespoons chives, finely chopped, for garnish


I fried the bacon pieces until they were crispy.


Then I added the carrots, celery and onion
and allowed them to sweat for a few minutes
before adding the garlic.


After a minute I added the potatoes.


Then I added the sherry and enough shrimp stock and
half and half to give the chowder the consistency 
I wanted.
If you find you need more liquid, 
then add more later.

Cook until the potatoes are nearly done
and add the crab at the end so that it 
can heat through.


Garnish with the fresh herbs and enjoy.

Even my picky husband who usually prefers
the can o'soup to my homemade soups
loved this.

Too bad the Foodie Boyfriend couldn't enjoy this.

Many thanks to Rosie Hawthorne for 
steering me in the right direction.

2 comments:

Rosie Hawthorne said...

I must have crab chowder now.

Marilyn said...

Yes, you should. You taught me well, oh great one!