Maryland Crab Soup

That is actual deal, genuine Maryland crab soup (straight from a local Marylander)! It’s packed filled with taste, however really easy to organize in a single pot. Recipe features a how-to video!

Blue bowl of maryland crab soup made with a tomato base, lump crab meat, old bay, and more.

Genuine Maryland Crab Soup

As a local Marylander, I’ve robust opinions about Maryland crab soup (since I’ve been consuming it my entire life). Above all, blue crab must be the star (similar to it’s in my crab cake recipe), and it ought to completely shine within the remaining product! The soup shouldn’t have any pointless additional elements, but it surely ought to completely embrace Outdated Bay. There must be loads of veggies too (and maybe some saltines or oyster crackers on the facet!).

At present’s recipe is straightforward, however filled with taste. It’s completely salty and spicy and is a success with locals and guests alike (similar to my private favourite, cream of crab soup!), and it’s an absolute staple in my home. I can’t wait to listen to the way you prefer it!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Genuine! That is the soup I grew up with right here in Maryland (with a slice of Maryland peach cake for dessert, in fact!).
The crab is the star taste, and it’s completely enhanced by the Outdated Bay. I used to be cautious to not overshadow it with extra elements.
Full of veggies. This can be a traditional crab soup attribute. We’re utilizing a mixture of recent and frozen veggies for ease.
Surprisingly easy to make. We’ll begin with a mirepoix, then toss in our veggies and spices. The crab goes in final, and after some simmering, it’s able to take pleasure in!

Pot of maryland crab soup made with a tomato base, lump crab meat, old bay, and more.

How This Recipe Got here to Be

This recipe is customized from my dad’s recipe, which is customized from a recipe from Eddie’s Market in Baltimore. I don’t stray too removed from his recipe, however I did make some delicate adjustments.

As an alternative of tossing EVERYTHING however the crab within the pot like my dad does, I begin by sautéing the onion, carrots and celery in a little bit of butter. This provides us an ideal base to construct upon that’s nonetheless easy however provides taste.

The tomato style in lots of recipes could be reasonably daring, so I cook dinner the tomatoes within the base to assist neutralize a number of the acidity and deepen their taste. I cook dinner the spices with the tomatoes to assist develop their taste too (equally to how we do it in my meat sauce, one other favourite round right here).

What You Want

Earlier than we get began, let’s chat elements. Pay particular consideration to the crab, it’s the star of the present in any case.

Overhead view of ingredients including crab meat, old bay, beef broth, and more.

Crab. Jumbo lump blue crab meat is right, however common lump crab meat or backfin crab meat can even work. You possibly can usually discover this within the seafood part of your grocery retailer; it’s already cooked and normally packed in a container on ice. NEVER, ever use imitation crab meat!
Outdated Bay. Outdated Bay is a staple right here. It makes this soup spicy and a bit salty. If you’d like much less spice, you’ll be able to cut back the quantity (begin with including only a TBSP after which modify), however you may additionally want so as to add some salt. For those who can’t discover Outdated Bay in your grocery retailer, you’ll be able to discover it right here on Amazon.
Veggies. Together with celery, carrots, onion, entire tomatoes (which we’ll crush, and sure in a pinch you need to use crushed tomatoes), inexperienced beans, gold potatoes, corn, and lima beans. Sure, there are a number of veggies on this soup!
Dry mustard. Like Outdated Bay, dry floor mustard is a key ingredient in Maryland crab soup. Don’t use ready yellow mustard; follow dry (out there within the spice aisle).
Beef broth. When you may use a seafood inventory, beef broth is conventional. In a pinch, veggie broth or rooster inventory can work too.
Worcestershire sauce. Whereas I hold Worcestershire sauce away from my crab truffles, it is a key ingredient for soup. It could appear to be quite a bit (you solely use a single Tablespoon in my chili recipe, in any case), I examined this recipe with quantities everywhere in the board (from zero to five Tablespoons!) and located that 4 Tablespoons was the candy spot for greatest outcomes.

SAM’S TIP: With the quantity of Outdated Bay used (which is primarily salt), you actually shouldn’t want so as to add any salt or pepper. For those who style style and determine your soup wants salt, be happy so as to add it; however I’ve by no means wanted to! I additionally deliberately omitted garlic. As a lot as I find it irresistible (have you ever tried my garlic knots?!), it simply doesn’t belong on this soup.

Keep in mind, that is simply an outline of the elements I used and why. For the total recipe please scroll right down to the underside of the publish!

Tips on how to Make Maryland Crab Soup

The process of making maryland crab soup, cooking the veggies in butter, cooking the tomatoes with the spices, adding all ingredients in the pot and then adding the crab.

Prepare dinner the onion, carrots, and celery in melted butter till softened.
Stir within the tomatoes and spices. Use a spatula to crush the tomatoes, then stir for not less than a minute.
Add the remaining elements (besides the crab) and produce to a boil. Cut back the warmth and let simmer for not less than half-hour.
Stir within the crab and proceed cooking for an additional half-hour, stirring often.

SAM’S TIP: Whereas this crab soup is beloved by my household, it isn’t my favourite crab soup; cream of crab truly is. What I like to do is make a 50/50 crab soup, which is simply what it feels like: you pour a ladle of Maryland crab soup into cream of crab soup, gently stir collectively, and revel in. YUM!

Regularly Requested Questions

Can I freeze this soup?

Sure! This soup freezes properly. To freeze, place your soup in an hermetic, freezer-safe container and revel in inside 3 months for the perfect taste.

How do I make this recipe in a crock pot?

I like to recommend doing steps 1-2 on the range, after which you are able to do the remainder within the crock pot, although I wouldn’t add the crab meat till the final hour of cooking. You too can make the soup fully on the range after which hold it heat within the gradual cooker.

What ought to I serve with Maryland crab soup?

Oyster crackers or saltine crackers are conventional, however if you’re a sourdough fanatic, sourdough crackers will work simply as properly!
For those who’re on the lookout for a extra substantial facet, grilled cheese, artisan bread or my garlic cheese drop biscuits (add Outdated Bay for cheddar bay biscuits!) would pair properly right here.

Overhead view of a tomato based crab and vegetable soup in a dutch oven.

Keep tuned for my genuine Maryland crab cake recipe, coming quickly! 🦀

Take pleasure in!

Let’s bake collectively! Subscribe to my e-newsletter to be notified of all the most recent recipes, and discover my free recipe tutorials on YouTube 💜

That is actual deal, genuine Maryland crab soup straight from a local Marylander! It is packed filled with taste, however really easy to organize in a single pot. Recipe features a how-to video!

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Course: Dinner, lunch, Predominant Dish, Soup

Delicacies: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Prepare dinner Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Complete Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Servings: 8 servings (2 cups per serving)

Energy: 202kcal

Prepare dinner ModeForestall your display from going darkish

Directions

Soften butter in a big soup pot over medium warmth. As soon as melted, add onion, carrots, and celery and cook dinner stirring often, till softened (about 5 minutes).

3 Tablespoons (42 g) unsalted butter, 1 (140 g) medium yellow onion, 2 (170 g) carrots, 1 (31 g) celery stalk
Add tomatoes, Outdated Bay, and mustard and use a spatula to interrupt up/crush the tomatoes to small items. Prepare dinner, stirring often, for not less than 60 seconds.

28 oz (793 g) canned entire peeled tomatoes, 2 ½ Tablespoons Outdated bay/seafood seasoning, 1 Tablespoon dry mustard
Add all remaining elements EXCEPT crab meat and stir properly. Deliver to a boil, then cut back warmth and simmer for half-hour, stirring often.

1 lb (453 g) recent inexperienced beans, 1 ½ cups (270 g) peeled, 1 ½ cups recent or frozen candy corn, ½ cup recent or frozen lima beans, ¼ cup (60 ml) Worcestershire sauce, 4 cups (946 ml) beef broth, 2 cups (473 ml) water
Add crab meat and stir gently. Proceed to simmer (stirring often) half-hour longer.

1 lb (453 g) lump or jumbo lump blue crab meat
Serve heat, topped with crackers if desired.

Notes

Outdated Bay

You might substitute J.O. seasoning. MD Crab soup is, by design, a bit spicy and a bit salty (due to the outdated bay). If you’d like much less spice, you’ll be able to lower the Outdated Bay (begin with including only a Tablespoon after which modify) however you may additionally want so as to add some salt.
For those who can’t discover this ingredient in your native grocery retailer, you’ll be able to purchase Outdated Bay on Amazon.

Storing

Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. This soup additionally freezes properly and could also be stored frozen for a number of months.

Diet

Dietary info is predicated on third-party calculations and must be thought of an estimate solely. Precise dietary content material will fluctuate based mostly upon manufacturers used, measuring strategies, cooking technique, portion sizes, and extra.