| Charleston she crab soup is considered to be the | | | | the she crab and you come across a bunch of little |
| signature dish of Charleston South Carolina, and is | | | | reddish-orange balls, you are fortunate enough to have |
| regularly featured on the menus of many of the city's | | | | found the roe, which is made up of her eggs. Be |
| restaurants. A signature dish is a recipe which helps to | | | | careful when removing it, and then blend in into the |
| identify an individual chef. It is also sometimes used to | | | | soup together with the crab. Remember however |
| refer to a culinary region. | | | | when catching crabs that you must release any she |
| Charleston she crab soup is named after the female | | | | crabs which have roe on their exterior surfaces. |
| crab, which is also sometimes referred to as | | | | The onions, garlic and celery need to be cooked in a |
| 'She-Crab'. These female crabs supply the important | | | | heavy bottom medium sized sauce pain with some |
| ingredient of roe, or eggs, to the soup. It is often told | | | | olive oil until they are clear. The next step is to deglaze |
| that crab meat from a female has a supposedly | | | | the pan using sherry followed by the crab roe, bay leaf |
| sweeter flavor. Actually, the ingredient that lends the | | | | and shellfish stock. When that is done, get it to a slow |
| deep flavors and exquisite color that define this | | | | simmer and simmer for 15 minutes. |
| delicious soup that is legendary in Charleston, South | | | | Next, add the milk and simmer. After simmering for |
| Carolina is actually the reddish-orange roe. Besides roe, | | | | fifteen minutes, put in the rice, and cook until it reaches |
| the other ingredients typically include cream, crab meat, | | | | the desired texture. When the rice is ready, it's time to |
| and sherry. | | | | add mace, Worchestershire sauce, and some hot |
| Roe is no longer gathered as an effort to preserve | | | | sauce. Take the bay leaf out of the soup, and then |
| the ecological system and keep a strong number of | | | | puree, using a blender. The soup will need to be |
| crabs. You may wonder if it is still soup if there is no | | | | strained through a fine sieve after it has been pureed. |
| foe in the Charleston she crab soup. Of course it is as | | | | Finally, add the crab meat. Use salt and pepper as |
| the main recipe is the same. Whenever it is possible, | | | | desired to taste. |
| however, you should make this using roe and enjoy | | | | When making the best she crab soup be sure to use |
| every bite. There will be some changes, but a true | | | | high quality crab meat. Cheap crab meat that you |
| southerner will know the basic ingredients are the | | | | need to take out of the shells is always mushy so |
| same. | | | | don't waste your time. Crab roe however can be a bit |
| It's crucial to use absolutely fresh crab meat. It you are | | | | salty, so do use it sparingly. You can freeze crab meat |
| able to trap these creatures yourself, get | | | | and it will keep well if you use a secured sealed bag. |
| approximately twelve of them. When you're shelling | | | | |