Roasted Red Pepper and Crab Soup

Although this is not a typical traditional holiday recipe, it has become a Christmas day buffet favorite in our family. Several years ago, we decided to forgo our traditional big sit-down dinner for a buffet because of everyone’s increasingly different visiting/family obligations on that day. Everyone could eat whenever or if they chose to. I’d had this soup, which I loved, at several different restaurants over time. Through trial and error, I came up with my own recipe, which has been a hit. I serve it with a dollop of creme fraiche.

Step: 1

Set the oven to broil, and preheat for 5 minutes.

Step: 2

Place the red bell pepper quarters skin-side up on a broiler pan or baking sheet. Broil until the skins have blackened, then place them in a brown paper bag, or in a covered bowl and allow them to steam for approximately 10 minutes to loosen the skins.

Step: 3

Once the skins have loosened, peel them off and discard. Coarsely chop the peeled, roasted peppers, and place into a large saucepan along with the chicken broth and chopped potato. Bring to a boil over high heat, then add the half-and-half, salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and basil. Return to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 45 minutes.

Step: 4

Once the potatoes have softened, puree the soup in batches in a blender until smooth. Pour the pureed soup into another saucepan and stir in the crab. Heat over medium heat to warm through, about 5 minutes.

Per Serving: 352 calories; protein 23.7g; carbohydrates 19.5g; fat 19.8g; cholesterol 120.5mg; sodium 1458.2mg.

The name of “stew” can refer to both a food and a cooking method. Stewing involves not fast cooking chunks of meat, vegetables or beans in a flavorful liquid . It’s similar to braising, instead it makes have a few notable differences. The raw animal vested is chopped into smaller pieces but of being cooked whole , and the liquid all of it covers the essential in a stew as compared to a braise’s halfway full . When meat or raw fruit are cooked using this method, the resulting dish is called stew.

Stew has a perception for being a rib-sticking eating process that warms you up on a cold , winter day. It’s true ; a bowl of old menu of beef stew can make warming featured food , but stew’s cozy factor goes way beyond protecting you from the chill . It’s all about those tender chunks of food and vegetables, swimming in a thick, ultra-rich gravy. The way they come together make the ultimate comfort food, no matter the weather.