Description
Hearty Seafood Soup nestled in a crusty bread bowl brings coastal comfort straight to your kitchen. Fresh ocean flavors mingle with creamy broth, inviting you to savor each spoonful of maritime magic.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood:
- 1/2 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 pound lump crab meat
- 1/2 pound clams, cooked and shelled (optional)
Soup Base and Seasonings:
- 4 cups seafood or chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Aromatics and Herbs:
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Bread Bowl:
- 4 large sourdough bread bowls
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for brushing)
Instructions
- Craft sturdy bread containers by carefully removing bread tops and hollowing interiors, maintaining thick walls to support rich seafood mixture.
- Enhance bread shells with light olive oil coating and crisp in preheated oven until edges turn golden and exterior becomes slightly crunchy.
- Initiate soup foundation by gently melting butter and olive oil in large cooking vessel, creating aromatic base with softened translucent onions.
- Introduce minced garlic and sprinkle flour, whisking continuously to develop complex flavor profile without forming lumpy texture.
- Pour seafood broth smoothly into roux, eliminating potential clumps while creating silky liquid environment for upcoming ingredients.
- Incorporate heavy cream and robust seasonings like Old Bay and cayenne, allowing mixture to simmer and develop concentrated maritime essence.
- Delicately introduce shrimp, watching color transform from translucent gray to vibrant pink, indicating perfect cooking point.
- Gently fold in delicate crab meat and optional clams, warming seafood components without overcooking tender proteins.
- Brighten entire composition with fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley, adjusting salt and pepper to enhance natural oceanic flavors.
- Transfer luxurious seafood mixture into prepared bread vessels, ensuring generous portions fill crispy containers.
- Garnish with additional herbal sprinkles and serve immediately, presenting edible bowl alongside extra bread pieces for interactive dining experience.
Notes
- Toast bread bowls carefully to prevent burning, ensuring a crispy exterior that won’t get soggy when filled with soup.
- Adjust seafood based on seasonal availability or personal preference, swapping shrimp for scallops or adding different shellfish for variety.
- Control soup thickness by gradually adding broth and cream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps and achieve a silky smooth texture.
- Choose fresh, high-quality seafood for the most vibrant and authentic flavor profile in this comforting dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 671
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 786 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg