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Maryland Crab Soup Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.5 from 78 reviews
  • Author: Nora
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 10 servings
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Maryland Crab Soup is a hearty, tomato- and broth-based soup filled with an array of fresh vegetables and the delicate flavor of lump blue crab meat. This comforting family favorite boasts robust seasoning with Old Bay and Worcestershire sauce, delivering a satisfying blend of textures and tastes. Perfect for a cozy meal, this soup is easy to prepare and can be customized with ingredients based on what you have available.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables & Aromatics

  • 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup (65g) diced yellow onion
  • 1 cup (120g) sliced or diced carrots (1–2 large carrots or a handful of baby carrots)
  • 1/2 cup (60g) sliced or diced celery
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cups (about 360g) peeled and chopped potato (Russet or Yukon Gold)
  • 1 cup (about 95g) shredded or chopped cabbage (optional)
  • 1 cup chopped green beans (frozen, canned/drained, or fresh)
  • 1/2 cup lima beans (frozen, canned/drained, or fresh)
  • 1/2 cup sweet corn (frozen, canned/drained, or freshly cooked)
  • 2 bay leaves

Seasonings & Liquids

  • 1.5 Tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 4 cups (960ml) low-sodium beef broth
  • 2.5 cups (600ml) water

Seafood

  • 1 pound crab meat

Garnish (Optional)

  • Lemon pepper seasoning
  • Fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Sauté Vegetables: Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Add the diced onion, sliced carrots, and sliced celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 6–7 minutes until the vegetables soften and release some juices.
  2. Add Seasonings and Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic, Old Bay seasoning, and ground mustard. Cook for 1 minute, stirring to combine and awaken the spices.
  3. Add Remaining Ingredients Except Crab: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, low-sodium beef broth, water, chopped potatoes, cabbage (if using), green beans, lima beans, sweet corn, Worcestershire sauce, and add 2 bay leaves. Stir everything together.
  4. Bring to a Boil and Simmer: Increase heat and bring the soup to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, add the crab meat, cover the pot, and let the soup simmer gently for 30 minutes to meld the flavors.
  5. Finish and Serve: Remove the bay leaves before serving. Ladle the soup warm into bowls, garnishing with lemon pepper seasoning and fresh parsley if desired.
  6. Storage and Reheating: Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week. To reheat, warm the soup in a pot over medium heat until heated through, adding extra broth if the soup has thickened too much.

Notes

  • Maryland Crab Soup is a tomato- and broth-based soup richly flavored with vegetables and the sweet taste of lump blue crab, a cherished local specialty.
  • This recipe is flexible and welcomes substitutions based on your pantry or seasonal ingredients.
  • Old Bay seasoning is essential to achieve the authentic Maryland flavor but can be adjusted to taste.
  • Adding fresh parsley and lemon pepper as garnish provides a bright and fresh finish to the soup.
  • The soup thickens after refrigeration; add more broth when reheating if desired for the preferred consistency.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 180
  • Sugar: 6g
  • Sodium: 600mg
  • Fat: 5g
  • Saturated Fat: 1g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 20g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 15g
  • Cholesterol: 70mg

Find it online: https://littlespoonbites.com/maryland-crab-soup-recipe/