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Bubba’s Crab Stew: Creamy Comfort for Cozy Nights Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 78 reviews

Bubba’s Crab Stew is a creamy, comforting dish perfect for cozy nights. Featuring a rich blend of fennel, celery, and yellow onions sautéed in butter, thickened with self-rising flour, and simmered in a luxurious mixture of crab base, heavy cream, sherry, half-and-half, and whole milk. The stew is finished with tender crab meat and seasoned to taste, making it a luscious and satisfying meal best served with crusty bread for dipping.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

  • 1 bulb Fennel (adds a subtle anise flavor and freshness; can substitute with leeks for a milder taste)
  • 2 stalks Celery (provides crunch and a slight peppery flavor; no substitutions)
  • 1 large Yellow Onion (enhances sweetness and depth; yellow offers the best balance)

Butter and Flour

  • 4 tablespoons Butter (adds richness and helps in sautéing; can be swapped with olive oil)
  • 0.5 cups Self-Rising Flour (acts as a thickening agent; regular flour can be used with baking powder)

Liquids

  • 4 cups Crab Base (imparts concentrated crab flavor; seafood bouillon can be used as a substitute)
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream (contributes to the luxurious texture; half-and-half can replace it)
  • 0.5 cups Cooking Sherry (adds depth with a hint of sweetness; white wine can serve as a replacement)
  • 1 cup Half and Half (balances creaminess; can substitute with milk)
  • 1 cup Whole Milk (provides liquidity; non-dairy milk can also be used for a vegan option)

Seafood

  • 1 pound Crab Meat (the star ingredient, fresh is ideal, but canned or frozen crab can be used)

Seasonings and Extras

  • Salt to taste (essential for seasoning)
  • Pepper to taste (essential for seasoning)
  • 1 loaf Crusty Bread (perfect for dipping and soaking up the broth)
  • Fresh Herbs to taste (optional, adds brightness; can use dill or parsley)

Instructions

  1. Prep the Vegetables: Finely chop the fennel bulb, celery, and yellow onion using a food processor for a smooth and even mix. Set aside the chopped vegetables.
  2. Sauté Vegetables: In a large heavy saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add the chopped fennel, celery, and onion, sautéing for approximately 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are soft and translucent.
  3. Add Flour: Stir in 0.5 cups of self-rising flour, mixing thoroughly until fully absorbed. Continue cooking the mixture for about 8-10 minutes, allowing it to become bubbly and develop a lightly golden color to enhance the flavor and thicken the stew.
  4. Add Liquids: Gradually pour in 4 cups of crab base, 1 cup of heavy cream, 0.5 cups of cooking sherry, 1 cup of half-and-half, and 1 cup of whole milk. Stir the mixture thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly, then bring it to a gentle boil to meld the flavors.
  5. Simmer: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and allow the stew to simmer for 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and to let the flavors develop deeply.
  6. Add Crab and Season: Remove the saucepan from heat. Gently fold in 1 pound of crab meat to preserve its delicate texture. Season with salt and pepper to taste, adjusting for balanced flavor.
  7. Serve: Ladle the creamy crab stew into bowls, garnish if desired with fresh herbs like dill or parsley. Serve hot alongside a loaf of crusty bread for an ideal dipping companion.

Notes

  • For a milder vegetable flavor, substitute fennel with leeks.
  • If self-rising flour is unavailable, use regular flour mixed with 1.5 teaspoons of baking powder.
  • Seafood bouillon can be used in place of crab base but adjust seasoning accordingly.
  • Heavy cream can be replaced with half-and-half for a lighter creaminess.
  • White wine may be substituted for cooking sherry in the liquid mixture.
  • Fresh, cooked crab is preferred for best texture but canned or frozen crab meat are acceptable alternatives.
  • Non-dairy milk can be used to modify this recipe toward a vegan version, though crab meat would need to be substituted.
  • Stir gently when folding in crab to retain the flaky texture.
  • Crusty bread is ideal for soaking up the flavorful broth, enhancing the experience.

Keywords: crab stew, creamy crab soup, southern crab recipes, comfort food, seafood stew, cozy night recipes

Find it online: https://servedbynora.com/bubbas-crab-stew-creamy-comfort-for-cozy-nights-recipe/