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

Introduction

Bubba’s Crab Stew is a creamy, comforting dish perfect for cozy nights at home. This rich stew combines fresh crab meat with a blend of aromatic vegetables and a smooth, luscious broth. Serve it with crusty bread for a satisfying and flavorful meal.

Ingredients

• 1 bulb Fennel
• 2 stalks Celery
• 1 large Yellow Onion
• 4 tablespoons Butter
• 0.5 cups Self-Rising Flour
• 4 cups Crab Base
• 1 cup Heavy Cream
• 0.5 cups Cooking Sherry
• 1 cup Half and Half
• 1 cup Whole Milk
• 1 pound Crab Meat
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• 1 loaf Crusty Bread (for serving)
• Fresh Herbs such as dill or parsley (optional, for serving)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Finely chop the fennel bulb, celery, and yellow onion using a food processor until smooth. Set aside.
2. Step 2: In a large heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the chopped vegetables and sauté for 5-7 minutes until soft and translucent.
3. Step 3: Stir in the self-rising flour and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring often until the mixture is bubbly and lightly golden.
4. Step 4: Gradually add the crab base, heavy cream, cooking sherry, half and half, and whole milk, stirring to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
5. Step 5: Reduce heat to low and simmer the stew for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Step 6: Remove from heat and gently fold in the crab meat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Step 7: Serve hot with crusty bread and a sprinkle of fresh herbs if desired.

Tips & Variations

• Substitute fennel with leeks for a milder flavor, or use seafood bouillon instead of crab base for a different depth.
• Use canned or frozen crab meat if fresh isn’t available, adding fresh crab after reheating if freezing leftovers.
• Olive oil can replace butter for a lighter version, and half-and-half can substitute heavy cream for less richness.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For freezing, keep the stew without crab meat, then add fresh crab when reheating to preserve flavor. Reheat gently on the stove until warmed through.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular flour instead of self-rising flour?

Yes, you can use regular flour combined with a bit of baking powder to mimic self-rising flour’s effect as a thickener in this stew.

Is it possible to make this recipe dairy-free?

Yes, substitute butter with olive oil and use non-dairy milk alternatives instead of cream, half-and-half, and whole milk for a dairy-free version.

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

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 90 reviews

Bubba’s Crab Stew is a rich and creamy seafood delight perfect for cozy nights. This comforting stew combines tender crab meat with a harmonious blend of aromatic fennel, celery, and onions in a luscious cream-based broth, enhanced by cooking sherry and half-and-half for depth and texture. Served with crusty bread, it’s an inviting dish that warms both body and soul.

• Author: Joe
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Soup
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Stew

• 1 bulb Fennel
• 2 stalks Celery
• 1 large Yellow Onion
• 4 tablespoons Butter
• 0.5 cups Self-Rising Flour
• 4 cups Crab Base
• 1 cup Heavy Cream
• 0.5 cups Cooking Sherry
• 1 cup Half and Half
• 1 cup Whole Milk
• 1 pound Crab Meat
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste

For Serving

• 1 loaf Crusty Bread
• Fresh Herbs (dill or parsley), to taste (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the vegetables. Finely chop the fennel bulb, celery, and yellow onion using a food processor until smooth. Set the mixture aside.
2. Sauté the vegetables. In a large heavy saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add the chopped fennel, celery, and onion and sauté for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are soft and translucent.
3. Create the roux. Stir in 0.5 cups of self-rising flour and mix until fully absorbed. Continue cooking the mixture for 8-10 minutes until it becomes bubbly and turns lightly golden, which adds depth to the stew’s flavor and thickens the base.
4. Add liquids and bring to boil. Gradually pour in 4 cups of crab base, 1 cup heavy cream, 0.5 cups cooking sherry, 1 cup half-and-half, and 1 cup whole milk. Stir the ingredients to combine thoroughly and bring the stew to a gentle boil over medium heat.
5. Simmer the stew. Reduce the heat to low and let the stew simmer gently for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and to allow flavors to meld.
6. Finish with crab and season. Remove the stew from heat and gently fold in 1 pound of crab meat without overcooking it. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Serve. Ladle the creamy crab stew into bowls and serve with crusty bread for dipping. Garnish with fresh herbs like dill or parsley if desired to add brightness and color.

Notes

• Avoid overcooking the crab meat to maintain its delicate texture and flavor.
• Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• For freezing the stew, omit adding crab meat initially; add fresh crab meat when reheating to preserve its taste and texture.
• If fennel is not available, leeks can be used for a milder flavor.
• Self-rising flour is used here for convenience, but regular flour plus baking powder is an acceptable substitute.

Keywords: crab stew, creamy crab soup, seafood stew, comforting seafood recipe, Bubba’s Crab Stew