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This she crab soup is rich, creamy, and delicious, made with plenty of lump crab, cream, dry sherry, and even roe if you like! A staple of Lowcountry South Carolina and Charleston cuisine, this soup makes for an impressive starter or main course served with a side of crusty bread.

Overhead view of a white bowl of she crab soup with a glass of water at the top of the photo

What Makes This Soup So Good

  • Not heading to Charleston any time soon? You’re in luck! You can make this classic Lowcountry soup at home super easily. Don’t be intimidated by the ingredients or the instructions!
  • It’s incredibly rich and luxurious. It’s a total star in its own right, too. All you really need to go with it is a perfect, crusty French bread and maybe a simple salad. Maybe. If you’re really hungry.
  • The flavors blend seamlessly. Nothing overpowers or clashes with another.
  • Every serving is full of delicious, juicy crabmeat – we’ve made sure of it!

Key Ingredients

Roe – “She crab” soup gets its name because it’s made from female crabs, with their roe. I don’t live in South Carolina, or on a coast, so it’s not easy (or maybe even possible) for me to get crab roe, but if you can, do it. I try to use regular fish roe when I can but it’s not a huge deal to skip it either! The extra flavor it adds is WORTH IT, but definitely make this soup even if you can’t find it! Don’t let Lowcountry purists tell you you can’t use fish roe!

Sherry – Just like in our lobster bisque, the sherry puts this she crab soup over the top. If you don’t have sherry, you can use white wine or brandy.

Chef’s Tips

  • Hot liquids expand quickly in a blender, which can push the lid off and create a huge mess (not to mention it could burn you!). In the recipe notes below, there are important tips for blending the hot she crab soup – be sure to read them before you get to that step!
  • You can use fresh or canned crabmeat in this soup. If you’re skipping the roe, you’re technically making crab bisque instead of she crab soup, but I won’t tell if you won’t!
  • The Old Bay seasoning gives the soup a little kick. Don’t worry, though, it’s not too much! You can add more if you like or dial it back a little to get your ideal flavor.
Close up of a spoonful of she crab soup over a bowl of she crab soup

More Incredible Soup Recipes

Overhead view of a white bowl of she crab soup with a glass of water at the top of the photo
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
5 from 1 vote

She Crab Soup

Prep 10 minutes
Cook 35 minutes
Total 45 minutes
This she crab soup is rich, creamy, and delicious, made with plenty of lump crab, cream, dry sherry, and even roe if you like! A staple of Lowcountry South Carolina and Charleston cuisine, this soup makes for an impressive starter or main course served with a side of crusty bread.
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4 servings

Equipment

  • Small microwave-safe bowl
  • Large, heavy-bottomed pot with lid
  • standard blender or immersion blender

Ingredients

  • 4 cups half and half see Notes
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoons garlic minced
  • 1 large onion finely diced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ¾ cup dry sherry divided
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 2 cups fish stock or clam juice
  • 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 pound lump crabmeat divided
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives
  • ¼ cup roe preferably crab, optional, for garnish
  • French bread optional, for serving

Instructions
 

  • In large heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
  • Add garlic, onion, and bay leaf. Cover and cook 4 to 5 minutes, until onion is translucent.
  • Pour in ¼ cup dry sherry. Boil until liquid is mostly evaporated, reduced to just 1 tablespoon. Sprinkle in flour and stir.
  • Pour in fish stock and whisk until no lumps remain.
    Fish stock with garlic, onion, and bay leaf in a large saucepan
  • Gradually add in warmed half and half, Old Bay, paprika, ¼ cup dry sherry, Worcestershire, cayenne, and lemon juice. Stir constantly.
  • Remove bay leaf. Transfer liquid to blender. You may need to work in multiple batches. Allow liquid to cool slightly before blending, then blend until smooth. See Notes section below for important tips on blending hot liquids.
    If using an immersion blender, blend liquid in saucepan until smooth.
    She crab soup liquid in blender.
  • Return liquid to saucepan, if applicable. Add ½ pound lump crabmeat. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Simmer soup 10 to 15 minutes, until liquid is thick and heated through. Stir constantly to prevent burning.
    Soup in saucepan
  • Pour 1 tablespoon (¼ cup total) sherry into each serving bowl. Top sherry with remaining crabmeat, 2 ounces per bowl.
  • Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with chopped chives and 1 tablespoon roe per bowl. Serve hot with crusty French bread.
  • Heat half and half in a small saucepan simultaneously with steps 1 through 4. Alternatively, gently heat the half and half in the microwave (use a microwave safe cup!) until it’s warmed but not boiling.
  • Make it Gluten Free: Use gluten free flour and serve with gluten free French bread.
 
Tips for Blending Hot Soup
  • Fill the blender no more than halfway. You may have to blend your ingredients in a few batches.
  • After pouring the liquid into the blender, let it sit a few minutes to cool slightly before blending.
  • Before blending, remove the center cap from the blender lid and cover the hole with a dish towel instead. This will keep pressure from building up inside the blender. Keep your hand on the lid to hold it down while blending.
 
Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect information for 1 serving, including roe. Macros may vary slightly depending on the specific brands of ingredients used.
To determine the size of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed, then weigh the entire recipe when finished. Divide the total weight (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by 4. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Approximate Information for One Serving

Serving Size: 1servingCalories: 595calProtein: 35gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 239mgSodium: 1727mgPotassium: 827mgTotal Carbs: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gNet Carbs: 20gVitamin A: 1796IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 417mgIron: 4mg
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

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Cheryl Malik

In addition to being a certified health coach, certified yoga instructor, and mom of 3, Cheryl is also the recipe developer, editor-in-chief, food photographer, and passionate foodie behind 40 Aprons. Having spent the last 10+ years as a food blogger, she's become known for her flavorful recipes, detailed instructions, gorgeous photography, and down-to-earth approach to food and cooking in general.

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6 Comments

  1. This is a great recipe. That being said, I am a Charlestonian. I have been in the pursuit of the best she crab soup for over 20 years. (Queen Ann’s Revenge on Daniel Island was the best back in the day). But my family says mine is the best. Let me suggest a few adds. First, I can never find roe. Instead boil 2-3 eggs and blender them with stock or cream. Gives you the roe flavor and more body to the soup. Second, a little more worschestshire and a few shakes of Tabasco sauce is key. Lastly, don’t sub anything for the sherry. It’s vital. Thanks for the recipe

    Reply

    1. We didn’t test that in this recipe specifically, but we often swap half & half for coconut milk or heavy cream for coconut cream. Just make sure to use an unsweetened version from a can! Trust me, you don’t want a super sweet She Crab Soup.

      Reply

  3. So, let me preface by saying I did not make this recipe as written. I absolutely love seafood bisque, they’re absolutely my favorite thing in the world. But I’m paleo, because I cannot tolerate grains or lactose at all. So I found this and figured, I’ve made dozens of 40 aprons recipes, and they’ve all been unbelievable, I’m gonna try it. So I relaxed the half and half with cashew milk, the butter with ghee, the flour with arrowroot starch, and it was AMAZING. I made it 2 days ago and ate the entire batch by myself. If there was ever any doubt that 40 aprons is the best food blog out there, Cheryl has removed it.5 stars

    Reply

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