A wintry Dungeness crab chowder made with winter vegetables including leeks, rutabagas, turnips, fresh herbs, and rich chicken broth.
Dungeness Crab
I’ve long pined from afar as my friends on the West Coast made the most of Dungeness crab season, which opens in mid-November. While I like to stay connected to my local food network, I give myself a little leeway to experiment with and enjoy ingredients from a little farther afield, especially in winter. And Dungeness crabs are the perfect winter splurge. Happily, I was able to source cooked, frozen Dungeness from a local grocer, and though I’ll still hope for a fresh Dungeness feast in San Francisco someday, I was thrilled to cook up a little West Coast crab magic in my East Coast kitchen.
Dungeness crabs have a delicate texture and a pleasantly sweet profile that complements the earthy sweetness of winter vegetables. Simple, healthful Dungeness crab chowder seemed the ideal way to showcase both the crab and the flavors of the season. Root vegetables frequently get short shrift, but – especially in the throes of January – it’s worth exploring the range of flavors they offer. While turnips have a peppery bite that softens with cooking, rutabagas have a pronounced sweetness. Together, the two vegetables balance each other and provide a perfect backdrop for the crab.
The Best Broth
Carrying the flavors of these carefully sourced seasonal ingredients, was a quart of Imagine® Organic Free Range Chicken Broth. Imagine® broth lends its incredible depth to soups of all kinds, and here, the rich flavors of free-range chicken and fresh vegetables shine through beautifully without overwhelming the delicate flavors of the Dungeness crab. Imagine® sources its ingredients as carefully as I do, and especially value the fact that Imagine® Organic Free Range Chicken Broth scores a Global Animal Partnership Step 3 animal welfare rating. A good broth is the essential foundation of a good soup and Imagine® fills that role wonderfully.
A Dungeness crab chowder that highlights winter vegetables and celebrates the flavors of the season. Though this chowder is made with Dungeness crab meat, King or Snow crab meat would be a fine substitution. Some delicacy of flavor is lost in pre-packaged crab meat, but it can definitely be used here if you need to save a little time.
- 2 pounds Dungeness crab meat from 2 - 3 whole crabs
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 leek cleaned well and finely chopped
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground white pepper, plus more to taste
- 2 small rutabagas, cut into a 1/2-inch dice
- 2 small turnips, cut into a 1/2-inch dice
- 2 bay leaves, preferably fresh
- 2 tablespoons thyme leaves
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 quart Imagine® Organic Free Range Chicken Broth (32-ounces)
- 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
- 1/2 cup cream or half and half
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First, steam Dungeness crab according to these instructions. If using pre-cooked, frozen crab, store on ice in the fridge and cook within 1 day of purchase. Break crab apart and remove all of the meat. Set aside in the fridge while you prep the rest of the soup.
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Melt butter in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, leek, and celery, along with 1/2 teaspoon each sea salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, 7 - 10 minutes. Make sure vegetables don't brown; adjust heat as needed. Add rutabagas and turnips, and cook, stirring often, 10 minutes more. Add herbs and white wine; cook 3 minutes, stirring to dislodge any brown bits. Stir in broth, bring mixture to a gentle boil, and then turn heat down to a simmer. Cook 15 minutes. Add crab meat and cook 5 minutes more. Finally, stir in sherry vinegar and cream or half and half. Warm over low heat. Taste, and add sea salt or pepper as needed. You may also want to add an extra splash of wine or sherry vinegar to balance sweetness.
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Ladle into bowls and serve immediately.
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If reheating, warm soup slowly over medium-low heat so as not to overcook the crab.
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This soup is absolutely gorgeous! It’s frigid right now…I could use a bowl of soup! So true about choosing ingredients carefully…a soup is only as good as its broth. I’ll have to look for Imagine brand near me!
This looks so incredible, and I can’t believe how simple it is to put together! Thank you Elizabeth!!
This chowder is calling my name! Seriously bravo. This is going on the recipe list ASAP. xo
Is the chowder suitable for freezing? sounds delightful.
Made this mostly as written but made seafood stock from the shells instead of chicken stock. Used one rutabaga and 4 small potatoes and the crab we caught today. Used Italian spice instead of thyme and heavy whipping cream. It is the best crab chowder we’ve ever had. Amazing!! My husband said not to lose this recipe. Thank you!!!
How much celery? You mention it in the recipe but not the ingredients list…thanks.
Hi Dianne, So sorry about that! It’s two ribs — I’ve updated the recipe.