Curried Squash Soup with Crab

By Texaschef11

Ingredients

• 2 onions (1 lb. total), peeled and chopped
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 2 tablespoons butter or margerine
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons curry powder
• 2 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 2 Granny Smith apples (1 lb total), peeled and coarsely chopped
• 6 cups fat-skimmed chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
• 1 dried bay leaf
• 2 whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 cup dry sherry
• 1/2 pound shelled cooked crab
• Thinly sliced red bell pepper (optional)
• Salt

Preparation

Step 1

1. In a 5- to 6- quart pan over high heat, stir onions and celery in butter until limp, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and curry powder, and stir 1 minute longer.

2. Add squash, apples, broth, 4 cups water, ginger, bay leaf, cloves, and pepper. Stirring often, bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until squash mashes easily, 30 to 40 minutes.

3. Remove and discard bay leaf and cloves. In a blender or food processor, whirl squash mixture, a portion at a time, until smooth.

4. Pour purée through a fine strainer back into pan. Add sherry and stir over medium heat until just steaming, about 2 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, remove any bits of shell from crab.

6. Ladle soup into wide bowls. Mound equal portions of crab in the center of each bowl. Garnish with bell pepper, if desired. Add salt to taste.
Nutritional Information

Calories:
208 (18% from fat)
Protein:
14g
Fat:
4.1g (sat 1.9)
Carbohydrate:
27g
Fiber:
4.9g
Sodium:
251mg
Cholesterol:
36mg