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Southern She-Crab Soup

Sweet crab meat simmers in a rich, sherry-spiked cream soup for an elegant, classic taste of Charleston’s Lowcountry cuisine.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 25 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 SoupCategory
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She-crab soup is a signature dish of Charleston, South Carolina, believed to have been created in the early 20th century, distinguished by the use of female crabs and their roe, which give the soup its distinctive richness and pale orange hue. It remains a beloved specialty of Lowcountry cuisine.

Rich, creamy, and a true Charleston specialty

Sweet crab meat simmers in a rich, sherry-spiked cream soup for an elegant, classic taste of Charleston’s Lowcountry cuisine.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan and whisk in the flour, cooking 1-2 minutes.
  2. Gradually whisk in the milk, cream, and seafood stock until smooth.
  3. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
  4. Gently fold in the crab meat and mace.
  5. Simmer 5 more minutes, being careful not to break up the crab too much.
  6. Stir in the sherry, season with salt and pepper, and garnish with chives before serving.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Handle the crab meat gently when stirring so the lumps stay intact rather than breaking apart. A splash of sherry stirred in right before serving gives the most authentic, aromatic finish.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook25 min
Servings4
CategorySoup
PublishedAugust 12, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →