Basic Crab Stock Recipes

WHITE CRAB STOCK

Steps:

• Pour water in a large stockpot and place over low-medium flame. Add the vegetables and bouquet garni; cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables begin to become tender. Add the lemon juice, crab boil seasoning, peppercorns, wine and salt. Simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring to mingle flavors. Carefully put the crabs in the pot and continue to cook for another 15 minutes. The crab shells will be bright orange when done. Remove and shell the crabs. Strain the stock to discard the vegetable solids. Reserve the crab meat and stock for She-Crab soup.

BASIC CRAB STOCK

Steps:

• Heat the canola oil in a large pot over moderate heat. Cook the onions, celery, carrots, leeks, and garlic, stirring often, until they are soft but not brown, about 3 minutes.
• Add the chicken bones and carcass, the bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, and 3 quarts water. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat to low and gently simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface, until the stock has reduced by half, about 2 hours.
• Strain through a fine sieve into a container with a cover. Allow the stock to cool, cover and refrigerate, then skim off the fat. Freeze the stock in small batches to use later.

BASIC CRAB PAN SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oil in a small skillet over moderate heat. Add the onions, garlic, fennel, and pepper flakes. Cook the vegetables, stirring often, for 3 minutes.
• 2. Add the thyme, tarragon, bay leaf, cream, vermouth, and stock, increase the heat to high, and reduce the sauce by half, 10 to 12 minutes. Strain sauce.

CRAB STOCK

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a 10-quart stockpot over high heat. Add the shells, onion, and celery and sauté for 10 minutes, or until the shells are lightly browned. Occasionally scrape the bottom of the pan while sautéing, as the shells may stick. Add the wine and cook for 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add enough cold water to the pot to cover the shells. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 1 hour, skimming off any scum that forms on the surface.
• Pour the stock through a fine-mesh strainer into a shallow container, discarding the solids, and let cool to room temperature (about 30 minutes).
• The stock will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or for up to 6 months in the freezer.

CRAB STOCK

Steps:

• 1. Place the crab bodies, shells, and tomalley (and optional shrimp shells or lobster carcasses) in a 6- to 8-quart stockpot and cover with the water. Bring to a boil, skimming the white foam from the surface of the stock. (Using a ladle and a circular motion, push the foam from the center to the outside of the pot, where it is easy to remove.) Reduce the heat so the stock cooks at a fast, steady simmer.
• 2. Add the onion, celery, tomatoes, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, and thyme, and let the stock simmer and cook down for about 1 hour. The liquid should just cover the crab shells as the stock cooks; if it doesn't, just add a little water.
• 3. Season the stock lightly with salt. Taste for a rich flavor; if it seems light, simmer for about 20 minutes longer.
• 4. Strain the stock through a fine-mesh strainer. If you are not going to be using it within the hour, chill it as quickly as possible. Cover the broth after it has completely cooled and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.