Blue swimmer crab bisque
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Serves
4
Cooking Time
Prep time 20 mins, cook 1 hr 30 mins
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1 kg
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blue swimmer (manna) crabs (about 3)
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1 tbsp
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olive oil
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1
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small onion, finely chopped
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1
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small carrot, finely chopped
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1
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celery stalk, finely chopped
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1
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each of thyme and flat-leaf parsley sprigs
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1
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fresh bay leaf
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1 tbsp
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tomato purée
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60 ml
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Cognac
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200 ml
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dry white wine
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2
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litres (8 cups) fish stock or water
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190 ml
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pouring cream
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To serve:
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Pernod
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1
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Lift triangular flap underneath crab to remove, then discard top shell. Rinse crab under cold water and remove and discard dead man’s fingers. Remove meat from claws and refrigerate until required.
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2
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Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, sweat onion, carrot and celery, stirring occasionally, until soft (4-6 minutes), add herbs and whole crabs, and cook, crushing shells with a heavy wooden spoon, until shells turn orange (5-6 minutes). Add tomato purée and Cognac, then tilt pan to catch flame and ignite Cognac (use a match if not cooking over a flame). When flame dies off, add white wine and cook until almost reduced (5-7 minutes), add fish stock, bring to the boil and simmer over low heat until richly flavoured (25-30 minutes). Season to taste, strain through a fine sieve into a clean pan (discard solids), bring to the boil and cook over high heat, skimming frequently, until reduced by a third (30 minutes). Makes 1 litre.
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3
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Meanwhile, whisk 90ml cream until soft peaks form and reserve. Add remaining cream to crab stock and cook over medium-high heat until slightly thickened (8-10 minutes), then whisk in whipped cream until soup becomes frothy and add crab claw meat. Pour a dash of Pernod into each serving bowl, ladle in soup and serve immediately.
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Drink Suggestion White from the Southern Rhône Valley – something with texture and weight but savoury and not too fruity.
RECIPE Russell Blaikie, Must Winebar
PHOTOGRAPHY Jason Loucas
STYLING Lisa Featherby and Geraldine Munoz
DRINK SUGGESTION Emma Sputore