One-Pot Wonders

Crab Pepper Cheese Soup

by:
February 24, 2021
5
3 Ratings
Crab Pepper Cheese Soup
Photo by Sarah Roberts
  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 25 minutes
  • Serves 6
Author Notes

I first experienced this luscious soup at Corbett's Fish House in Portland, Oregon and have tried over and over again for years to replicate it - the creamy rich broth, large pieces of crab and that certain kick of spice that made it seriously addictive. Finally, I now have the perfect duplicate of their crab pepper cheese soup. —Sarah Gilbert

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 4 tablespoons flour
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 2/3 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
  • 12 ounces crab meat (canned or fresh, if using canned, drain)
  • 1 tablespoon creole seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon parsley
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
Directions
  1. In a large dutch oven or pot melt butter on medium heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper, saute for 5-7 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add flour, and cook additional 5 minutes or until a thick rue has formed.
  2. Add tomato paste, creole, cayenne, parsley, salt and pepper. Stir. With a large whisk slowly add half and half and cream, whisking to combine. Bring to a low boil, continuing to whisk, scraping the bottom of the pot to prevent burning. Whisk in cheese until melted and consistency is smooth.
  3. If a thicker soup is desired make a slurry of even parts cornstarch and water, stir until a paste is formed. Whisk slurry into soup. Add crab and lower heat to simmer. Cook additional 10 minutes or until crab is heated through. Serve immediately with an abundance of oyster crackers.
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4 Reviews

Emilyannevan
Emilyannevan December 3, 2022
HOLY COW YOU HAVE DONE IT!
I was SO sad when Corbett and Hawthorne Fish House closed, I grieved over this soup. We made this tonight and it is so close to the original I am so happy! THANK YOU!! Yum!!!
 
Home C.
Home C. October 21, 2022
Finally! This is my favorite soup and I miss it. I’ve been trying to recreate it for years. This is it! Thank you. The only edits I did was using an immersion blender and subbing old bay seasoning for creole (didn’t have creole).
 
Larissa B.
Larissa B. February 26, 2021
Oh my goodness, this recipe made me so happy! The soup from Corbett's Fish House this recipe is copying was one of my favorite things they sold and I was legitimately heartbroken when they closed last year. I periodically searched for recipes online that were similar, but it was a pretty unique soup so I never found it. I can't believe my luck that someone else loved this soup so much they made a copy cat recipe! Thank you! The only thing I would say is that there are a few typos in the recipe that made it confusing. For example, the recipe doesn't say when to add the tomato paste (I put it in after the flour) And it doesn't say how much salt and pepper to use (I just did to taste). I also noticed that in the recipe you say milk and cream, but the grocery list says cream and half and half. However, this soup turned out amazing and was very similar to the one Corbett's served. Yay!
 
Sarah G.
Sarah G. February 26, 2021
Thank you for letting me know about my mistake- I fixed the recipe. So happy you enjoyed it! It's a favorite in our house and I was determined to get it right.