This Maryland Crab Soup has chunks of tasty lump crab meat in a rich and spicy tomato broth (thanks to Old Bay seasoning) that is full of vegetables. It’s great with crusty bread on a cold day and even better with fresh vegetables from the garden in the summer! Leftovers are even better the next day, and it freezes well too.
There is something very comforting about eating a bowl of soup that is full of seafood and vegetables in a tasty broth. Have a taste of the other side of the country with our San Francisco Cioppino Seafood Stew or try something completely different with our New England Fish Chowder.
Maryland crab soup is a rich, creamy bisque loaded with vegetables and sweet crab meat This regional specialty shines as a starter or light meal, but what should you serve alongside a steaming bowl? Choosing the right side dishes and breads can complement Maryland crab soup perfectly
In this guide, we’ll recommend 12 savory pairings that enhance the flavors of traditional Maryland crab soup We’ll cover
- Breads and baked goods
- Classic vegetable sides
- Creative salad options
- Hearty roasted veggie pairings
- Quick crackers or snacks
With these tasty pairing ideas, you can pull together a phenomenal Maryland crab soup meal from start to finish!
Warm Breads and Baked Goods
Warm buttery baked goods like these are natural pairings for Maryland crab soup
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Cornbread muffins or wedges – The sweet corn flavor matches the veggies and crab in the soup. Bake mini muffins or cut cornbread into wedges for dipping.
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Drop biscuits or artisan bread – Flaky, homemade biscuits or rolls soak up the creamy broth nicely. Slice a rustic loaf for dunking.
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Jalapeño cheddar bread – The kick of jalapeño and sharp cheddar add spice and richness to balance the soup.
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Bread bowls – Hollow out small bread loaves and fill with steaming Maryland crab soup for an all-in-one meal.
Classic Vegetable Side Dishes
These simple veggie classics complement Maryland crab soup’s vegetables and herbs:
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Green salad – Leafy greens, tomato and cucumber slices with vinaigrette balance the soup’s richness.
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Coleslaw – Crunchy cabbage slaw with carrots tosses well with cider vinegar dressing.
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Steamed green beans – Bright, fresh green beans sautéed with garlic round out the meal.
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Creamed spinach – Smooth, creamy spinach provides an iron-rich accent to the soup.
Creative Salad Options
Elevate your meal with one of these unique salad recipes:
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BLT salad – Chopped romaine, tomato, bacon and avocado with a tangy dressing.
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Strawberry spinach salad – Fresh spinach, sliced strawberries, feta cheese, and candied nuts.
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Kale Caesar salad – Hearty kale, croutons and Parmesan tossed in Caesar dressing.
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Greek salad – Tomato, cucumber, olives, feta and pepperoncini peppers over lettuce.
Hearty Roasted Veggies
Roasted vegetables add bold flavor and nutrition alongside Maryland crab soup:
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Broccoli florets – Roasted broccoli with olive oil, garlic and spices.
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Cauliflower steaks – Sliced cauliflower roasted until tender and caramelized.
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Brussels sprouts – Crispy, charred Brussels sprouts tossed in balsamic glaze.
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Root vegetables – A medley of roasted carrots, parsnips, and potatoes.
Quick Crackers or Snacks
Round out a simple soup and salad meal with these tasty additions:
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Oyster crackers – Classic salty oyster crackers for scooping and dunking.
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Bagel chips – Toasted everything bagel chips for crunch and sesame flavor.
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Pita chips – Crispy baked pita chips to dip in the velvety soup.
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Soft pretzels – Mini pretzel bites sprinkled with coarse salt.
Maryland crab soup makes for a comforting meal any time of year. Pair it with warm cornbread, a fresh salad, or roasted vegetables for a completely satisfying dinner. With these tasty sides, you can savor every spoonful of regional crab soup.
How to make Maryland Crab Soup
I thought about sautéing the onions, carrots, and celery in a little olive oil before adding the rest of the ingredients, but after seeing different versions of this soup, I decided not to do it. To keep things really simple, we just throw everything into the soup pot and let it simmer so the flavors can develop.
- Put almost everything in except the crab. Put the carrots, potato, onion, celery, green beans, corn, lime beans, peas, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, and mustard in a large Dutch oven or heavy-duty pot. Crack the canned tomatoes into chunks and add them to the pot. Also add the tomato juice from the can.
- Simmer: Bring the soup to a boil over medium-high heat. Then, lower the heat to medium-low and let it cook for 20 minutes with the lid partially on.
- Add the crab and let it cook for a little while longer. Once the vegetables have started to soften in the broth, add the crab meat and season with salt and pepper. Stir every now and then for another 15 to 30 minutes, until everything is hot, the vegetables are soft, and the flavors have come together to make a wonderful, rich broth.
Why you’ll love this Crab Soup Recipe
This crab soup, on the other hand, was a big hit at our dinner table. The spicy, savory broth compliments the crab meat really well. And each bite is chock-full of delicious and nutritious veggies. Its a really healthy soup and something you definitely feel good about eating.
- Crab meat: The canned crab meat in the tuna aisle is not what you want. Instead, you want fresh, frozen, or pasteurized lump crab meat. In the seafood section, look for fresh crab. If you can’t find it, ask at the meat counter.
- Whole peeled tomatoes in a can: You will use both the tomatoes and the juice they come in. I like adding the tomatoes to the soup with some chunks because I like the way they look.
- These three vegetables are often used in soup and really make the broth taste better: celery, carrots, and onions.
- For this soup, you can use either russet potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes. Peel, then cube the potatoes into bite-size pieces. Don’t add too much potato, or it will make the other ingredients taste weak. If the potatoes are small, you could use two, but one medium to large russet potato is plenty.
- Choose between fresh or frozen corn. If you can get fresh sweet corn from the farmers market in the summer, use it! You will need two ears of corn kernels cut off the cob. But you can use frozen corn kernels instead and the recipe will still work.
- To make Maryland Crab Soup, I looked at a lot of recipes and all of them called for lima beans. I don’t always have bags of them in the freezer. Like the peas, they taste great and add a great texture to the soup. We always have them in the freezer.
- Old Bay seasoning: This mix of spices is a must-have in many kitchens; it adds great flavor and heat. In the early 1900s, a German immigrant in Baltimore came up with the idea. It has a lot of different spices in it, such as ginger, paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, celery salt, and black pepper.
- Beef broth and water: The broth and water together give the dish depth without overpowering the crab flavor. If you’d rather, you could use only water.
- Mustard: Some recipes call for dry mustard powder, but I like how easy and strong regular yellow mustard is.
- This part, Worcestershire sauce, gives the broth a great umami flavor and a lot of flavor.
- Salt
Maryland Style Crab Soup
What goes well with Maryland crab soup?
Crusty Bread: A simple yet effective choice, a loaf of crusty bread like a baguette or sourdough is perfect for dipping into the soup and helps to make the meal more filling. Oyster Crackers: These are a traditional accompaniment to many types of soup and would work well with Maryland Crab Soup.
How do you make Maryland crab soup?
This Maryland Crab Soup recipe is a classic dish made with a variety of vegetables, crab meat, and Old Bay seasoning. Garnish with fresh herbs or Old Bay, and serve with crusty bread! In a large pot, add 6 cups of water and all the ingredients, expect crab meat. Bring to boil, then reduce to simmer for 45 minutes.
What is the best crab meat for crab soup?
Generally speaking, the best crab meat for crab soup is backfin or special. But it really depends on if you are making it for yourself, or ordering in a restaurant. Use jumbo lump, the highest quality of crab meat, for dishes like Maryland Crab Cakes where the meat takes center stage.However, it is also the most expensive crab you can buy.
What is the best broth for Maryland crab soup?
Seafood broth would be the most authentic for Maryland Crab Soup, but vegetable or chicken broth could also work well. Homemade Broth: If you have the time and resources, making your broth can elevate your soup to the next level. You can use leftover crab shells, vegetables, and herbs to make a flavorful seafood broth.