Ultimate Seafood Soup Recipe with Crab and Shrimp: Creamy, Flavorful, and Easy to Make

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup carrot, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups seafood or chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 pound cooked crab meat, shelled
• 1/2 pound cooked shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped
• 2 tablespoons sherry (optional)
• Fresh herbs (e.g., parsley or chives) for garnish

Preparation:

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, celery, and carrot until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 additional minute. Stir in the tomato paste, paprika, cayenne (if using), salt, and pepper, cooking for 2 minutes while stirring constantly. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture, stir thoroughly, and cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour in the broth, stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Blend the soup until creamy using a hand blender or regular blender in batches. Add the heavy cream and cook for 10 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in the crab, shrimp, and sherry (if using). Cook for 5 minutes on low heat until warmed through, being careful not to curdle the cream. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs. Enjoy this rich and comforting seafood soup!