Crab Tomato Soup

== Description ==
Contributed by Healthy Recipes for Diabetic Friends Y-Group
* Makes 12 to 15 Servings.
== Ingredients ==
* 4 quarts water
* 5 cups peeled tomatoes or 2 cans (28 ounces) tomatoes
* 1 can, 8 ounces tomato sauce
* 2 bay leaves
* ½ cup pearl barley
* ½ cup chopped parsley
* 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
* 3 stalks celery, diced
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 2 ham hocks
* 1 beef bone
* salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
* 8 live blue crabs, cleaned and quartered, backs reserved Blue crabs used in soup recipes are usually whole blue crabs that are female or too small for steaming.
* ½ head cabbage, chopped
* 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
* 4 cups fresh or frozen mixed vegetables, such as diced carrots, cut-up green beans, corn kernels, shelled peas and lima beans, in any combination
* 2 pounds claw crab meat, picked over
== Directions ==
# Combine the water, tomatoes, tomato sauce, bay leaves, barley, parsley, Old Bay seasoning, celery, onion, ham hocks, beef bone, salt and pepper in a large soup pot.
# Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour.
# Add the crabs and backs.
# Continue cooking for another 30 minutes.
# Add the cabbage, potatoes and mixed vegetables.
# When the vegetables are tender, remove the ham hocks and pick the meat off the bone.
# Return the picked meat to the soup.
# Discard the bay leaves and backs.
# Add the claw meat and simmer 10 minutes longer.
# Serve at once.
=== Crab ===
# To prepare crabs for use in a soup, drop the crabs into a pot of boiling water and allow to cook for 5 minutes.
# Rinse in cold water until cool enough to handle.
# Remove top shell of crabs, reserving shells for soup, as they add flavor to the soup as it cooks.
# Clean the body of the crab by removing the gills and innards.
# Break the crabs into quarters, and they are ready for use in a soup.
== Notes ==
== Nutritional information ==
Calories 234 | Fat 2 g | Carbs 23 g | Sodium 819 Mg | Fiber 5 G
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Category:Cabbage Recipes
Category:Carrot Recipes
Category:Celery Recipes
Category:Corn Recipes
Category:Crab Recipes
Category:Green bean Recipes
Category:Ham hock Recipes
Category:Healthy Recipes for Diabetic Friends
Category:Lima bean Recipes