Contributor: Caroline Coker
I’m not a fan of milk or creamed based soups, however I do really like she-crab soup, a Charleston delicacy I learned how to make from my grandmother, who got her recipe from the Junior League cookbook, Charleston Receipts. My mom lived there for a short period when my grandfather was stationed in Charleston, and it is also where she learned her crabbing techniques. When my mom and my grandparents moved to New Orleans and she began cooking as a teenager, she learned how to make oyster artichoke soup, starting with a light roux and adding in cream in at the end. I grew up eating the sinfully delicious soup and early on picked out the oysters, but now love those precious bivalves, especially raw, and leave them in.
When my mom was in a head on collision in the late 1990’s, and due to an invasive abdominal surgery, she became milk intolerant and stopped making her famous oyster artichoke soup unless it was a special occasion, where it was really for everyone else. The artichoke soup that I have created contains no cream, so it is perfect for those that are lactose intolerant, or just don’t prefer much dairy like me. It is also low in calories and fat, but high in fiber and antioxidants. Very easy to make, and perfect to enjoy year round, (though peak season for artichokes is early spring) plan to use fresh hearts, freeze some for later use, or purchase artichoke hearts already frozen like I did from my local Fresh Market.
Super Easy Healthy Creamy Artichoke Soup
Ingredients
Serves 4-6
2 pounds frozen artichoke hearts, thawed
1/2 onion chopped
3 tbsp. good olive oil
1 quart low sodium organic chicken broth
4 cloves garlic, rough chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste
pinch of cayenne pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tbsp. finely chopped parsley for garnish
1 lemon, cut into 6 wedges for serving
Sourdough bread, for serving (unsalted butter optional)
Preparation
In a 6 quart pot on medium heat, add the olive oil and then the onion, cooking 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add the garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Add the artichoke hearts and cook 3 more minutes. Transfer artichoke heart mixture to a bowl and set aside.
Working in batches, purée 2 cups artichoke heart mixture with 1 cup of chicken broth in a blender for 30 seconds. I used a Vitamix. Transfer puréed artichoke mixture back to the 6-qt. pot on low heat. Once all of the artichoke mixture has been puréed and added to the pot, raise heat to medium, add the rest of the chicken broth, wine, salt and pepper to taste, 1/2 lemon juiced, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Stir and reduce the heat to simmer for 20 minutes.
Ladle soup into bowls, garnish with parsley, and serve with a lemon wedge and warm sourdough bread.
Tip: In the last transfer of cooking, you can substitute 1 cup of heavy cream for 1 cup of chicken broth for decadence.
Note: If wanting to make this recipe into a lighter version of Oyster Artichoke Soup, omit the wine above, and add a pint oysters, the oyster liquor, 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, and 1/3 cup sherry in the last 10 minutes of cooking, or until the oyster edges curl. Simmer, and do not allow the soup to boil.
Contributor Caroline Coker was raised on 30A, and has been living in South Walton, Florida since the age of five. She is passionate about health and fitness, and graduated in Nutritional Science from The University of Alabama in August 2015. You will find more of her recipes at 30AEats.com on Beach Eats! Caroline also handles the social media for GulfCoastRestaurants.com.
