stalk, sliced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1 whole Dungeness crab, steamed whole and peeled, ½ cup crabmeat reserved for the relish
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cups dry white wine
4 cups chicken stock or broth, preferably homemade
2 cups heavy cream
2 ears fresh corn, kernels removed and reserved for the relish
Sweet Corn and Crab Relish
Place a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the butter, onion, celery, and red pepper and cook for about 10 minutes to let the vegetables slowly sweat. Add the crab shells to the pot, mashing with a wooden spoon to break up the shells and release the flavor. Add the tomato paste, stirring with the shells until it begins to caramelize.
Add the wine to deglaze the pan. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and reduce by half. Add the chicken stock and cook over medium heat until it boils. Then lower the heat to a simmer for 10 minutes. Add the cream and still at a simmer reduce the entire soup again by half.
Strain through a medium sieve, pressing the shells and vegetables to extract all the flavor. Pour the strained bisque into a clean pot and add the corn cobs and any crabmeat not used for the relish. Cook on low for 5 to 8 minutes, until the bisque is thickened. Remove the corn cobs. Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with a generous spoonful of the sweet corn and crab relish. ( See color insert . )
SERVES 4
sweet corn and crab relish
PROTEIN, VEGETABLES, INSULIN TRIGGERS
LEVEL 2
1½ cups corn kernels
½ cup lump crabmeat
1 jalapeño chile, seeded and finely diced (see Note )
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
Juice from ½ lemon
1 shallot or ¼ red onion, finely diced
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
If using ears, slice the kernels off the cobs. (Reserve the cobs to flavor the crab bisque.) Toss all the ingredients in a bowl. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
MAKES 2 CUPS
fennel soup with ricotta whole wheat bruschetta
PROTEIN, HEALTHY FATS, VEGETABLES, CARBOHYDRATES
LEVEL 1, LEVEL 2
4 medium fennel bulbs
4 cups chicken stock or broth, preferably homemade
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 slices crusty whole wheat bread
1 garlic clove, split in half
12 tablespoons skim-milk ricotta cheese
Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Slice a few of the feathery leaves from the tops of the fennel and set aside. Cut the stems off the fennel, leaving just the bulbs. Cut off any brown part on the bottom of the bulbs. Remove and discard any tough or bruised outer layers and slice the bulbs into ½-inch pieces.
Bring the stock to a boil and add the fennel. Cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Add a few chopped fennel leaves and season with salt and pepper.
Grill or toast the bread slices. While still hot, rub the toast with the garlic clove. Spread 2 tablespoons ricotta over each piece of toast and place a piece in each soup bowl.
Spoon the cooked fennel over the bread, then ladle in some of the stock. Drizzle a little olive oil over each bowl. Season with pepper, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.
SERVES 6
sweet vidalia french onion soup
PROTEIN, HEALTHY FATS, VEGETABLES
DETOX, LEVEL 1, LEVEL 2
3 sweet onions (Vidalia or Maui)
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for brushing
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon mustard seed
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon cracked black peppercorns
4 cups beef stock, preferably homemade
¼ cup dry red wine (omit for Detox)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (see Note omit for Detox)
1 large portobello mushroom
4 slices Gruyère or provolone cheese
Slice the onions very thin with a sharp knife or a mandoline. Place a stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the 2 tablespoons olive oil and the onions. Sauté for about 10 minutes, then lower the heat to medium low. Add salt and pepper to taste, mustard seed, celery seed, and cracked peppercorns and continue to sauté the onions until caramelized to