This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.
If you prefer your soup a little thicker, crush 6 saltines into fine crumbs and add them at the end of the procedure, when you add the crab.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes about 4 cups
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Chop bacon and in a 2-quart heavy saucepan cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp. Transfer bacon with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, reserving fat in pan.
Step 2
While bacon is cooking, cut onion into 1/4-inch dice. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/4-inch dice. Stir onion, potatoes, and water into bacon fat and simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender and most of water is evaporated, about 15 minutes.
Step 3
While mixture is simmering, pick over crab meat, removing any bits of shell and cartilage. Stir milk and cayenne into mixture and return just to a simmer. Add crab and salt and pepper to taste and bring chowder to a simmer.
Step 4
Serve chowder garnished with parsley and bacon.