Ingredients

  • 1 1 1/2-pound cooked Dungeness crab
  • 5 quarts of water
  • 1 8-ounce bottle clam juice
  • 1 large onion, halved
  • 1 large carrot, peeled
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 3 large garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 4 cups peeled 1-inch pieces butternut squash (about 1 3/4 pounds)
  • 1 10-ounce potato, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch strips
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch strips
  • 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch strips
  • 1 1/2 pounds bay scallops
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen green peas, thawed

Method

  • Clean crab and crack; remove meat.
  • Reserve shells and crab butter (gray-green coating inside crab shell).
  • Refrigerate crab meat.
  • Place shells and crab butter in 8- to 10-quart stockpot.
  • Add water, clam juice, onion halves, carrot, thyme and cayenne.
  • Boil over medium heat until liquid is reduced to 9 cups, about 1 1/2 hours.
  • Strain stock.
  • Melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  • Add chopped onion and garlic and saute until tender, about 6 minutes.
  • Add curry powder and ground turmeric and stir 1 minute.
  • Add crab stock, butternut squash and potato.
  • Simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 35 minutes.
  • Transfer mixture to blender in batches and puree until smooth.
  • Return to Dutch oven.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • (Can be made 1 day ahead.
  • Cover; chill.
  • Rewarm before continuing.)
  • Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large skillet.
  • Add all bell peppers and saute until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes.
  • Add bay scallops and saute until almost cooked through, about 3 minutes.
  • Add reserved crab meat and green peas and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Ladle squash puree into bowls.
  • Top with seafood mixture and serve.