Tomato-Basil Crab Bisque

A couple of years ago, Allan and I went to Zuppa's for dinner. I ordered the Lobster Bisque. I'm not a big lobster fan, but I loved the soup. I came home and tried to find a similar recipe. This is what I found. It's not lobster and I really don't remember if it is very much like the soup at Zuppa's. But, never the less, I really like it, too.

Tomato-Basil Crab Bisque

4 tablespoons butter

1 lb. Fresh crabmeat

1-2 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped (about ¾ - 1 cup)

½ cup chopped fresh basil

2-3 cloves, minced

Scant 1 cup flour

2 ½ cup clam-tomato juice (Clamato juice)

2 cups whipping cream

1/3-1/2 cup ketchup

1/3 cup bottled clam juice

3 ½ teaspoons Old Bay seasoning

¼ t. hot pepper sauce (optional)

¾ cup water

¼ cup lemon juice

Milk

Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add crab meat, tomato, basil and garlic. Saute 2 minutes. Whisk in flour; stir 2 minutes. Whisk in clam-tomato juice and cream, ketchup, clam juice and Old Bay seasoning. Reduce heat to low and simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Cool soup slightly.

Puree soup in batches in blender until smooth. Return soup to pot. Stir in water and lemon juice. Bring to simmer. Add enough milk to make it desired consistency. Sprinkle with chopped basil and serve.