Shrimp and White Bean Soup

Since we were reminded recently of the impending end of shrimp season, we were motivated to check our local Rouses where they were selling the super huge head-on critters for $3.50 per pound on Monday. After a bit of agonizing over what to do with them it was decided that, since we'd already done the best Shrimp Creole ever, we'd try instead to replicate a soup we'd tasted at Cochon a year ago. We were fairly pleased with the results. This recipe is actually pretty similar to the Shrimp Creole recipe with a few differences and, sadly, fewer pictures this time.

• Start by peeling and deveining your huge shrimp. Reserve the meat in the refrigerator. Place the shells in a stock pot along with some basic soup vegetables (I use onion, garlic, and celery), lots of black pepper, salt, and a little crab boil. Bring the pot to a boil and then simmer for as long as you can get away with to make a nice rich stock.


• Once your stock is about ready, start building your soup in a separate pot. Begin by frying enough bacon to render a decent amount of cooking grease. Into the grease add, 1 onion, 1 clove of garlic, 2 or 3 stalks of celery, 1 green bell pepper and 1 or 2 leeks all diced.


• Once the vegetables start to cook down slice and add 3 or 4 large tomatoes. Allow them to liquefy in the pot. Add a liberal sprinkling of salt, black pepper, white pepper, and a little cayenne.


• Add one pound of Camelia Brand white beans. Stir to coat and then begin ladeling your shrimp stock into the soup. If you were just cooking white beans, you'd just want enough liquid to cover them but we're looking for something much thinner here so fill the pot up. Bring to a boil and then turn down the heat a bit. I'm likely to add more pepper here and a handful of dried thyme.


• Cover but keep checking the pot to keep it simmering and to add stock as needed until the beans are cooked. This will take about 40 minutes.


• Retrieve your peeled huge shrimp from the fridge and add them to the pot. Cover and simmer for about 6 to 10 minutes to cook the shrimp.


• Spoon it out and take one crappy phone picture just to show that you were there.