Chilled Avocado Soup Topped With Crab - cooking recipe

Ingredients

GUACAMOLE (1 CUP)
2 medium garlic cloves, unpeeled
3 scallions, white and tender green parts only (medium in size)
1 jalapeno, seeded and quartered lengthwise
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 Hass avocadoes, halved and pitted
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro leaf
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
salt & freshly ground black pepper
CHILLED AVOCADO SOUP TOPPED WITH CRAB
1 cup guacamole
1 cup cold buttermilk
3/4 cup bottled clam juice or pw-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup ice water
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
salt and pepper
jumbo lump crab meat
creme fraiche
fried corn tortilla strips
finely chopped chives, for garnish

Preparation

GUACAMOLE:
Preheat a grill pan.
In a small bowl, toss the scallions, garlic and jalapeno with the vegetable oil.
Grill over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, until charred all over, 3-5 minutes.
Transfer to a work surface and let cool.
Finely chop the scallions and jalapeno; transfer to medium bowl.
Peel the garlic cloves, mash them to a paste and add them to the bowl.
Scoop the avocado flesh into the bowl and coarsely mash with a fork.
Fold the cilantro and lime juice into the guacamole; season with salt & pepper (make sure you don't over-season because there is more salt & pepper in the soup!).
CHILLED AVOCADO SOUP TOPPED WITH CRAB:
In a blender, puree the guacamole with the cold buttermilk, bottled clam juice, ice water and lime juice.
Season the soup with salt and pepper.
Pour the soup into 4 bowls and top with the jumbo lump crab meat.
Garnish each bowl of soup with creme fraiche, fried tortilla strips and finely chopped chives.