TURTLE SOUP AU SHERRY

Turtle soup is a great delicacy in Louisiana. Commander's Palace Restaurant, in New Orleans' Garden District, is famous for its turtle soup -- it's a dark, rich, thick, stew-type dish, filling enough to be a meal in itself. More often, though, it's the first bookend of a great meal that's finished by a fantastic dessert. Arnaud's Restaurant, in the French Quarter, also has great turtle soup, and the recipe is quite different. Commander's is thicker, and Arnaud's is a little lighter, using a white veal stock instead of a dark beef stock.

Commander's Palace Turtle Soup au Sherry
 10 ounces (2-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
 1 pound turtle meat, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
 1 cup minced celery (4 stalks)
 2 medium onions, minced
 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic, minced
 3 bay leaves
 1 teaspoon oregano
 1/2 teaspoon thyme
 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
 1-1/2 cups tomato puree
 1 quart beef stock (note: If turtle bones are available, add them to the beef bones when making the stock for this dish)
 Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, as needed
 1/2 cup lemon juice
 5 hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped
 1 tablespoon minced parsley
 6 teaspoons dry sherry

Melt 8 ounces (2 sticks) butter in a heavy saucepan. Add the flour and cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat until the roux is light brown. Set aside.

In a 5-qt saucepan, melt the remaining butter and add turtle meat. Cook over high heat until the meat is brown. Add celery, onions, garlic and seasonings, and cook until the vegetables are transparent.

Add tomato puree, lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the stock and simmer for 30 more minutes.

Add the roux and cook over low heat, stirring, until the soup is smooth and thickened. Correct seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Add lemon juice, eggs and parsley. Remove from heat and serve.

At the table, add 1 tsp sherry to each soup plate.
ENJOY!