TREME MOCK TURTLE SOUP

Treme (Mock) Turtle Soup

Serves 4-6

1-1/2 pounds ground sirloin

6 stalks celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup chopped onion

3/4 cup butter

1 (15-ounce) can tomato puree

2 (14.5-ounce) cans chicken broth

2 (14.5-ounce) cans beef broth

1/2 cup flour mixed with 1 cup water

1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce

1 cup ketchup

1 teaspoon hot sauce

2 bay leaves

1-1/2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup minced flat-leaf parsley

6 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

6 slices lemon, for garnish

1 cup sherry, or to taste, optional

On the stovetop, sauté the sirloin, celery, garlic, and onion in butter until meat is brown and veggies are translucent. Add to the slow cooker.

Add tomato puree, chicken broth, beef broth, flour mixture, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, hot sauce, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Stir.

Cook on low heat for 4 hours.  Add lemon juice, parsley, and eggs 30 minutes before serving.

Immediately before serving, remove bay leaves, add sherry to taste, and garnish with lemon slices.