SMOKY SHRIMP AND CHORIZO SOUP

It's been a busy few days for me running to one meeting after another. The only thing that keeps me sane these days is chocolate and coffee.

This past weekend when I had some time to slow down and cook, I decided to make smoky shrimp and chorizo soup from a recipe that I had bookmarked in Food & Wine magazine from two months ago. It's about time!

This recipe peaked my interest because it combines shrimp and chorizo, two ingredients that I don't often see together in a recipe. It calls for shrimp broth, which is made by boiling the shells of the shrimp in chicken stock for ten minutes, infusing a mild seafood flavor. The sausage is browned with sweet smoked paprika, giving this soup a savory southwest roasted chile flavor. This soup can be made within an hour and/or ahead of time and reheated for the shrimp to cook minutes before serving. 

This recipe is definitely a keeper!

SMOKY SHRIMP AND CHORIZO SOUP
(adapted from Grace Parisi, Food & Wine magazine)
Ingredients

• 2 pounds medium shrimp shelled and deveined, shells reserved
• 2 quarts low-sodium chicken broth
• 8 ounces dry chorizo, thinly sliced
• 1 large sweet onion, diced
• 1 large carrot, cut into fine matchsticks
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
• One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour mixed with two tablespoons of water
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• Avocado slices, (optional for garnish)

Method

1. In a medium saucepan, simmer the shrimp shells in the chicken broth, covered, for 10 minutes. Strain the broth and discard the shells.
2. In a large soup pot, cook the chorizo over moderate heat, stirring occasionally until browned, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chorizo to a plate. Add the onion, carrot, garlic, and paprika to the pot and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Return the chorizo to the pot, add the shrimp broth and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat for 25 minutes.
3. Stir the flour mixture, whisk it into the soup and boil for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the shrimp to the soup and cook just until pink and curled, about 2 minutes. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with the avocado, if using.
   

Serves 8-10

Serve with toasted bread or steamed rice.