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.

42 comments:

Simply Life said...

Oh I love what you put in this soup! It looks so flavorful and delicious!

Joy said...

This looks great, I am a huge fan of chorizo (i usually cook breakfast tacos with it) but this looks awesome. Beautiful pictures!!

3 hungry tummies said...

I love your combination of prawns and chorizo! the avocado just added that extra freshness. will try this as soon as our heat wave is over!

ann low said...

Sounds great and easy recipe. Gonna bookmark this~ Thanks!

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

Looks fantastic! I tend to overcook shrimp, so the simmer method would be perfect for me.

Dolce said...

This is a nice recipe with a definite Spanish influence - remember you see Chorizo and shrimps together in paellas and jambalayas as well. I would definitely serve it with rice!

Pam said...

What a fantastic soup - this looks hearty and so flavorful!

KennyT said...

I'm glad that you've added avocado!

El said...

The recipe looks simple and elegant. I'm particularly in love with that retro sign!

Fresh Local and Best said...

Simply - Thanks! Your photos are great too!

Joy - I always have a couple of chorizos on hand, these sausages add so much flavor!

3 tummies - I forgot that you are having your summer right now! Stay cool!

Anncoo - Let me know how it turns out!

T.W. - It was very easy, just simmer for two minutes, turn off the heat and it continues cooking.

Dolce - Very good! I forgot that paellas call for both ingredients. I've never made paella, but I wish I had the space to make such a wonderful dish! As you've highlighted there must be so many Spanish dishes that call for both.

Ravenous Couple said...

thislooks so hearty and delicous! thanks for sharing the recipe.

Nancy said...

Nice recipe! This soup looks and sounds delicious. I loooove smoked paprika, too; definitely one I'll have to try.

kat said...

Full of flavors I love!

Fresh Local and Best said...

El- That sign describes so much of what I am experiencing.

Pam, Kenny, Ravenous - This is a wonderfully flavorful soup, and it quite surprised me how quick it was to make! :)

Anonymous said...

Truly scrumptious! We love shrimps so I am keeping it;o)
It's good that you slow down bit to make this beautiful food & the avo slices OoooYum!

xOxO.

Fresh Local and Best said...

Nancy, Kat - I think you'll like this recipe, it's so good!

HippieMom - Beautiful and nourishing food is always a good reason to slow down.

lululu said...

love chorizo a lot! just totally fall for the spicy flavor.
i bet it must be unbelievably flavorful with shrimp.
cant wait to try!

petite nyonya said...

What a flavorful & delicious soup! Love the addition of avocado on top!

Flour said...

Sounds and looks delicious! Will store this recipe for keeping if hubby goes out of town. Ha! He gets sick around shrimp:(
Hey, thanks for adding me as a Friend on FB!

Deb in Hawaii said...

Gorgeous soup! I had this one tagged to make but hadn't gotten to it yet so I am glad to hear how good it is. I love the combo of shrimp and chorizo

Reeni said...

What a delicious and hearty flavor combo! So perfect for taking the time to savor.

Sook said...

I love any kind of seafood soup. It's getting chilly and this soup would melt my heart away. Yummy!

Divina Pe said...

Oh yum, what a scrumptious dish. Chorizo and shrimps are just a wonderful pair and with avocado, please pass me a bowl of that one. :)

Unknown said...

What a wonderful dish! Shrimp+Chorizo+Avocado=one delicious Autumn soup that we'll be making sometime soon!

Janice said...

Can't go wrong with Chorizo and Shrimp, and to add these 2 ingredients in a soup is a perfect marriage in broth heaven. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

theUngourmet said...

I can imagine how terrific this makes the house smell while it's cooking! Yum! The avocado is a perfect garnish!

Love that coffee sign! :D

Fresh Local and Best said...

Deb - great minds think alike!

Ungourmet - That sign has been the story of my life!

Heather S-G said...

Oh, that is a thing of beauty! Another one for my "to try" list :)

NKP said...

Great flavours! I have shrimp broth in the freezer too - I have bookmarked this to make soon!

Patty said...

Holy smokes! This recipe looks amazing and probably is just the kind of spicy I enjoy woofing down! Thanks so very much for sharing!

Julia said...

Looks beautiful and delicious. And probably really good for a cold. And, it's been said, but the sign is the best!

Dolce said...

You can certainly go for a "little" paella in a tiny space if you decide to do only, say, a shrimp, chorizo and chicken paella.
But that definitely takes time!! Jambalaya is more forgiving I think.

unconfidentialcook said...

Love this soup! Love the avocado...and I bet a generous squeeze of lime would be yummy, too!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

This soup sounds like it's packed full of flavor! I bet the shrimp really soak up the flavor of the chorizo. This is a soup my family would really enjoy!

Anonymous said...

This sounds incredible, I love the chorizo here and the avocado slices on top, yum!

Fresh Local and Best said...

Thanks for all the kind and thoughtful comments. I'm glad to hear that some people already bookmarked this recipe.

Table Talk said...

Love smoky Spanish paprika--, Combined with the chorizo and shrimp, this soup sounds delicious! Definitely bookmarked.

Jenn@slim-shoppin said...

Wow, that looks so good! I love chorizo.

My family just went out to dinner at a cajun restaurant over the weekend and my son asked me why I don't make anything like what was on the menu, and I said, "I need a recipe!" Thanks so much for sharing!

Fresh Local and Best said...

Thanks everyone for the kind comments!

Table talk - you should start a blog! :)

Jessica@Foodmayhem said...

Ha, love that coffee sign, so sadly true. Oh man...staring me right in the face.

Judy said...

I've never bought chorizo, but I must try this recipe, it's calling my name.

Dhale said...

I'm a fan of chorizo so I'm sold on this recipe! BTW, I have that "Drink Coffee" sign in my kitchen :)