Açorda de camarão (Portuguese bread soup with shrimp)

As a woman living in the United States with a Portuguese family, I have always been fascinated by the rich culinary traditions of my heritage. One dish that holds a special place in my heart is açorda de camarão, a traditional bread soup made with shrimp, garlic, olive oil and coriander.

I first learned how to make this delicious dish from my grandmother, who lived in the Alentejo region of Portugal. She would often make açorda de camarão for our family gatherings, and the smell of the garlic and coriander simmering on the stove would fill the entire house.

Making açorda de camarão always brings back fond memories of my grandmother and our time spent together in the kitchen. She would patiently show me how to peel and devein the shrimp, chop the garlic and coriander, and soak the bread in the broth. We would chat and laugh as we cooked, and I always felt a sense of warmth and comfort being by her side.

Now, as an adult living far away from my family, I often turn to açorda de camarão as a way to connect with my roots and feel closer to home. The flavors and aromas transport me back to my childhood and remind me of the love and warmth of my family.

In this blog post, I want to share with you my grandmother’s recipe for açorda de camarão. It is a simple yet flavorful dish that is perfect for a cozy dinner with loved ones. I hope that it brings you as much joy and comfort as it has brought me over the years.

Açorda de camarão is not only delicious but also has a rich history. It originated in the Alentejo region of Portugal and has been enjoyed by generations of families. The dish is made by soaking bread in a broth or sauce made with garlic, olive oil and coriander. Shrimp or other seafood is then added to create a hearty and satisfying meal.

One of the things I love about açorda de camarão is its versatility. There are many variations of the dish, with different ingredients and flavors. Some people add clams or cod to their açorda, while others prefer to keep it simple with just shrimp. The possibilities are endless!

Making açorda de camarão at home is easy and fun. All you need are a few simple ingredients and some patience. The result is a delicious and comforting dish that will warm your heart and soul.

I hope that this blog post inspires you to try making açorda de camarão at home. Whether you have Portuguese heritage or are simply looking for a new recipe to try, this dish is sure to become a favorite in your household.

Açorda de camarão (Portuguese bread soup with shrimp)

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Serves: 4 Prep Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 30 minutes 30 minutes

Nutrition facts: 266 calories 9 grams fat

Rating: 5.0/5

( 1 voted )

Ingredients

• 14 oz of shrimp meat
• 1 homemade bread with 28 oz
• 2 egg yolks
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 4 cups of milk
• 1 seafood broth
• 0.17 cups of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of brandy
• whole shrimps as needed
• chopped coriander as needed
• salt and chili pepper as needed

Instructions

1. Start by cutting the bread into small pieces and placing them in a large bowl.
2. In a saucepan, bring the milk and seafood broth to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat and pour over the bread pieces.
3. Peel and finely chop the garlic cloves.
4. In a large pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, salt and chili pepper and cook until fragrant.
5. Add the thawed shrimp meat to the pan and cook until well done.
6. Adjust the seasonings to taste and add the chopped coriander. Pour in the brandy and finally add the drained bread pieces.
7. Stir everything together until well combined and homogeneous.
8. In a separate pot, cook the whole shrimps in water seasoned with salt and chili pepper.
9. To serve, pour the bread soup into a clay dish and decorate with peeled cooked shrimps, egg yolk and more chopped coriander.

Notes

• Açorda is a traditional Portuguese dish made with bread, garlic, olive oil, coriander and sometimes seafood or meat. It is a type of bread soup that originated in the Alentejo region of Portugal. The bread is soaked in a broth or sauce and then mixed with the other ingredients to create a hearty and flavorful dish.
• There are many variations of açorda, with different ingredients and flavors. The recipe I provided earlier is for a shrimp açorda (açorda de camarão), which includes shrimp as one of the main ingredients.
• Some common variations include açorda with seafood, such as shrimp or clams 1, açorda with fish, such as cod or hake, and açorda with meat, such as rabbit or farinheira sausage. There are also vegetarian versions of açorda, such as tomato and mushroom açorda.
• The basic ingredients of bread, garlic, olive oil and coriander remain the same, but other ingredients are added to create different flavors and textures.