Description
Mexican shrimp soup brings zesty flavors dancing across warm bowls of comfort. Fragrant spices and tender shrimp create a delightful culinary journey you’ll savor with every spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 lb (454 g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
Liquid and Base:
- 4 cups (960 ml) chicken or seafood broth
- 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) diced tomatoes
Seasonings and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce (optional)
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
Aromatics and Garnish:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a spacious cooking vessel over moderate temperature, introducing finely chopped onions and minced garlic, gently caramelizing until aromatic and translucent.
- Sprinkle red pepper flakes, smoky paprika, and freshly ground black pepper into the sautéed base, allowing spices to bloom and release their intense fragrance for approximately 30 seconds.
- Cascade broth, diced tomatoes, umami-rich soy sauce, and pungent fish sauce into the pot, elevating heat to trigger a vigorous boil.
- Reduce flame and allow liquid to simmer gently, permitting ingredients to meld and develop complex flavor profiles for 10 minutes.
- Delicately introduce raw shrimp into the simmering liquid, monitoring closely as they transform from translucent to vibrant pink, typically requiring 3-4 minutes of cooking.
- Finish the soup by incorporating bright lime juice, freshly sliced green onions, and fragrant cilantro, tasting and calibrating seasoning with additional salt or spices as desired.
- Transfer steaming soup into serving bowls, ensuring each portion captures the robust, zesty essence of the dish, and serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Adjust spiciness by varying the amount of red pepper flakes, allowing heat-sensitive diners to customize their soup’s intensity.
- Use frozen shrimp for convenience, but thaw completely and pat dry to prevent watery soup and ensure better flavor absorption.
- Choose wild-caught shrimp for more sustainable and potentially more flavorful protein that enhances the overall soup profile.
- Transform this recipe into a low-carb option by replacing traditional broth with bone broth and adding extra vegetables like zucchini or cauliflower for bulk.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg