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Picante de Camarones

Picante de camarones, Peruvian spicy shrimp

 

This is one of my dad’s favorite meals: It’s called picante de camarones, or spicy shrimp, and it’s a traditional Peruvian seafood dish imbued with racy ají colorado, garlic, and onions. The sauce — a compilation of butter, white wine, heavy cream is what gives the shrimp their sexy luster and appeal.

Typically served over rice, picante de camarones can look strikingly similar to a Creole étouffée with it’s bold flavors and shellfish allegiance. This Peruvian iteration however, almost always comes with a side of boiled potatoes and sliced, hard boiled eggs. Because just when you think you have enough of a good thing, we give you more. Peruvians are gluttons for immoderation (but I think you already knew that).

I left the shells on to intensify the sauce as it cooked but if you’re opposed to peeling the skins while you eat and can’t harbor the thought of licking all that glorious shrimp juice dripping down your fingers at the table, then…I suppose you can disrobe them prior but that’s like really un-fun and I think I’d have to disown you for a minute.

At it’s best, this should be served and devoured as soon as the shrimp turn a bright vermilion and the sauce a luscious pond of spicy, creamy broth. Grab a mess of paper towels, drink a glass of crisp white. Get dirty dirty.

 

Picante de camarones, Peruvian spicy shrimp

 

Picante de camarones recipe

 

Directions:

Rinse the shrimp under cool running water and leave to drain.

Grab your butter out of the fridge and put 2 tablespoons of it into a large fry pan. Put the remaining 1 tablespoon into a small bowl and let it come to room temperature and soften. When you’re able to easily smash it with a fork, mix in 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour until a loose, crumbly dough forms. You’ve made a beurre manié! Set this aside, you’ll use it to thicken and finish the sauce later.

Return to your fry pan with the butter in it and turn up the heat to medium-high. Once the butter has melted, toss in the slivered onions and let this soften and cook down for a bit, about 3-4 minutes. Add in the chopped garlic, ají colorado, and salt and pepper to taste. Give everything a stir and continue to cook until the garlic is fragrant and the ají colorado has coated the onion mixture, about 2-3 minutes, depending if your ají colorado is frozen or not.

Pour in the white wine and water and let this come to a bubble for a minute, to cook off the alcohol and reduce slightly. Tumble in the shrimp, give it a toss to coat, and then put a lid on it, reducing the heat to medium, and cooking until the shrimp have just turned a bright red, approx 5-6 minutes.

Dribble in the cream, give it a stir and let it warm through for a few seconds. Lastly, add the beurre manié, the butter-flour mixture you made earlier, to the sauce, using a small whisk to incorporate it in, weaving in and around the shrimp and onions, until the sauce has thickened slightly and is velvety smooth, about a couple minutes to enrich properly.

Sprinkle in some freshly chopped cilantro, give it another toss and serve at once over perfectly puffed white rice, boiled taters and hard boiled eggs.

// Serves 2 hungry lovers

 

 

 

 

15 comments
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  • fatpiginthemarketApril 20, 2012 - 12:04 pm

    I want to be at an outdoor table slurping these down. No need to disown me…I’m down with shrimp shells. Shrimpy says Hola is hilarious.ReplyCancel

  • sarahApril 22, 2012 - 12:23 am

    shrimp plus a butter, wine, and cream sauce?! yeah, I’ll try that… i’ll also be sure to disrobe them after they cook, I don’t think I could bear to be disowned by you 🙂ReplyCancel

  • KimberleyApril 24, 2012 - 8:07 pm

    That looks and sounds heavenly!ReplyCancel

  • Chez UsApril 28, 2012 - 4:33 pm

    I so want to make this. I make a similar Portuguese dish, that is one of Lenny’s favorite things to make. I love the addition of cream … will have to give that a try.ReplyCancel

    • StephanieApril 29, 2012 - 11:41 am

      What’s the name of the Portuguese dish? I’m very interested!ReplyCancel

  • Outlander KitchenMay 1, 2012 - 7:58 pm

    I can make these! I have the aji colorado…life is GRAND. TheresaReplyCancel

    • StephanieMay 1, 2012 - 8:02 pm

      Theresa, girl you crack me up! YAY! Tell me how it turns out. And please, please tell me you leave their skivvies on!!ReplyCancel

  • Kristen @ The Endless MealMay 12, 2012 - 1:48 am

    This recipe looks crazy amazing delicious! Thank you so much for sharing it!ReplyCancel

    • StephanieMay 14, 2012 - 3:26 pm

      Kristen, you’re very welcome! Delicious crazy food needs to be shared. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • […] Credit: Okie Dokie Artichokie Spread the Love:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This entry was […]ReplyCancel

  • Christina VMay 25, 2012 - 8:27 am

    I made this last night – it is to die for. We had a similar dish in Spain (gambas al pil pil), but I may have to say this was better! Thanks!ReplyCancel

    • StephanieMay 25, 2012 - 8:33 am

      Hey Christina! Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Did you use aji colorado or substitute for something else? 🙂ReplyCancel

  • BillOctober 14, 2013 - 11:20 am

    Thanks for your spicy creamy offering.ReplyCancel

    • StephanieOctober 25, 2013 - 7:28 am

      Hi Bill,

      You’re very welcome! What’s not to love about shrimp in a spicy creamy sauce? 🙂 Hope you tried the recipe!ReplyCancel

  • JimNSeptember 8, 2016 - 6:21 pm

    I have not made this yet but it will be on the menu this weekend!

    I have to ask – do you have a recipe for ceviche? I would love to make some for my wife that has a true Peruvian leche de tigre!! Can you help me out?

    JimReplyCancel

okie dokie artichokie

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