How to Make Delicious Shrimp Mozambique at Home

Shrimp mozambique is a flavorful Portuguese shrimp dish that is sure to impress. This spicy, garlic-infused shrimp recipe comes together in just 15 minutes and is perfect for appetizers or main courses Follow this simple step-by-step guide to learn how to make incredible shrimp mozambique at home

An Overview of Shrimp Mozambique

Shrimp mozambique also known as camarão à mozambique is a popular Portuguese dish made by sautéing shrimp in a sauce of beer or wine, garlic, piri piri or other hot sauce, and aromatic spices. The shrimp are often cooked shell-on to impart more flavor into the sauce, which is sopped up with crusty bread. The dish is named after Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony, where similar shrimp dishes are eaten.

Shrimp mozambique is commonly served as an appetizer or main course, often with rice. It has a lovely balance of heat and acidity from the spicy sauce and bright squeeze of lemon juice. The complexity in flavor comes from slowly cooking garlic, onion, hot peppers, paprika, and white wine to allow the ingredients to meld. Fresh parsley adds vibrance at the end.

This shrimp dish is a fixture in many Portuguese households. It makes frequent appearances at family gatherings, holidays, and special occasions. The classic preparation uses pimenta moida (Portuguese chili paste) for heat, but hot sauces like piri piri can be substituted.

Benefits of Making Your Own

There are many advantages to preparing shrimp mozambique at home:

• Customize the flavor and heat level by adjusting the amount of hot sauce or peppers. This allows you to make it as mild or spicy as you prefer.

• Control the ingredients, avoiding preservatives, excess salt, and low quality seafood that you may find in store-bought versions.

• Make it quick and easy with ready-peeled shrimp and pre-minced garlic to save time prepping.

• Impress guests by serving this flavorful dish at your next dinner party or event. The complex aromas and textures make it feel gourmet.

• Save money compared to ordering shrimp mozambique at a restaurant. Making it at home costs just a fraction of the price.

• Introduce new flavors to your home cooking repertoire inspired by Portuguese and Mozambican cuisines. This recipe allows you to easily incorporate new ingredients like pimenta moida into your kitchen.

So if you love shrimp and spicy, garlic-forward flavors, then making shrimp mozambique is a must try! Follow this straightforward recipe for an appetizer that will transport your tastebuds.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making restaurant-quality shrimp mozambique only takes 4 simple steps:

1. Prep the Ingredients (5 minutes)

You’ll need:

• 1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 small diced onion
• 6 minced garlic cloves
• 1 cup white wine
• 2 Tbsp paprika
• 4 tsp pimenta moida or other hot sauce
• 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 1⁄4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• Lemon wedges, for serving
• Olive oil for cooking

Prepare all the ingredients before you start cooking. Peel, devein, and pat the shrimp dry. Mince the garlic and dice the onion. Measure out the spices. Chop the parsley. Cut the lemons into wedges. Doing this prep work ahead of time allows the cooking process to go more smoothly.

2. Cook the Onion and Garlic (1 minute)

Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 1 minute, until softened.

Next, add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute more. Be careful not to burn the garlic.

3. Add Spices, Shrimp, and Wine (4 minutes)

After the onion and garlic have cooked for a minute or two, stir in the salt, paprika, and pimenta moida. Allow the spices to become aromatic for 1 minute.

Then add the shrimp and sauté just until they start to turn pink, about 2 minutes.

Pour in the white wine and let it come to a gentle simmer for 1 minute. This will create a nicely thickened sauce.

4. Finish and Serve

Check seasonings and add more salt or hot sauce if desired. Keep in mind the pimenta moida already contains salt. Stir in the chopped parsley.

Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the shrimp mozambique before serving. Enjoy it while hot, with crusty bread for dipping and rice on the side.

And that’s it! In just 15 minutes you can enjoy this flavor-packed shrimp dish. The combination of wine, garlic, and hot peppers makes a lively sauce that coats the succulent shrimp.

Tips for Perfectly Delicious Shrimp Mozambique

Here are some helpful tips to end up with flawlessly flavorful shrimp mozambique every time:

• Use shell-on shrimp for the most flavorful sauce, but peeled shrimp also works well. Devein the shrimp to remove the intestinal tract.

• Sauté the garlic briefly without browning to mellow its bite and bring out the sweetness.

• Add hot sauce gradually and taste as you go so you don’t overdo the heat. Pimenta moida works well.

• Choose a crisp white wine like Vinho Verde. Avoid oaky chardonnay.

• Simmer the wine just until slightly reduced to concentrate the flavors.

• Brighten up the dish at the end with a splash of fresh lemon juice.

• Chop the parsley finely so it distributes nicely throughout the shrimp.

• Serve with crusty bread, white rice, or pasta to soak up the delicious sauce.

• For special occasions, add lobster, clams, mussels, or crab legs too!

With these tips, you can become an expert at creating the perfect shrimp mozambique to impress dinner guests or enjoy as a weeknight treat.

Variations on Classic Shrimp Mozambique

Once you master the traditional recipe, get creative with these easy variations:

• Use beer instead of wine for a more robust flavor. A lager or pilsner works well.

• Add diced chorizo for a meaty, smoky element.

• Stir in sliced bell peppers or crushed red pepper flakes for more color and a milder heat.

• Finish with cilantro instead of parsley for a fresher, brighter flavor.

• For extra richness, swirl in a tablespoon of butter at the end.

• Garnish with lime wedges rather than lemon for a tropical twist.

• Serve over cilantro lime rice or coconut rice for flavor and texture contrast.

• For a lower calorie option, use chicken or vegetable broth instead of oil to sauté.

The basic shrimp mozambique recipe leaves plenty of room to get innovative and try new flavors based on your tastes. Keep the garlic, spice, and wine as the constants, and adjust the other ingredients.

FAQs About Making Shrimp Mozambique

If you’re new to making shrimp mozambique, you probably have a few questions about perfecting this recipe. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:

What type of shrimp should I use?

Go for medium or large shrimp in the 21-25 or 26-30 count per pound range. Smaller shrimp overcook too quickly. Leave the shells on or peel them.

Can I use frozen shrimp?

Yes, frozen shrimp works well too. Just thaw them first and pat dry before adding to the pan.

What if I can’t find pimenta moida?

Substitute any hot sauce you like. Options include piri piri, salsa picante, sriracha, or red pepper flakes.

What kind of white wine is best?

An unoaked, dry white wine like Vinho Verde adds pleasant acidity without overpowering flavor. Sauvignon blanc also works.

Can I skip the wine?

The wine adds fantastic flavor, but you can use chicken or vegetable broth instead to keep it alcohol-free.

What side dishes go well with it?

Rice, pasta, crusty bread, or a salad. Roasted vegetables are also a tasty pairing.

How should I store leftovers?

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The flavors continue improving as it sits!

Enjoy Restaurant-Worthy Shrimp Mozambique at Home

Shrimp mozambique truly feels like a restaurant-caliber meal, yet takes just minutes to prepare at home. The secret is slowly simmering garlic, onions, and spices in wine to build deep layers of flavor. Fresh parsley and lemon juice brighten up the dish before serving.

Adjust the level of heat by adding more or less hot sauce to suit your preferences. Serve shrimp mozambique as a starter or main course paired with rice or