When it comes to trying dishes that delight your palate, there are many options, including exotic dishes, which for those who are more daring in culturing their palate represent a real pleasure.
However, there are those dishes that although they may be typical or very conventional, they never fail to provoke an explosion of flavors in your palate that makes you want to try them again and again, such is the case of rice with shrimp.
Recipes
Rice with shrimp is one of those dishes that even if they are not so innovative or exotic, they have a unique flavor and incomparable with other dishes.
This dish has the representative flavor of the sea, so tasting it, no matter where you are, will take you to the most beautiful coasts and will leave you with the sensation of having enjoyed a unique marine product.
This particular flavor comes mainly from the taste given off by the shrimp itself, mostly from its head and other elements that compose it, which impregnates the rest of the components of the dish and especially the rice with this delicious flavor.
Read on and learn more about this delicious dish that is part of the table of the coasts and the best restaurants around the world.
¿Where does rice with shrimp come from?
This delicious dish has a diverse origin, which can sometimes be discussed by several regions worldwide since in many places of the planet this recipe has been prepared for years.
On the one hand, this dish can be considered as a variant of the typical rice with seafood from Spain, where shrimps are the main ingredient together with other seafood such as mussels and octopus.
However, in other regions of America such as Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, this dish is very different from the typical Spanish “Paella”. On the contrary, in these regions this dish has been representative of their coasts for hundreds of years.
In countries like Peru, rice with shrimp comes to accompany the last months of the year, because at this time of the year, the shrimp of the rivers and the sea of Peru get a large size when they reproduce.
In this country, rice with shrimp is a dish made on special occasions of celebration. In countries like Colombia or Ecuador, this dish represents the typical flavors of the coast and it is common to eat it in them, so when traveling to these places, seeing this dish as part of the main menu is very normal.
¿What is rice with shrimp made of?
Although its name may be quite obvious, the flavor of rice with shrimp is the result of the fusion of flavors found in each of its ingredients.
In addition to the flavor, the components give it a nutritional value that benefits the health of those who try it. Shrimp, for example, is an indisputable source of omega 3, which prevents numerous cardiovascular diseases.
Rice, on the other hand, is a well-known source of minerals such as iron and calcium and important vitamins such as vitamin D.
However, although these two ingredients are the protagonists of this dish, all the flavor is complemented by the rest of the components that enhance the essence and flavor of rice with shrimp.
Onion, green and red bell pepper and cumin are the perfect ingredients to start playing with the clash of flavors that will occur in your palate. This sensation will be enhanced by the addition of lemon, which will enhance the impressive flavors of this dish.
The garlic, the oil, the tomato and the parsley, will finish giving that delicious touch to your recipe, making you enjoy every bite of your dish.
Ways to prepare it (different presentations)
As mentioned before, this dish has variations depending on the region where it is prepared. None of them diminishes the great flavor of the shrimp that manages to invade more than one sense when tasting it.
In some parts of Ecuador, this dish is prepared by combining previously cooked rice with seasoning ingredients, such as onion, bell pepper, garlic and parsley, sautéed in olive oil and the cooked shrimp. In this country it is accompanied with plantains and lemon.
In Peru, a great value is given to each component that gives flavor to the shrimp, so it is typical to prepare a broth with the shrimp heads, to use it in the preparation of rice and thus, this is impregnated with all the flavor in each component. Its aroma is usually enhanced with mint or huacatay.
In this country, ingredients such as chicha and beer and enough vegetables are used to give more flavor to the dish.
In Colombia, on the other hand, carrots and beans are ingredients that are part of this exquisite recipe and although the shrimp broth is used to make the rice, only all the components are put together at the end.
Other variations of this rice are arroz con coco y camarones, arroz a la jardinera de camarones, and arroz con camarones secos (which is a kind of asopado).
Best accompaniments for rice with shrimp
One of the best and most common ways to accompany this dish is with slices of lemon to squeeze over the rice, very typical of the Colombian coasts.
Salads will always be an excellent option to accompany this type of seafood dish. In some regions of Colombia it is usually accompanied with chard (beet) salad, lettuce, avocado and black olives. All this, dressed with olive oil, salt and lemon.
Slices of avocado, or fried plantains are also a very coastal way to present this dish.
Fresh drinks such as lemonade, citrus juices or even a glass of wine, contrast with this delicious recipe.
Tips to keep in mind when preparing arroz con camarones (rice with shrimp)
Although rice with shrimp is a dish that produces a great sensation of delight to your palate when tasting it and turns out to be an easy dish to prepare and attractive to diners, it is important to take into account several important factors before preparing it.
First of all, you should know that this seafood product, although rich in nutritional properties, if not properly preserved, can produce toxins or allergens that can trigger strong intoxications.
For this reason, it is important that you always obtain these products from reliable and safe suppliers.
You should also take into account their preservation, since when you buy them you should refrigerate them at very low temperatures so that they do not get damaged quickly.
Once you are going to prepare the shrimp, you should wash your hands thoroughly before cooking them and also after handling them raw.
It is also important that under no circumstances consume raw or undercooked shrimp, so be sure to boil them for at least 15 minutes, so that they are not raw, as this may cause intoxication.