Caldo de Camarón – Mexican Shrimp Soup

How to Make Caldo de Camarón, or Mexican Shrimp Soup

It is a hearty soup full of shrimp and veggies. Usually made with yummy, comforting goodness and lots of love.

Being in the US during Lent is just not the same. I miss going to church on Fridays and Sundays.

I miss the parties and praying the rosary with the entire neighborhood in the middle of the street. But what I miss most is the food.

My grandmother had her own food during Lent – Pescado a la Veracruzana , Calabacitas Rellenas de Queso, and everyone’s favorite, Capirotada.

She was very creative with her food. I used to joke with her that we played on the swings, and she played in her kitchen.

Caldo de Camarón is one of those dishes that reminds me her and of Lent.

My grandmother and the super duper religious Catholics will tell you no shellfish during Lent, but I Googled it.

You can eat shrimp during Lent. Hallelujah!

Caldo de Camarón, or Mexican Shrimp Soup, is a hearty soup full of shrimp and veggies.

Usually made with yummy, comforting goodness and lots of love.

It all starts with guajillo chile. No, you don’t need this much. 🙂

Take the stems off first. Then, cut the guajillo chile open lengthwise with a pair of scissors.

See the seeds inside? This retains heat. Since I am not straining the sauce, it is important to remove and discard the seeds.

Remove the seeds and stems of all of the guajillo chiles.

In Mexico, the guajillo chile tends to be dusty. With a damp paper towel, pat them clean.

Do not rinse them, or you will lose some of the flavor.

Place the reconstituted chile in a blender. Blend until smooth.

For a thinner sauce, by all means, strain the chile sauce. As you can see, the sauce still comes out somewhat thin.

If you are straining, strain the sauce then add it to the pot.

Be sure to make a big pot for your Caldo de Camarón – Mexican Shrimp Soup. Your family is going to beg for seconds!

The depths of the flavors are enhanced by the Knorr Shrimp Flavored Bouillon, creating a delicious broth.

OR, you can use fresh fish broth instead of the water and bouillon.

Another suggestion:
Once you remove the shells from the shrimp, rinse them and add them to a stock pot. Add water, onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil… Boom! Fresh shrimp broth.

Can you use cooked shrimp to make this soup?
Technically, yes.

Make the broth. Then at the very end add the cooked shrimp.

Let them cook for 1-2 minutes, or however long you need for the shrimp to heat.
However, this will not develop a strong shrimp flavor.

Fresh shrimp can last up to 2 days in the fridge. More than that, you run the risk of food poisoning.

Soup can last 3-4 days in the fridge.

You can also freeze the soup. In that case, it can last up to 6 months.

How to properly thaw out shrimp:

The best way to thaw shrimp is overnight in the fridge.

To thaw out shrimp faster, take the shrimp out of the package and place in a bowl with cold water.

Let the shrimp sit for 15 minutes. They should be ready to cook at this point. If not, rinse again and let sit for another 5 minutes.

Placing the shrimp in boiling water can cook the shrimp, taking away from their flavor.

If you are making another recipe (like Coctel de Camarones), this last thawing method might be ok.

It is hard being away from the people you love during Lent.

That is why I love making this dish and having the opportunity to tell my family stories of my childhood.

Memories that live on through our food and our culture are the best kind. Hope you enjoy!

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Caldo de Camarón - Mexican Shrimp Soup

Caldo de Camarón, or Mexican Shrimp Soup, is a hearty soup full of shrimp and veggies. Usually made with yummy, comforting goodness and lots of love.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time35 mins

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 4 -6

Author: Maggie Unzueta

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 potato peeled and cubed
• 2 carrots peeled and sliced
• ½ onion diced
• 1 garlic minced
• 3 dried chile guajillo without seeds
• 6 cups water divided
• 1 Knorr Caldo de Camarón bouillon
• 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
• Juice of 2 limes
• Cilantro handful, roughly chopped
• Avocado optional
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

• Boil two cups of water. Remove the stem and seeds from the guajillo chile. Add guajillo chile to the boiling water. Remove from heat. Put the lid on. Set aside and let cool.
• Heat oil in a large stock pot.
• Add potatoes and carrots. Stir for 3 minutes.
• In a blender, add the guajillo chile, the water it was sitting in, onion, and garlic. Blend until smooth.
• Add guajillo mixture to the stock pot.
• Add the remaining water and Knorr Caldo de Camarón bouillon.
• Simmer on medium heat until the potatoes and carrots are tender. About 10 minutes.
• Add shrimp and lime juice. Cook for 10 minutes.
• Add cilantro at the last minute. Taste for good measure.
• Top with avocado and serve with additional lime. Enjoy.

More Mexican Shrimp Recipes

Shrimp Ceviche, Ceviche de Camarón
Mexican Shrimp Cocktail, Coctel de Camarones
Camarones a la Diabla, Mexican Deviled Shrimp
Shrimp with Chipotle Cocktail Sauce
Aguachiles
Tacos Gobernador