Chupe de Camarones (Peruvian Shrimp Chowder)

Chupe de Camarones is a unique Shrimp Chowder from Peru that combines a spicy broth with chunky vegetables, poached eggs, and lots of tasty shrimp. This is chowder like you have never seen it before.

What is Chowder?

Typically when we think of chowder, we think of creamy New England seafood chowder. And, sometimes, tomato-based Manhattan chowder.

But what about adding a poached egg or whole corn on the cob?

What about adding spice?

Chupe de Camarones

In Peruvian cuisine, the shrimp chowder takes on a very different look than these American chowders.

Shrimp chupe was a soup that the indigenous Incas in Peru had been making for ages, but it was when the Spanish settlers introduced eggs and milk into their diet in the early 1800s that chupe de camarones began to evolve into the shrimp chowder that we find in Peru today.

Each region of Peru has their own version of this soup, and they vary slightly from each other, but the most widely known version of shrimp chupe is originally from Arequipa, in the southern, coastal region of Peru.

Most traditionally, this dish calls for using crayfish, but shrimp has become the common seafood for use in chupe.

This soup is typically served during the winter as a first or main course. Which makes sense, because it is hearty and chock full of fun and tasty ingredients.

How To Make Homemade Fish Stock

An important element of the chupe de camarones is the fish stock. You can always get some fish stock from the store, and that will work quite well.

But, making your own fish stock is quite easy, so if you'd like to give it a try, this recipe is a great way to start out making homemade fish stock.

What you will need first is a couple pounds of fish heads or bones. Typically your grocery store's butcher (or seafood specialist) can special order these for you.

After the fishy ingredients, a fish stock calls for basic stock ingredients like onion, carrots, bay leaf, peppercorn, and salt.

The real difference making fish stock is that it only boils for 20 minutes and then steeps for 10 minutes. No hours of simmering like you were making chicken stock or beef stock. Fish stock has a much more delicate flavor, so you don't need that LONG cooking time.

What Makes Peruvian Shrimp Chowder Different

We've already touched a little on what makes Peruvian shrimp chowder different from other chowders. But one more element is the spice.

Traditionally, this chupe uses fresh rocoto chilies. These are small, HOT HOT chilies, for which the best substitute is a habanero pepper.

These chilies will create a VERY HOT chowder.

For our chupe de camarones recipe below, we have used crushed red pepper to give this shrimp chowder a little bit of heat, without a burning glow.

If you love spice, feel free to add more crushed red pepper to you soup, or, if you're really adventurous, grab a habanero, chop it up, and add it in there. (We'd probably vein and seed it first.)

If you try the shrimp chupe, leave us a comment and let us know what you think!

More fish and seafood stew recipes from around the world

If you love fish and seafood then you will want to check out these recipes for soups and stews that are a comforting way to serve seafood in the cooler months. 

• Guacho de Mariscos (Panamanian Seafood Stew)
• Ukha (Russian Fish Soup)
• Cacciucco (Tuscan Seafood Stew)
• Moqueca (Brazilian Fish Stew)
• Manhattan Fish Chowder
• New England Seafood Chowder

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5 from 3 votes

Chupe de Camarones (Peruvian Shrimp Chowder)

Chupe de Camarones is a unique Shrimp Chowder from Peru that combines a spicy broth with chunky vegetables, poached eggs, and lots of tasty shrimp. 

Yield: 9 cups of soup

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr

Course: Soup

Cuisine: South American

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

• ½ tablespoon olive oil
• ½ red onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or habanero pepper, if desired
• 4 c fish stock
• ½ lb russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ¾ inch cubes
• 1 ear of corn, cut into 1 inch wheels
• 1 tomato, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoon white rice, dry
• 1 ½ teaspoon tomato paste
• 1 ½ teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped or 1 teaspoon dry
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
• ½ c peas, thawed if frozen
• ½ c evaporated milk
• 2 oz (⅓ c) queso fresco, crumbled
• 4 eggs
• Salt and ground black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

• Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté 3-5 minutes, until softened.
• Add the garlic and chili flakes and sauté additional 1-2 minutes.
• Add the seafood stock, potato cubes, chopped ears of corn, diced tomato, rice, tomato paste, and oregano. Simmer for 20 minutes.
• Add the shrimp, peas, evaporated milk, and cheese. Mix and bring the mixture to a simmer.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, and let them poach in the broth for 2 minutes.
• Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper as desired.

Notes

To make fish stock: Mix 1.5 lb meaty fish bones or heads and 8 cups water (to cover) in a large soup pot. Bring the bones to a boil. Skim any foam that appears.

 

To the fish bones/heads add: ¼ c dry white wine, ½ onion, , 2 garlic cloves, 1 carrot, 3 tablespoon chopped celery (or 1 teaspoon celery seed), 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoon dry parsley, 4 peppercorns, 1 bay leaf. Simmer for 20 min.

 

Remove the mixture from the heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve. Taste for salt and adjust if necessary.

 

Yield: 8 c of fish stock

Sarah - Curious Cuisiniere

Sarah founded Curious in 2010 as a way to save her recipe creations and share culinary experiences. Her love for cultural cuisines was instilled early by her French Canadian Grandmother. Her experience in the kitchen and in recipe development comes from over 10 years working in professional kitchens. She has traveled extensively and enjoys bringing the flavors of her travels back to create easy-to-make recipes.

www.curiouscuisiniere.com/about/