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You are here: Home / cauliflower / Spanish Inspired Soup of Cauliflower, Peas and Shrimp with Chorizo and Smoked Paprika

Spanish Inspired Soup of Cauliflower, Peas and Shrimp with Chorizo and Smoked Paprika

July 16, 2013 By Laura 5 Comments

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Cauliflower and Peas with Chorizo, Shrimp and Smoked Paprika

I have this recurring dilemma about summer food. I realize that for many people a soup or stew does not sound great during the summer. But a lot of soups and stews are traditionally made all over the world in hot climates. Sometimes I feel like it is only those of us who live in 4 season locales that have a fixation about not heating the kitchen up in the summer. Heck I have been known to sweat in the kitchen in the winter! Stovetop heat is just a fact of life, and once you get past turning on the stove, a stew like this one, chock full of veggies and a pretty light broth, can taste pretty perfect in the summer.

Cauliflower and Peas with Chorizo and Smoked Paprika

I promised you updates on the aquarium project. Setting this thing up is quite the process! As I mentioned, we went with a 20 gallon aquarium. We could have went with something smaller, a bit more fitting for a child’s bedroom, but the official advice was that it is better to start big as it is much easier to keep fish alive in a larger aquarium. That of course also necessitated finding a stand. A 20 gallon aquarium will weigh around 200 pounds when filled with water, gravel and ornaments, which I am not counting on our IKEA bookshelves to hold. Plus a stand has the benefit of having a cupboard to store food and aquarium cleaning supplies.

20130716-photo (18)

The aquarium has to run for around a week before we can put any fish in it, to make sure the water is completely cycled and “fish-ready.” So it is empty (of fish) for now. But Alex did get to pick out the gravel and ornaments. I am pretty happy with her choices–Sammy made it clear that if it were her aquarium it would be filled with pink garbed princesses and ceramic castles. Those are legitimate choices, but I have to admit I prefer the almost natural look that Alex went with, high-lighted by touches of bright, borderline neon pastels.

I’m kinda jealous. I kinda want a fish tank in my room!

Cauliflower and Peas with Chorizo and Smoked Paprika

This soup has its roots in Spanish chorizo stews and potato dishes, but it is a lighter alternative with cauliflower taking potato’s role.

Cauliflower and Peas with Chorizo and Smoked Paprika
Print
Spanish Inspired Soup of Cauliflower, Peas and Shrimp with Chorizo and Smoked Paprika
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Spanish influenced
Keyword: cauliflower, chorizo, paprika, peas, shrimp
Author: TheSpicedLife
Ingredients
  • 1-2 T extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb spanish chorizo, diced
  • 1 large red onion, diced
  • cloves from 1 head garlic, minced
  • 4 medium-large tomatoes, chopped (I peeled mine because they were frozen and it was easy)
  • 1 bottle hard cider, 12 oz
  • salt to taste
  • 1 t ground cumin
  • 3 t Spanish smoked paprika--heat up to you
  • 3 cups low sodium chicken stock
  • 2 heads of cauliflower, broken into bite sized florets
  • 1 10 oz bag frozen peas
  • 1-1.5 lbs med shrimp
  • chopped flat leaf parsley
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chorizo and cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring, until the fat is rendered and the sausage is browned.
  2. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  3. Add the onions to the pot with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelizing, about 10-15 minutes.
  4. Add the garlic and mix in. If it starts to scorch, add a splash of the cider to deglaze the pot. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
  5. Add the spices and the tomatoes with another pinch of salt. Cook for 10 minutes, letting the tomatoes break down and thicken. Add the rest of the hard cider and bring to a boil. Cook for 3 minutes or so to cook out some of the alcohol. Add the chicken stock.
  6. Add the cauliflower and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot and let simmer gently to cook the cauliflower, about 10 minutes.
  7. Stir in the cooked chorizo. Add the shrimp and bring to a very gentle simmer. Keep an eye on the stew, stirring occasionally. It is important to not overcook the shrimp. When it looks nearly cooked through (pink and curled), mix the peas in as well. Bring to a simmer and taste for salt. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve with crusty bread.

 

Filed Under: cauliflower, chorizo, peas, seafood, shrimp, soup, Spanish cuisine, tomatoes Tagged With: cauliflower, chorizo, peas, sausage, seafood, shellfish, shrimp, smoked paprika, soups, Spanish, tomatoes

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Comments

  1. Joanne T Ferguson says

    July 17, 2013 at 2:51 am

    G’day and YUM, true!
    Looks so warm and welcoming, love the photo and is now on my list to do!
    Cheers! Joanne
    Now on FB too
    http://www.facebook.com/whatsonthelist

    Reply
  2. Stacy says

    July 17, 2013 at 5:01 am

    I am with you, Laura. Having lived in equatorial climes for most of the last 20 years, where there aren’t any seasons, if I didn’t eat soup or stew in hot weather, I’d never get to eat them. I am a lover of soup though so I don’t let the heat dissuade me. Your soup looks beautiful. Such wonderful colors and flavors. I am a big fan of smoked paprika as well. Pinning on my Recipes to Try board!

    Reply
  3. Joanne says

    July 17, 2013 at 6:28 am

    I agree with you – soups and curries for all seasons sound good to me! And the aquarium is looking great!!

    Reply
  4. Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) says

    July 17, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    That looks soooooo freaking good! I’m with you on soups year round. I don’t let the outside temperature deter me. Since I live in Houston, if I waited for a cold day to eat soup, I’d only get to enjoy it a handful of times each year.

    And that first photo is downright lovely.

    Reply
  5. Nik@ABrownTable says

    July 17, 2013 at 1:54 pm

    The first photo is my favorite and that looks like one delicious recipe soon to become comfort food at my home.

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Laura and I am a recovering history major who has re-channeled all of my passion for learning about the history of different countries to learning about their food culture. That doesn’t mean every dish on here is strictly authentic, but it does mean that even my adaptations are not undertaken lightly. My goal is to show you–by doing–that these dishes are possible in your kitchen. Including desserts because I have quite the sweet tooth! Read More…

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