Arroz con Camarón Seco – Rice with Dried Shrimp
Nothing excites my 7 yr old daughter more than hotels and shrimp. She loves weekend trips and even helps my husband chose the perfect place to lay her tiny head. When we dine there had better be shrimp on the menu. Because a 7 yr old needs options: fried, with pasta, soup or how about stuffed she loves them all.
Last year when momo (grandma) presented her with a plate of rice studded with dried shrimp she was thrilled. She gave me that look. You know the look of please add this to our weekly dinner rotation and so I have. Rice lightly toasted until golden brown swimming in vegetable stock and flavored with dried shrimp. In this recipe I have added the flavors my girl enjoys, celery and peas, but adapt it to suit your cravings with carrots, zucchini or tomatoes. Taste for seasoning as the shrimp are dried with salt which concentrates their flavor. I purchased my shrimp at my local fruit stand, but they can be found in any Latino or Asian market.
Dried shrimp are available in various sizes and are used to make caldos (soups), broth, shrimp patties, filling for tamales and can be grinded and added to salsas, moles and soups. I buy several packages and keep them in the freezer along with my chiles. Dried shrimp is also sold ground to a fine powder (camarón molido). I have purchased this powder at my local tienda, but I prefer the whole shrimp as I can soak or rinse the shrimp to remove excess salt. The powder I find can sometimes be over powering in flavor.
- 1 cup rice
- 8 oz dried shrimp
- 1/2 small onion finely chopped
- 2 clove garlic finely chopped
- 1/4 cup oil
- 3 cups vegetable or fish stock
- 2 medium celery stalks diced
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- Salt
- pepper
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In a large heavy saucepan, heat the oil over medium high heat.
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Add the rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice turns a light golden color, about 10 minutes.
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Add the onion, celery and garlic and continue to stir for 6 to 8 minutes. Add the vegetable or fish stock.
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Stir in the dried shrimp and reduce the heat to medium low. Cook the rice uncovered for about 5 minutes, taste for seasoning.
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Add salt if needed and pepper. Continue to cook undisturbed until almost all of the broth has evaporated and little air holes form in the surface.
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Add the frozen peas cover with a lid, reduce the heat to very low, and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat set aside until ready to serve add cilantro and lightly fluff. Serve.
Looks very good, and the good thing are the dried shrimps, it concentrates the flavor more. Thanks for sharing
Yummy! In Malaysian cuisine, we use quite a lot of dried shrimp in our common recipes.
Hope your move goes well!
Glad that you like dried shrimps! They are popular in many Asian home-cooking. I like to use them in stir-fries, soups, fried rice or noodles!
I haven’t cooked with dried shrimps before, curious to try, this looks like an excellent dish.
Wow, never had dried shrimp but might need to change that. My 6 year old sounds just like your daughter at meal times 🙂
Take care.
I do like the concentrated flavor of dried shrimps. A little goes a long way. This rice dish looks like something we will all enjoy.
What a sweet post and recipe:) I also loved shrimps as a little girl, and still do. You know I remember those camarones secos during lent. My mom would also make some potato patties with the powdered ones. I hated those, sshh don’t tell her 😉
I don’t usually cook with dried shrimp, but I’m ready to give it a try now!
i have never thought to use dried shrimp before, but it is such a great idea! love this rice dish!
Wow! I haven’t tried dried shrimps but I’m sure they added great flavor to this dish.
Well, I know exactly that look as I have a nine year old son who gives me several looks regarding food lol. I have never tried dried shrimps, neither do I know if they are sold here in Greece, but I guess I can make this beautiful rice dish with the usual ones! It a very colorful and tasty dish!
Fabulous dish 🙂 I think Gramma was on to something. And you’re so lucky your itty bitty has such an elegant palate!
I never seen nor tried dried shrimp before but I will have to see if I can find some. This sounds wonderful!
My kids love shrimp as well and would really enjoy this 🙂 Beautiful rice dish!
Hope you are having a great weekend, hugs
Your daughter has GOOD TASTE! And she sounds like such a good eater! I’ll have to keep an eye out for dried shrimp, since this whole meal sounds so tasty!
looks great and my daughter is also a big fan of shrimp
Dried shrimp is everywhere down here, I just never thought to cook with it. I am going to pick up a pack today and give it a go. MJ thanks for the recipe and inspiration.
What a unique and tasty recipe! Love the way you toast the rice before adding the broth. What a complementary flavor to the dried shrimp! I make a spinach roll with dried shrimp and love the flavor, but haven’t done much else with them. This recipe is a keeper! Bookmarked! BTW – It surprises me that someone as young as your daughter is such a lover of shrimp! Your story was a fun read and a great way to start the day!
Ooh, I like the idea of using dried shrimp. Looks tasty!
I’ve never cooked with dried shrimp before. I love visiting your site; I always find new ways to be inspired!
I never tried dried shrimps but your recipe looks so yummy!!
Cheers,
Lia.
This sounds really, really good. I’ve gotten dried shrimp powder before, but never the whole dried shrimp. Hubs has talked about a sopa his mom made with them, but I’ve yet to try it. I think I’m going to have to pick some up and make your delicious rice!
I adore dried shrimps…often using them in rice stir-fries together with some dried mushrooms and peas. Simply yummy!
This rice looks so perfectly fluffy and absolutely delicious with the shrimp!
A scrumptious rish dish! I love those little sghrimps.
Cheers,
Rosa