Il Cucinologo
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Orange Shrimp on Pumpkin Cream

17/11/2023

Orange Shrimp on Pumpkin Cream is an elegant and flavorful dish that combines the sweet taste of pumpkin with the freshness of citrus and the aromatic notes of the shrimp. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients

For the pumpkin cream:

  • 400 g pumpkin flesh
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 500 ml vegetable broth
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil

For the shrimp:

  • 12 fresh shrimp
  • Juice of 1 orange
  • Grated zest of 1/2 orange
  • 1 garlic clove
  • Chili pepper (optional)
  • Salt to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil

Preparation

Pumpkin cream:

  1. Clean the pumpkin, removing seeds and strings. Cut it into cubes.
  2. Finely chop the onion and garlic and sauté in a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil until lightly golden.
  3. Add the pumpkin to the sauté and let it absorb flavors for a few minutes.
  4. Pour in the vegetable broth to fully cover the pumpkin and cook over medium-low heat for about 20-30 minutes or until the pumpkin is tender.
  5. Blend everything with an immersion blender until smooth and homogeneous. Adjust salt and pepper and keep warm.

Orange shrimp:

  1. Clean the shrimp, removing the shell and intestinal vein. Leave the last tail segment and tip for a more refined presentation.
  2. In a pan, sauté a garlic clove with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and, if desired, a piece of chili pepper.
  3. Add the shrimp and sear for about 2 minutes per side.
  4. Deglaze with the orange juice and let it caramelize slightly, turning the shrimp so they absorb the flavors well.
  5. Add the grated orange zest and adjust salt.

To serve, pour the hot pumpkin cream into deep plates, place the orange shrimp on top, and garnish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and, if desired, a little orange zest or fresh herbs for a touch of color.

Interesting Facts

The orange shrimp dish is rich in contrasts thanks to the use of sweet and citrusy ingredients together with seafood. The color contrast between the orange of the pumpkin and the pink of the shrimp makes the dish very appealing to the eye.