Brazilian recipe
Creamy Brazilian Shrimp with Hearts of Palm Gratin (Camarão com Palmito Gratinado)
A decadent and creamy Brazilian-style gratin combining succulent shrimp and delicate hearts of palm. Perfectly browned with parmesan, this is a comforting and sophisticated dish for special weeknight meals.
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Ingredients
2 cups milk
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Salt to taste
1 onion, sliced into rings
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tin hearts of palm, sliced into rounds
Butter and margarine, as needed for sautéing and greasing
1 tin thick cream (creme de leite)
Grated parmesan cheese, for sprinkling
2 kg fresh shrimp, cleaned and seasoned
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Salt to taste
1 onion, sliced into rings
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tin hearts of palm, sliced into rounds
Butter and margarine, as needed for sautéing and greasing
1 tin thick cream (creme de leite)
Grated parmesan cheese, for sprinkling
2 kg fresh shrimp, cleaned and seasoned
1 tablespoon butter
Where to find ingredients
Shrimp: Look for fresh, cleaned prawns at local coastal markets or the seafood counter at larger supermarkets.
Hearts of Palm: Often found in the canned or jarred vegetable aisle of well-stocked supermarkets; look for them in international or specialty sections.
Thick Cream (Creme de Leite): This is a staple in Brazilian cooking, similar to a high-fat canned cooking cream. If unavailable, use a high-quality heavy whipping cream as an alternative.
Parmesan Cheese: Best sourced as a block from the deli section of a local grocery store to grate yourself, ensuring a better melt and flavour for the gratin.
Hearts of Palm: Often found in the canned or jarred vegetable aisle of well-stocked supermarkets; look for them in international or specialty sections.
Thick Cream (Creme de Leite): This is a staple in Brazilian cooking, similar to a high-fat canned cooking cream. If unavailable, use a high-quality heavy whipping cream as an alternative.
Parmesan Cheese: Best sourced as a block from the deli section of a local grocery store to grate yourself, ensuring a better melt and flavour for the gratin.
Preparation method
- Sauté the shrimp in olive oil with minced garlic and onion rings until they are golden brown
- For the white sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan and gently sauté the onion until translucent
- In a blender, blitz the milk and flour together until the mixture is completely smooth
- Pour the milk mixture into the saucepan with the onions and cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens into a rich cream
- Stir the thick cream (creme de leite) into your white sauce, then set it aside
- In a greased baking dish, spread the sautéed shrimp and top evenly with the creamy white sauce and hearts of palm
- Generously sprinkle a thick layer of grated parmesan cheese over the top
- Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for approximately 20 minutes, or until the top is beautifully gratinated
- While baking, sauté the extra onion rings in a small frying pan with a knob of margarine and butter until soft and lightly caramelised
- Serve the dish piping hot, garnished with the caramelised onion rings on top
Observations
This classic Brazilian comfort dish features shrimp sautéed to perfection, folded into a silky white sauce with tender hearts of palm, and baked until the parmesan crust is golden and bubbly. It is a straightforward yet elegant recipe that brings authentic Brazilian flavours to your kitchen. The preparation involves building a rich creamy base, combining the seafood and palm hearts, and finishing it under the grill for that quintessential gratin texture. Serve it hot for a truly satisfying home-cooked experience.
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