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Camarão na moranga
Camarão na moranga: creamy prawn stew served inside a whole roasted pumpkin
BrazilianBeach restaurants along São Paulo's north coast, from Ubatuba to Ilhabela, bring camarão na moranga to the table as a showpiece: a whole roasted pumpkin, its lid lifted to reveal prawns in a creamy tomato sauce. You scoop the soft, sweet pumpkin flesh from the walls along with each serving, so it melts into the sauce. It is rich, gentle and celebratory, served with white rice and a green salad. The usual slip is roasting the pumpkin until it is too soft, so it slumps and splits; it should be tender but still standing. Use a kabocha or other dense, small pumpkin of about 2.5 kg. Cook the prawns only until they are pink and opaque all the way through. Chef's tip: brush the inside of the roasted pumpkin with a spoonful of cream cheese before you fill it; it seals the walls and makes every scoop creamier.
- Total time
- 105 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the pumpkin
For the prawns
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Method
0/8 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 375°F (350°F fan). Cut a lid off the top of 5 ½ lb small whole pumpkin (moranga or kabocha), scoop out the seeds and fibres, rub the inside with 1 tbsp olive oil and ½ tsp salt, replace the lid and wrap the whole pumpkin in foil.
10 minStep 2: Roast on a tray for 60–75 minutes until a knife slides easily into the flesh but the pumpkin still holds its shape.
70 minStep 3: Meanwhile, toss 1 ¾ lb raw king prawns with 1 lime, 2 cloves garlic and ½ tsp salt and leave in the fridge for 15 minutes.
15 minStep 4: Melt 1 oz butter in a wide pan over a medium heat and soften 1 onion with the rest of 2 cloves garlic for 5 minutes.
5 minStep 5: Add 3 tomatoes and ¾ cup tomato passata and simmer for 8 minutes until thick. Season with the rest of ⅝ tsp salt.
8 minStep 6: Add the prawns and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring, until they are pink all over and opaque right through.
3 minStep 7: Stir in ¾ cup single cream and 5 oz cream cheese (requeijão cremoso) and heat for 2 minutes until smooth and just bubbling. Stir in 3 tbsp fresh parsley.
2 minStep 8: Unwrap the pumpkin, spread the rest of 2 ⅛ oz cream cheese (requeijão cremoso) over the inside, pour in the prawns and serve at the table, scooping pumpkin flesh with each portion.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 430 kcal
- Protein
- 30 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does camarão na moranga take?
- About 105 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 80 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of lime?
- Lemon, same amount.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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