Spicy Shrimp Soup is inspired by a dish from a local Ecuadorian restaurant. Spicy, warming, garlicky, and comforting, you will go back for bowl after bowl!
“I live in Mexico and haven’t found shrimp soup this delicious! And to be clear, they make some mean soups here! Just the right amount of spice, and so quick and easy to make! Thank you! This will be a regular in our house.”
File Spicy Shrimp Soup under mission accomplished. See, there’s a wonderful Ecuadorian restaurant in town run by the nicest family that was even featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
The food is succulent, cooked from scratch, and satisfying in the way that only your Mom or Grandma’s cooking can be. You feel the love put into every dish.
Only problem is that last year I got sick eating my very favorite menu item, Camarones al Ajillo (spicy shrimp in garlic sauce) which this restaurant serves as a soup. It isn’t their fault, as their menu doesn’t have gluten-free items listed (very small and the waiters know every ingredient in every dish,) plus I’d eaten the soup dozens of times with no issues. My only guess is that the cook sprinkled in flour to thicken the dish up that day or something.
Watch How to Make It
Already long story short, my husband and I have been trying to recreate the soup at home for the past 6 months and we FINALLY got it right!
Spicy Shrimp Soup is comfort in a bowl. A combination of chicken and seafood stock simmered with jalapeno, a truckload of garlic, dried herbs, and fresh lime juice warms you from the inside out.
Jumbo shrimp are cooked in the broth for just a couple minutes before being ladled into bowls with cooked white rice, fresh cilantro, and raw jalapeno slices. The simmered jalapeno gives the soup warmth, while the raw jalapeno slices give each bite a little kick. This soup is SO spectacular.
Main Ingredients Needed
At first glance the ingredient list might look a little long, but many of them are kitchen staples. Here are the main ingredients you’ll need:
- Aromatics: shallot and fresh garlic are softened in butter until incredibly fragrant.
- Flour: gives the broth a little body. This soup is definitely on the brothy side though.
- Stock: both chicken stock and seafood stock form the base of this warming soup. I like Imagine brand seafood stock in particular.
- Tomato sauce: adds flavor and color.
- Jalapenos: a portion are simmered in the stock to provide warmth, then each bowl is served with sliced raw jalepenos for a spicy kick.
- Seasonings: bay leaves, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, and white pepper flavor each spoonful.
- Shrimp: jumbo shrimp are added to the hot, simmering broth where they poach in just a couple of minutes, remaining nice and plump.
- Fresh lime juice: lightens and brightens the broth.
- For serving: cooked white rice and fresh cilantro round out each bowl.
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Pin ItHow Spicy Is It?
I don’t love dishes that blow my face off so, as written, with 1 being ice cream and 10 being a ghost pepper, I’d rate this recipe as a 4 or 5 on the heat scale. My young kids eat it just fine without the raw jalapeno slices.
It’s one part refreshing, on account of the lime juice and cilantro, while the jalapeno and steamy broth will warm your soul. PLEASE try this spectacular soup recipe!
How to Make Spicy Shrimp Soup
Step 1: Saute the aromatics.
Start by melting butter in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add finely minced shallot and garlic cloves then turn the heat down a bit and saute until tender and light golden brown, 5 minutes.
The butter should just barely be sizzling as you don’t want the garlic to brown, just soften.
Step 2: Thicken the soup.
Sprinkle in gluten-free flour (or AP flour if not GF) then stir to combine and cook for 1 minute while stirring.
Step 3: Add stock and seasonings.
To the pot add the stocks and seasonings:
- Chicken stock
- Seafood stock
- Tomato sauce
- Jalapeno that’s been sliced away from the ribs and seeds (leave the ribs and seeds in for a spicier soup).
- Bay leaves
- Seasonings: dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, and white pepper.
I recommend using stock versus broth in this recipe to get a super rich and comforting soup.
Step 4: Simmer the soup.
Turn the heat to high to bring the soup to a boil then place a lid partially on top, turn the heat down to medium-low, and simmer for 30 minutes. Afterwards, remove the jalapenos and bay leaves then season with fresh lime juice to taste.
Lastly, turn the heat back to high to bring the broth to a boil then add 3/4lb jumbo shrimp that have been peeled and deveined. Simmer for 1-2 minutes or until they’re cooked through.
Step 5: Serve.
Scoop the soup into bowls with cooked long grain white rice, plenty of chopped cilantro, and sliced raw jalapenos.
The jalapenos that simmer in the soup add a wonderful warmth to the broth, while the raw slices lend a kick. Definitely don’t leave them or the cilantro out. Serve fresh lime wedges on the side and you are SET!
More Warming Soup Recipes
- Gluten Free Lasagna Soup
- Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup
- Creamy Mushroom Wild Rice Soup
- Cheesy Taco Soup
- Easy Chicken & Rice Soup
- Italian Wedding Soup
- Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 large shallot, finely chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 1 Tablespoon gluten free flour
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups seafood stock, I like Imagine brand
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 jalapeños, divided, 1 jalapeño sliced from the ribs/seeds, 1 sliced into rings
- 3 small bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 3/4 lb jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 limes, 1 cut in half, 1 cut into wedges
- For serving: cooked white rice, chopped fresh cilantro
Directions
- Melt butter in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic then turn heat down a touch and saute until light brown and tender, 5 minutes – make sure butter is just barely sizzling as to not brown the garlic. Sprinkle in flour then stir to combine and saute while stirring for 1 more minute.
- Add tomato sauce then stir to combine, ensuring there’s no lumps in the flour/butter mixture. Add seafood stock, chicken stock, the jalapeño that’s been sliced from the ribs and seeds, bay leaves, and spices. Turn heat up to bring soup to a simmer then turn back down to medium, place a lid partially on top and gently simmer for 30 minutes. Remove bay leaves and jalapeños then add lime juice to taste, and salt if needed. I usually use about 1/3 of a fresh lime.
- Turn heat back up to high to bring the soup to a simmer then add shrimp and simmer until cooked through – 1-2 minutes. Scoop soup into bowls then top with cooked rice. Add sliced raw jalapeños and chopped cilantro then serve with lime wedges.
Notes
- For a spicier soup, leave the ribs and seeds on the jalapeno that simmers in the soup, or use two jalapenos.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Truly appreciate the way you made this wonderful recipe. Everything is so nicely described that really helped me. I am looking forward for more such yummy recipes in future too.
Do you use raw shrimp
I do – it cooks in the hot broth – though if you only have pre cooked on hand that will work too!
Oh my goodness!!! DELICIOUS.
I did deviate a little, because I didn’t have some things (seafood stock) and added some peppers (because I love a melt your face, make your nose run spicy soup!)
I made fish stock from chicken broth and anchovy paste, in Lieu of the seafood stock.
I cooked the shallots and garlic in 6 tbsp butter and added the seasonings in with the shallots to simmer for about a minute or two (adding crushed red pepper and Cajun seasoning instead of salt) I also added 1 jalapeño and 2 habaneros, seeds in, to simmer with the seasonings.
Then added the fish stock, chicken broth and Spicy V8 instead of tomato sauce.
Cooked for 30 minutes and then added precooked salad shrimp (all I had)
I made the rice with chicken broth, a little lime juice, adobo seasoning, cilantro and cooked it with a dried arbol chili. (Can you tell I like spicy? Haha!)
This recipe is super light and the flavors are incredible. It’s way more than a dish…it’s an experience! 1000/10!
Beyond thrilled to read your comment and recipe review, Stacey! I’m so glad you were able to make it with what you had on hand, and that you found the soup to be light. It’s hard to describe a soup that way, so I’m glad you found that to be the case too. Thank you so much!
I just love this recipe.. Perfect
Amazing delicious.
Holy cow – this soup was amazing! Everyone in my family loved it – even though they were skeptical about the jalapenos. So delicious; thanks!
Your spicy shrimp soup is to die for! My husband, who doesn’t like spicy, actually had second of your spicy shrimp soup. Personally I would eat this several times a week. ????
Love to hear that, Roberta! So glad it was a hit for you guys!
Can you use chicken instead of shrimp
Sure!
I loved this! I left the jalapenos in the soup and didn’t add any raw ones on top. The flavor of this is so delicious! Will definitely make again.
So glad you loved it, Leslie! Thank you so much for your recipe review!
I don’t usually leave comments but this is the most perfect soup in the history of soups. My husband and I have managed to finish the whole thing in one go a couple of times?? I see u advising that it’s better to add separate shrimp for leftovers than reheat, is there a big reason for this? Cos I usually reheat and it seems perfectly fine. This is a regular dish in our home
Oh my gosh – so thrilled to hear you guys love this recipe so much!! Shrimp can become tough and rubbery if overcooked/reheated which is why I advise always cooking them fresh. If it’s been working for you though then I’d say to keep going for it!
Can’t find the seafood broth, I did buy some Zatarain’s crab boil concentrate I was wondering if I could use that but not sure how much to use to make just one cup???
Hi Tom! I haven’t used that product before so I can’t say for sure. I would just maybe try and divide what they’ve listed for directions on the product.
Outrageously delicious! The flavors are fantastic. After finding your recipe, I’ve been glued to your site. This had layers of flavor and so well balanced. After making it, We decided to make a batch and freeze the sauce. We use precooked shrimp, so we just defrost the sauce, and add the amount of shrimp needed for the one meal and bam….a fast delicious meal. Great for RV trips too. Heading to your hamburger soup now. Thank you so much for sharing. Appreciate it!
I’m thrilled this recipe has been a hit for you, Terri!!
So delicious!