Camarão na Moranga (Shrimp in pumpkin)

  • 1 medium sized baking pumpkin
  • 1 2LB bag Panamei uncooked medium shrimp
  • 1 pinch rosemary
  • 1 pinch thyme
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 onions, diced
  • 2 tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 handful Chopped Cilantro
  • 18 ounces cream cheese
  • 6 ounces coconut milk
  • 1 ounce parmesan cheese
  • Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
  • Olive oil, to garnish

Cook the pumpkin at 300 degrees Fahrenheit until tender. Then, cut the top of the pumpkin off like a lid, clean the inside removing all the seeds and interior flesh, being careful not to break it. Reserve flesh – it will be used to make a puree that will be the base of the filling.

In a pot, prepare a broth by boiling 2 liters of water with thyme and rosemary, allowing the liquid reduce to concentrate the flavor.

Strain in a colander and reserve. Add oil, butter, chopped onion, tomato and garlic to the stock pot and simmer until soft and uniform. Return broth to vegetables in the stock pot.

Season the shrimp with salt and pepper, and add to the pot with the coconut milk. Boil for 10 minutes.

Add the pumpkin puree, cilantro and cream cheese and stir until well mixed. Pour mixture into the pumpkin and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Return to the oven and bake until slightly browned on top.

Serve piping hot, drizzled with olive oil as desired, accompanied with white rice and farofa. If desired for visual effect, garnish the pumpkin opening with shrimp, too.

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