Portuguese Shrimp Mozambique is a quick and easy 20-minute recipe. Featuring garlicky shrimp cooked in white wine and a spicy tomato, paprika, and chili pepper sauce, this famous Portuguese recipe is so easy to love!
Do you love bold flavors and spice? Then you’ll love this Portuguese Shrimp Mozambique! Featuring tender shrimp cooked in garlic and white wine and a spicy tomato and chili sauce, this easy dish is sure to bring plenty of life to your dinner plate.
This popular Portuguese recipe is similar to a salmon stew and seared scallops but isn’t as time-consuming. Instead, the shrimp is pan fried with garlic, onion, and white wine, then coated in a spicy sauce made from tomato paste, paprika, and hot sauce. It’s surprisingly simple, full of big flavors, and ready to eat in just 20 minutes!
What is shrimp Mozambique?
Shrimp Mozambique is a spicy, buttery, and garlicky shrimp stew-like main dish or side. It’s traditionally made by cooking shrimp with garlic and white wine, then covering them in a spicy piri piri sauce. It’s an easy recipe that’s fun to play with - make it with shrimp or chicken, add more spices or hot sauce to the piri piri, and serve the finished dish over rice, fries, or mashed potatoes.
Although the recipe originated in Portugal, you can find shrimp Mozambique in restaurants throughout New England, USA. This is because of how many Azorean and Madeiran families chose to settle there after emigrating.
What is shrimp Mozambique made of?
- Hot sauce - An authentic Portuguese shrimp Mozambique recipe is made with piri piri sauce. This chili sauce gets its heat from bird’s eye chilis, but we can make a pretty close replica using another hot sauce, like Tabasco. If you don’t have Tabasco, use Frank’s Red Hot Sauce or another alternative.
- Onion and garlic - These are sauteed with the shrimp, while only minced garlic is added to the Mozambique sauce. Layers of garlicky flavors are always featured in easy shrimp Mozambique recipes, helping it taste completely irresistible.
- Tomato paste - This is used to thicken the sauce while adding a burst of tang and sweetness.
- Paprika - Necessary for a hint of smokiness in the sauce.
Butter - For a smooth and creamy finish, and to help tone down the heat.
- White wine - Use a mild wine, like pinto grigio or sauvignon blanc. A traditional shrimp Mozambique recipe is always cooked with wine, so I don’t recommend replacing it. Don’t worry about the alcohol or flavor either! The sharp flavors and alcohol are cooked out when the wine is left to reduce.
- Shrimp - You can use frozen or fresh large shrimp. They poach in a skillet with the wine, onion, and garlic to soak up all kinds of bright and savory flavors.
How to make Portuguese shrimp Mozambique
Can you believe this easy shrimp stew is ready in just 4 simple steps? Once the shrimp is pan fried, it’s mixed with the Mozambique sauce and ready to be served over rice. Here’s how it’s done:
Step 1: Heat the oil in a cast iron skillet. Add the onion and garlic and saute until soft and fragrant. Pour the wine into the skillet and cook until it’s reduced by half.
Step 2: Add the shrimp and cook until they just start to turn pink and have slightly curled. Next, add the butter and season with salt and pepper.
Step 3: Whisk the Mozambique sauce ingredients together in a bowl.
Step 4: Pour the sauce in with the shrimp and toss to coat. Once it’s heated through, serve the spicy shrimp over rice, add fresh parsley on top, and enjoy!
Serving suggestions
You can serve this spicy Portuguese shrimp as a side dish or a main. It’s delicious when served over top of white rice, cauliflower rice, polenta, and pasta. Serve whipped feta dip, french fries, or green tuna salad on the side to make this Mediterranean feast complete!
Tips and variations
- Peel the shrimp - Removing the peel from the shrimp before cooking will ensure this recipe is done as quickly as possible.
- Want to make shrimp Mozambique without the wine? Replace it with beer (preferably a lager) or vegetable stock for a non-alcoholic option.
- If you’re using frozen shrimp, make sure it’s been thawed and patted dry with paper towels first.
- Instead of shrimp - Make chicken Mozambique instead using bite-sized chicken pieces.
- To make this recipe even spicier, saute hot chili peppers in with the onion and garlic.
Hungry for more flavorful shrimp recipes?
Portuguese Shrimp Mozambique
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
Shrimp
- 1 lb frozen or fresh large shrimp peeled, deveined
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ medium onion (about ⅓ cup)
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 pinch sea salt and pepper, to taste
Sauce
- 2 tablespoon tabasco or sriracha hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil + 1 tablespoon water
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in cast iron skillet. Add onion and garlic and cook until fragrant (2 mins). Add wine and cook until reduced by half (4 mins)
- Add shrimp and cook until no longer pink (4 mins). Add butter and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Meanwhile mix the sauce ingredients and whisk to combine.
- Stir in sauce and cook until heated through (2 mins)
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve over white rice
Notes
- Peel the shrimp - Removing the peel from the shrimp before cooking will ensure this recipe is done as quickly as possible.
- Want to make shrimp Mozambique without the wine? Replace it with beer (preferably a lager) or vegetable stock for a non-alcoholic option.
- If you’re using frozen shrimp, make sure it’s been thawed and patted dry with paper towels first.
- Instead of shrimp - Make chicken Mozambique instead using bite-sized chicken pieces.
- To make this recipe even spicier, saute hot chili peppers in with the onion and garlic.
shotgun517 says
I made it this evening and put o fettuccini, man it hit the spot!
Silvia Ribas says
Glad to hear!! 🙂