It is so true that people come into our lives when we we’re not expecting it and somehow you can’t remember how life was before they became part of your world. I met Renee Dobbs on twitter when I first joined. We started conversing on almost a daily basis and I found myself looking for her when I logged on and l looked forward to hearing about her garden, recipes and wine selection. I love that she inspired me to share one of my favorite recipes with you. Portuguese Mussels and Shrimp in Chorizo Sauce always reminds me of my childhood in Portugal.
Renee and I started our blogs around the same time and Renee was one of the first people that tweeted out my post. I read her first post too and became envious of her backyard get-together. It was beautiful and filled with great food, awesome neighbors and friends. Renee was the kind of person that I wished lived right next door to me.
When reading her blog, Magnolia Days, I envision us sitting out back enjoying a cup of coffee or a great glass of wine. It is one of those blogs that I look forward to every single post because I know it is always filled with inspiration…. try a new recipe, plant a new flower or run out a buy that wine that Renee says is a must try.
Although Renee and I have never met, I am honored to call her one of my very good friends. I truly don’t know what I would do without her daily encouragement and support. When I asked her to be a Guest Host for #SundaySupper, she didn’t hesitate and immediately came up with the idea of Heritage. Heritage is near and dear to my heart and I can’t wait to share my recipe for Mussels and Shrimp in Chorizo Sauce with all of you.
When I think of this recipe, I am immediately brought back to Praia de Peniche in Portugal.
My grandfather and I would spend hours picking mussels from the rocks on this beach. I don’t know if we filled our buckets with as many mussels as we ate right there and then. They were delicious and perfectly salted. We couldn’t wait to get back home and have some more. My grandmother made the best Portuguese Mussels and Shrimp in Chorizo Sauce in her clay pot on her one burner gas stove. The only thing that made it better was her fresh out of the oven Portuguese Bread to dip in the sauce![print_this]
Portuguese Mussels and Shrimp in Chorizo Sauce #SundaySupper Recipe
- 1/2 Cup of Olive Oil
- 3 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1 small Chorizo diced
- 1 Green Pepper diced
- 1 Large Tomato, seeds removed and diced
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 6 oz Tomato Paste
- 1/2 750ml Bottle of White Wine, I love Portuguese Vinho Verde
- 1 Lb of Mussels
- 1 Lb of Shrimp
- 1 Sprig of Fresh Parsley
- Sea Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper
- Line a large heavy pan or clay pot with olive oil
- Add minced garlic, chorizo, diced green pepper and large tomato and simmer until slightly browned
- Add bay leaf, tomato paste and wine and stir on medium heat until your kitchen smells amazing and the sauce is blended well
- Add Mussels and Shrimp and cover pot
- Cook on medium for 10 minutes
- Discard any unopened Mussels
- Sprinkle with parsley and salt and pepper and stir until well blended
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Thank you Renee for bringing me back to my days spent on the beach in Portugal with my Grandfather! Are you ready to travel Around the World for #SundaySupper this week?
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- Apple Kuchen – Mrs. Mama Hen
- Spaghetti Carbonara – Katherine Martinelli
- Slow Cooker Chicken Paprikash – Make Dinner Easy
- Potato and Spinach Knishes – The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- German Potato Salad – Magnolia Days
- Sausage and Broccoli with Orecchiette – Daddy Knows Less
- Chicken Enchiladas Suizas – The Weekend Gourmet
- Strawberry Tiramisu – Chocolate Moosey
- Chocoflan – Juanita’s Cocina
- Egg Liqueur Cake – The German Foodie
- Rasmalai (Ricotta in Sweet Coconut Milk with Almonds and Pistachio) – Sue’s Nutrition Blog
- Mediterranean Couscous Salad – In the Kitchen With KP
- Rouladen – Midlife Road Trip
- Lemon Balm Roasted Chicken and Rum Raising Cupcakes with Maple Frosting – What Smells So Good?
- Keftikas (Turkish Meat and Leek Patties) – The Little Ferraro Kitchen
- Croque Monsieur with a Béchamel sauce – The Daily Dish Recipes
- Momma’s Meat Pie with Poutine Sauce – Momma’s Meals
- Polish Rustic Plum Tart – Comfy Cuisine
- Drop Scones (Scottish Pancakes) – Cositas Bonitas
- Jamaican Cornmeal Pudding – The Lovely Pantry
- Borscht Shooters – Cookistry
- Shepard’s Pie – Big Bear’s Wife
- Parsnip Cakes – Mama’s Blissful Bites
- Roasted Curried Vegetables – Hot Curries & Cold Beer
- Portuguese Mussels and Shrimp in a Chorizo Sauce – Family Foodie
- Kalbi Steak Kimchi Grilled Cheese – Damn Delicious
- Wine pairings for all the recipes – ENOFYLZ
Join us this week for our International Cuisine! We love your recipes, tips and inspiration and love connecting with new friends. The fun starts at 3pm EST and lasts all afternoon until dinner time and sometimes beyond. All you have to do is follow the hashtag #sundaysupper on twitter or follow along on TweetChat. There is always room Around the Family Table for you.
Renee
June 3, 2012 at 7:37 amThank you so much Isabel for your kind and sweet words. I am honored to have you as a friend. And thanks for sharing your family story and recipe. One day we will meet face and face and have that cup of coffee, glass of wine, and much more.
FamilyFoodie
June 8, 2012 at 8:10 amI am the one that is honored Renee! Thank you so much for all your help and support! #SundaySupper wouldn’t be what it is today without you!
Pam @ The Meltaways
June 3, 2012 at 8:10 amA great tribute to Renee! Your picture is gorgeous and this sounds amazing! I have always wanted to try to make a dish with mussels, and now, it looks like I have the perfect one.
Jen @ Juanita's Cocina
June 3, 2012 at 9:46 amMy stomach is SCREAMING at me…and it’s telling me to make this!
My favorite seafood is mussels, which some may find strange, but I find them so tender and yummy! I cannot stand even seeing your pics this morning! LOL!
FamilyFoodie
June 8, 2012 at 8:10 amJen~ I can’t wait when one day we will eat amazing seafood together!
Eileen Gross | Wine Everyday
June 3, 2012 at 10:35 amWhat a great tribute to friendship. Twitter and other social networking is the modern day ‘pen pal’. I had a pen pal in Korea when I was in grade school, even though we never met, he was a very special friend.
I agree with your wonderful comments about Renee Dobbs, she is an excellent writer, and is one of the most approachable folks out their in ‘Twitter-sphere’. I’m glad to have gotten to know her and glad we are in the #SundaySupper and #12most circles together.
Now, back to this recipe: my husband is just in love with anything Chorizo, so, this will be on my meal rotation for sure!!
Cheers!
FamilyFoodie
June 8, 2012 at 8:12 amThank you Eileen! You my friend are right up there with Renee! I am very fortunate to have met such wonderful friends through Social Media!
Alaiyo Kiasi
June 3, 2012 at 3:38 pmIsabel, the seafood here looks amazing! I would omit the Chorizo, but with your other flavors here, I wouldn’t miss it!
Best,
Alaiyo
FamilyFoodie
June 8, 2012 at 8:13 amI can’t wait to hear how it turns out!
Rashda/Mina Khan (@SpiceBites)
June 3, 2012 at 3:46 pmWhat a beautiful tribute to Renee and twitter friendships. I’m fortunate to have found a wonderful twitter tribe and am grateful everyday. And love the recipe and memories!
FamilyFoodie
June 8, 2012 at 8:14 amRasha we are so glad you are part of our group. I love your book and can’t wait for your new one to come out!
Samantha @ FerraroKitchen
June 3, 2012 at 4:06 pmThese are some of my ALL time favorite ingredients! I love mussels more than anything! And I LOVE that you were able to pick them from the ocean…what an experience!
FamilyFoodie
June 8, 2012 at 8:15 amSam, they are so good when they are so fresh! You would love them!
Conni @MrsMamaHen
June 3, 2012 at 4:35 pmOh wow, my husband would absolutely DIE for this dish! Thank you so much for sharing it for #SundaySupper! Have I mentioned how much I love this amazing group of Food Bloggers? I am so happy you invited me to the group 🙂
FamilyFoodie
June 8, 2012 at 8:16 amConni~ we love that you are part of this group! Thank you for being such a big part of #SundaySupper!
Martin D. Redmond
June 3, 2012 at 9:10 pmI just had mussels a couple of day ago! I love ’em! I’m definitely going to try this! Question – fresh chorizo, or dried?
FamilyFoodie
June 3, 2012 at 9:19 pmThey are a favorite of mine. I love to use dried Portuguese Chorizo…. a little different than Mexican and Spanish Chorizo.
Crystal from Make Dinner Easy
June 3, 2012 at 9:55 pmI have to say my favorite part about eating muscles is dipping bread into the flavorful broth at the end, and your broth sounds amazing – beautiful looking recipe!
FamilyFoodie
June 8, 2012 at 8:16 amCrystal~ I am right there with you!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips
June 5, 2012 at 3:21 pmI am not a big fan of mussels, but I know the hubby, the little guy and I would love the shrimp in chorizo sauce.
FamilyFoodie
June 6, 2012 at 7:30 amBrianne~ You must try this dish with Shrimp, it is equally as good… also good with clams!
Katy
June 5, 2012 at 4:17 pmOh wow, this sounds so, so good. There is something just perfect about that combination of ingredients and it has made me immediately homesick for the northern Spanish coast, where very similar things are made.
FamilyFoodie
June 6, 2012 at 7:29 amKaty~Thank you! I would love to visit the northern Spanish coast one day and try their fabulous cuisine!
Patti
June 6, 2012 at 1:12 pmWhat a nice post Isabel! Lot’s of fond memories. I don’t eat mussels or clams, but I’m sure this is just delicious!
FamilyFoodie
June 8, 2012 at 8:02 amThanks Patti! I do miss the Coast of Portugal… it is a beautiful place!
Lane @ Supper for a Steal
June 6, 2012 at 1:25 pmThis looks an sounds so good. I have never eaten mussels even though I am a seafood fanatic. I think I am just intimidated because I don’t know how to eat them lol. Anything with chorizo is a winner in my book!
FamilyFoodie
June 8, 2012 at 8:02 amLane~ the good news is… you can substitute any seafood in this dish! BTW you eats mussels just like you eat clams. They are sooo good!
Karen Hartzell
June 6, 2012 at 8:52 pmYour pics are so amazing! Thank you for another amazing #sundaysupper!
FamilyFoodie
June 8, 2012 at 7:58 amKaren, you have no idea how happy your just made me… I have been struggling with my photography and trying to improve. Thank you!
Chung-Ah (@damn_delicious)
July 3, 2012 at 4:32 pmWow, this looks like one amazing pot of goodness here!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
December 23, 2012 at 7:40 pmI just found this through today’s #SundaySupper and this is what I want to make for Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow night. Amazingly, I still hadn’t figured out what to make, but I do now. Thanks for saving me!!