The Story & Intro
Bonjour my friends! 👋 It’s Lacamorea again, and today I’m welcoming you straight into my cozy American kitchen for a bowl of pure comfort: shrimp quinoa soup. Just saying the words makes me smile. Growing up in Paris, soups were a big part of my childhood my maman believed a warm bowl could fix almost anything. But it wasn’t until I moved to the U.S. that I discovered how beautifully quinoa pairs with seafood, especially shrimp.
I still remember the first chilly autumn evening I made shrimp quinoa soup here in America. I wanted something nourishing but light, something that tasted like home yet felt new. As the quinoa simmered and the shrimp turned perfectly pink, the aroma filled my whole apartment. I curled up by the window with my bowl, watching the leaves fall outside, and I knew I had created something special.
This dish is now one of my go-to comfort meals. It’s clean, high-protein, and filled with fresh flavor exactly what I crave after a long day of writing recipes, filming, or reminiscing about the cobblestone streets of Paris. If you love shrimp, warm soups, and satisfying meals that don’t weigh you down, this shrimp quinoa soup is about to become your new obsession.
And of course, as always, every recipe I share comes straight from my heart. Cooking has been my love language since I was tall enough to reach the kitchen counter, sneaking tastes of cake batter while my maman pretended not to notice. Now, creating recipes like this one helps me connect my French roots to my American life.
So grab your pot, your shrimp, and your cozy sweater it’s time to make the most flavorful shrimp quinoa soup you’ve ever tasted! 🍤💛🍲
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s everything to bring this nourishing soup to life:
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 6 cups low-sodium vegetable or seafood broth
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup baby spinach
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the base
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 5 minutes until everything softens and becomes fragrant.
Add flavor
Stir in smoked paprika, thyme, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Let the spices toast for 1 minute to enhance their flavor.
Build the soup
Pour in the broth and diced tomatoes. Add the rinsed quinoa and mix well. Bring everything to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and let the soup simmer for 15–20 minutes until the quinoa softens and becomes fluffy.
Add the shrimp
Gently drop the shrimp into the pot. They’ll cook fast about 3–4 minutes turning pink and tender.
Finish with greens
Stir in the spinach and let it wilt. Squeeze in fresh lemon juice for brightness. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Serve
Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy warm and cozy! 🍲✨
Serving Suggestions
This soup is a full meal on its own thanks to the protein-packed shrimp and quinoa, but here are a few ways to elevate it:
- Serve with toasted baguette slices (very French of course 🇫🇷😉).
- Add avocado on top for creaminess.
- Sprinkle chili flakes if you like a spicy kick.
- Pair with a crisp green salad for balance.
It also makes amazing leftovers the flavors deepen beautifully overnight!
Recipe Notes
- You can swap quinoa for couscous or rice, but quinoa keeps it high-protein.
- Add zucchini or bell peppers for extra veggies.
- Frozen shrimp works perfectly just thaw before cooking.
- For extra seafood flavor, add a splash of fish sauce.
Conclusion
I hope this warm, nourishing bowl of shrimp quinoa soup brings the same comfort to you as it does to me. It’s the perfect blend of French coziness and American freshness clean, high-protein, and bursting with flavor. Whether you’re meal-prepping, trying to eat a little lighter, or simply craving something that feels like a hug in a bowl, this recipe is here to delight you.
Cooking is my love language, and sharing these moments with you makes my heart so full. Until our next recipe adventure… bon appétit, my friends! 🍤🍲💛
Recipe Card 🧾🍤
⏱️ Time
- Prep: 10 min
- Cook: 25 min
- Total: 35 min
🛒 Ingredients
(Full list included above)
👩🍳 Instructions
- Sauté vegetables in olive oil.
- Add spices.
- Pour broth + tomatoes; add quinoa.
- Simmer 15–20 minutes.
- Add shrimp; cook 3–4 minutes.
- Add spinach + lemon.
- Serve warm.
📝 Notes
- Adjust spices as you like.
- Shrimp cooks fast don’t overcook.
- Soup thickens as it cools.
🍽️ Nutrition (Approx. per serving)
- Calories: 320
- Protein: 32g
- Carbs: 28g
- Fat: 9g
- Fiber: 4g
Short 100-Word Story Version
Bonjour my friends! I’m Lacamorea, your French foodie friend who swapped Paris for the cozy kitchens of America. This shrimp quinoa soup was born on a chilly fall evening when I craved something warm, clean, and high-protein. The aroma of simmering quinoa and sizzling shrimp filled my home, reminding me of my maman’s comforting soups back in Paris. It’s now one of my favorite bowls light yet satisfying, flavorful yet simple. Every spoonful feels like a hug from home, and I hope it brings the same joy and coziness to your table. 🍤🍲💛