Description
This Garlic Shrimp and Cheese Bread Bowl combines tender, flavorful shrimp cooked in a creamy garlic cheese sauce, all served inside a hollowed-out sourdough bread loaf. Perfect for a comforting main course or an impressive appetizer, the sauce features a blend of mozzarella, Parmesan, and Italian seasonings, baked to bubbly perfection and garnished with fresh parsley and a hint of lemon.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread Bowl
- 1 large round sourdough bread loaf
Shrimp and Sauce
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare the Bread Bowl: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Slice the top off the sourdough loaf and hollow out the center carefully, leaving about a 1-inch thick shell to hold the filling.
- Sauté Garlic and Shrimp: In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter with olive oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add shrimp along with paprika, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper. Cook shrimp until pink and opaque, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: In the same skillet, pour in the heavy cream and bring it to a gentle simmer. Stir in shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, and Italian seasoning. Continue stirring until cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Combine Shrimp and Sauce: Return cooked shrimp to the skillet, mixing them thoroughly with the creamy cheese sauce.
- Fill and Bake: Spoon the creamy garlic shrimp mixture into the hollowed sourdough bread bowl. Place the filled bread bowl on a baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the bread is slightly crispy and the filling is bubbling hot.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, drizzle with fresh lemon juice, and sprinkle chopped parsley on top. Serve immediately with the removed bread pieces for dipping.
Notes
- Substitute half and half for heavy cream if you prefer a lighter sauce.
- Add fresh spinach to the sauce for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the best texture and flavor.
- Use the hollowed-out bread pieces for dipping into the creamy shrimp filling.
