Camarones al Membrillo

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Like the Greeks, the Romans believed membrillo was a passion potion and they established the custom that newly weds eat this fruit before entering their home. Membrillo was introduced and integrated into the cuisine of the Americas around the 16^th century.

Quince is not so popular as a fresh fruit because of it’s rough texture and astringent qualities. It’s primary use is in jellies, jams, marmalades, and paste. Quince paste as pictured, is mostly known in Mexico as “Ate de Membrillo”. The Portuguese name of this fruit is “Marmelo” from which the English word Marmalade is derived. The best membrillo paste comes from Cordoba Spain.

I bought this membrillo from the village named “Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillo’s” in Jalisco, Mexico. The Mexicans primary eat Ate as a sweet confection. In Spain they accompany cheese with slices of membrillo or they cook the fruit to accompany it with lamb. Here I make a glaze for shrimp kabobs but this glaze can accompany lamb, chicken or pork. The season for quince is September through November.

Let’s get started.

Ingredients

Serves 5

Glaze

8 ounces membrillo

½ cup water

1 lemon juiced

2 chile chipotle peppers pureed

¼ teaspoon salt

Kebobs

1 ½ lbs medium shrimp peeled, deveined and rinsed

2 cloves garlic minced

1 lb cherry tomatoes

5 – 6 curley or Anahiem peppers cut 2 inches wide

1 onion cut for kebob

Salt and pepper

Skewers

Preparation

Glaze

Place the membrillo and water into a saucepan. Bring to a boil and heat until the solid paste is liquid adding water as needed or boiling the mixture to reduce the water until the membrillo is syrupy. Add lemon juice, chipotle puree and salt. Set aside.

Kebobs

Toss the shrimp with the minced garlic. Assemble the skewers alternating groups of onion, pepper, tomatoes and shrimp. Salt and pepper the kebobs, then generously brush glaze onto the shrimp on both sides. Repeat the glazing process several times so as to coat lots of glaze over the shrimp.

Heat the grill to medium high heat and grill the kebobs 3-4 minutes each side. Serve with rice and other grilled vegetables of your choice.

Note:

In the states, membrillo may be referred to as Quince Cheese. Other names are “Dulce de Membrillo”, “Queso de Membrillo”, “Mermelada”. This fruit is produced in many countries such as Turkey, Skyria, Armenia, Argentina, Peru, etc.

You may find membrillo in latin supermarkets, gourmet stores and internet food stores.

Buen Provecho

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