🇻🇪 Venezuelan Cuisine

Fosforera

Venezuelan Seafood Soup

Prep Time 20 min

Servings 6

Difficulty Medium

Calories 347 kcal

A rich, fiery Caribbean seafood soup packed with shrimp, fish, crab, and squid in a tomato-saffron broth — nicknamed "fosforera" because seafood is believed to boost vitality.

Ingredients

300g large shrimp, shell on
300g firm white fish, cubed
200g crab meat or crab legs
200g squid, cleaned and sliced
4 tomatoes, diced
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 bell pepper, diced
1/4 tsp saffron or annatto
1 cup white wine
6 cups fish or shrimp stock
Cilantro, salt, pepper
Lime wedges

Instructions

1 Make stock by simmering shrimp shells in water for 15 min. Strain.
2 Sauté onion, garlic, and bell pepper in oil until softened.
3 Add tomatoes and cook until broken down. Add saffron or annatto.
4 Pour in wine and stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
5 Add fish and crab first, cook 3 min. Then add shrimp and squid, cook 4-5 min more.
6 Season with salt and pepper. Serve with lime wedges and cilantro.

Did You Know?

Fosforera gets its name from "fosforo" (phosphorus) — Venezuelans believe this soup's seafood content acts as an aphrodisiac and energy booster.