Turkish Shrimp And Vegetable Clay Pot Casserole Is Called 'Karides Güveç'

By
Elizabeth Taviloglu
Elizabeth Wilson Taviloğlu
Elizabeth Taviloglu
Food writer Elizabeth Taviloğlu learned Turkish cooking hands-on in Turkey where she has lived and traveled for more than 24 years.
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Updated on 05/6/22
Shrimp and vegetable casserole is a cheesy, delicious Turkish hot 'meze,' or starter, usually served with fish and seafood menus.

Elizabeth Taviloglu

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 1 casserole

Turkish-style shrimp and vegetable casserole, or 'karides güveç' (kah-ree-DEHS' goo-VECH'), is a delicious and popular hot starter, or 'meze,' that's traditionally served before a fish meal. There's nothing like a steaming spoonful of this light casserole topped with fresh Turkish kashar cheese to whet your appetite.

In Turkish, 'karides' is the word for 'shrimp,' and a 'güveç' is a clay pot or bowl used to cook many casserole-type dishes in the oven or over hot coals.

You'll find many different versions of this delectable shrimp casserole served in fish restaurants all across Turkey, especially in Istanbul and along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. The flavors of the shrimp and vegetables blend perfectly with a just a hint of garlic and spicy hot pepper.

Once the cheese is melted on top, you have a show-stopping casserole that's great for an appetizer or even as a main course. Remember, don't waste the juice. Make sure you have lots of fresh, crusty bread on hand for dipping.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (450 grams) shrimp, frozen or fresh and uncooked

  • 1 onion, diced

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 to 3 Hungarian wax peppers, or 1 to 2 green bell peppers

  • 2 to 3 tomatoes, ripe

  • 1 cup small button mushrooms, fresh or canned

  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes, optional

  • 1 cup grated fresh Turkish kashar cheese, or other mild yellow cheese

Steps to Make It

  1. First, fill a medium saucepan with water. Add about one teaspoon of salt and bring it to a boil. Add the frozen or fresh shrimp. Boil for 1 to 2 minutes only. Drain the shrimp and run them under cold water to keep them from cooking too much.

  2. Peel and dice the onion and garlic cloves. Peel the tomatoes and dice them. Clean the green peppers and dice them about the same size as the tomatoes. Drain or clean the mushrooms.

  3. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and fry the onions and garlic until they soften and become transparent. Add the green peppers and cook a few minutes more. Add the diced tomato, mushrooms, tomato paste, and spices and let the mixture simmer until most of the liquid is gone.

  4. Add the cooked shrimp and gently turn the mixture with a wooden spoon to evenly distribute the shrimp throughout. Transfer the mixture into one large or several small clay pots or oven-proof dishes. Cover the top(s) generously with grated cheese.

  5. Put the casserole(s) in the oven set on the broil setting on a rack near the top. Cook them until the cheese is bubbly and browns nicely. Remove the casserole and serve it immediately while it's still piping hot. Serve it with crusty bread to dip in the juice.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
412 Calories
23g Fat
17g Carbs
36g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 412
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 29%
Saturated Fat 8g 41%
Cholesterol 268mg 89%
Sodium 1800mg 78%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 36g
Vitamin C 47mg 233%
Calcium 350mg 27%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 889mg 19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)