Chef Ilson Gonçalves,
owner of the Brazilian gluten-free restaurant, SAMBA Montclair
located in Montclair, New Jersey captures the spirit, the
culture, and the best of Brazilian food. Passionate about food and creating
memorable dining experiences for his patrons, he graciously shares his recipe
for one of our favorite Brazilian dishes, Camarão
na moranga (Creamy shrimp filled winter squash), to tempt your
palates into experiencing his restaurant.
We had a wonderful dinner at
SAMBA Montclair on Saturday, April 10, 2021 and met with Chef /Owner Ilson Gonçalves
to learn more about this passionate chef. Originally from the state of Santa
Carina located in the south of Brazil, Ilson grew up surrounded by fresh fruits
and vegetables and good food as his mother had a small restaurant. Working with
his mother before going to school in the afternoon, he would peel potatoes and
carrots and let his mind drift off and imagine what it would be like to have
his own restaurant. He would imagine what food he would serve and even the
décor. However, he did not immediately choose a career in the restaurant world,
choosing instead to go to the state of Brasilia to study engineering.

Debra C. Argen and Chef ilson Gonçalves
When he came to the United
States, he started working in restaurants, worked his way up, and was
encouraged by his mentor to go to culinary school. He followed his dream and
graduated from the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City.
In December 2010, he opened his
restaurant, as a small Brazilian deli. In August 2020, he expanded his
restaurant to better serve his clientele and broaden his menu to include more
homestyle cuisine. The new space is gorgeous, and the menu offers some of the
"best of Brazil" including the national dish of Brazil, Feijoada, a
slow-cooked black bean and meat stew, served at the restaurant on Fridays and
Saturdays.
When Chef Ilson learned that he
had celiac disease, he made the restaurant gluten-free, as he was not going to
cook anything that he could not eat. The result earned the restaurant to be
Certified Gluten and Soy Free. A few of Chef's favorite items on the menu
include the beef stroganoff, Camarão na moranga (Creamy shrimp filled
winter squash), one of the restaurant's best sellers, and he loves their
steaks. In addition to the restaurant being gluten-free, there are also many
vegan and vegetarian offerings to appeal to diverse palates.
Every chef has his or her "go to"
items, and for Chef Ilson Gonçalves, he loves cilantro and mint. When not
working in the restaurant, or dreaming up new ideas for recipes, he loves to
travel for the food culture. His passion for food travel has taken him to 38
countries where instead of visiting landmarks, he took cooking classes. Always
learning, always exploring new ideas, is the key to what makes this chef happy.
In 2017, he realized another
dream and wrote a cookbook featuring some of his favorite Brazilian food
memories. Chef Ilson Gonçalves graciously shares his recipe for Camarão
na moranga (Creamy shrimp filled winter squash), which is on the
menu at SAMBA Montclair and is also in his cookbook, The Samba Montclair
Cookbook, to tempt your palates into experiencing his restaurant.
Chef Ilson Gonçalves Recipe -
SAMBA Montclair - Camarão na moranga (Creamy shrimp filled
winter squash)
Yield: 4 servings
Camarão
na moranga Ingredients:
4
|
Small,
round
|
Acorn
Squash (or other small winter squash)
|
1
|
Pound
|
Shrimp,
peeled and deveined
|
1
|
Teaspoon
|
Homemade
"Sazon" (see recipe below)
|
2
|
Tablespoons
|
Olive
Oil
|
2
|
Cloves
|
Garlic,
minced
|
1
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Small
|
Onion,
small diced
|
1
|
|
Tomato, peeled,
seeded, and small diced
|
1
|
Tablespoon
|
Tomato
Paste
|
4
|
Ounces
|
Heavy
Cream
|
2
|
Tablespoons
|
Cream
Cheese
|
2
|
Tablespoons
|
Parsley,
chopped
|
0.5
|
Cup
|
Parmesan
Cheese, shaved
|
|
|
Microgreens
(optional)
|
|
|
Salt and
Pepper
|
"Sazon" caseiro Ingredients:
Yield: One Half Cup
3
|
Tablespoons
|
Paprika
|
1
|
Tablespoon
|
Coriander
|
1
|
Tablespoon
|
Cumin
|
1
|
Tablespoon
|
Turmeric
|
1
|
Tablespoon
|
Garlic
Powder
|
1
|
Tablespoon
|
Sea Salt
|
2
|
Teaspoons
|
Oregano
|
1
|
Teaspoon
|
Black
Pepper
|
Method for the "Sazon":
Mix all the spices. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Chef Ilson Gonçalves notes, "I
was inspired to start making my own sazon after a life-changing trip to Morocco
where I studied the country's methods of spicing."
Method: Preheat oven to
375 degrees Fahrenheit (191 Celsius). Wrap acorn squash in aluminum foil and
bake for 30 minutes, or until cooked. Season shrimp with homemade sazon, salt,
and pepper.
In a large pot, heat olive oil
and sauté onion and garlic. Add the shrimp and cook for 1-minute, until it
starts to change color. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, and heavy cream, and
bring to a boil. Cook for about 5 minutes over medium heat. Finally, add the
cream cheese, parsley, and stir until combined. Taste and adjust salt and
pepper.
Unwrap the squash and cut off the
top part, saving it to be presented as the lid. You can also cut a thin layer
off the bottom so the squash will sit still on the plate. Scoop out seeds with
a spoon and season inside of the squash with salt and pepper.
Divide shrimp cream into 4
prepared squash and top with Parmesan cheese. Garnish with microgreens and
serve with the top of the squash as a lid or on the side.
Chef Ilson Gonçalves notes, "I
adapted this recipe to serve individual portions in a small squash and it is
one of our best sellers at the restaurant. At home, my mother would use a large
squash as a serving bowl in the center of the table with rice and beans on the
side. Most of our meals are served family style."
SAMBA Montclair is open for Lunch
from Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm until 3:00 pm, for Dinner Monday
through Thursday from 5:00 pm until 9:30 pm, Friday and Saturday from 5:00 pm
until 10:00 pm, and Sunday from 12:00 pm until 8:00 pm, and for Brunch on
Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 pm until 3:00 pm. The restaurant is BYOB for
wine and champagne only.
Read more about our dining
experience at SAMBA Montclair in the Restaurants section.
Read more about Chef Ilson
Gonçalves' cookbook, The Samba Montclair cookbook in the Luxury Products
- Gifts section.
Until next time, Bon Appetit!
SAMBA Montclair
7 Park Street
Montclair, New Jersey 07042
United States
Telephone: +1-973-744-6764
Email:
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Website: www.sambamontclair.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sambamontclair/
Instagram: @sambamontclair
Twitter:
@sambamontclair
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