Moqueca (Brazilian fish stew)

Name: Moqueca (Brazilian fish stew)
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Brazil
Ingredients: 800 g Firm white fish (monkfish or cod), in chunks; 2 Limes; 3 cloves garlic; 1 Onion; 1 Red pepper; 1 Yellow pepper; 3 Tomatoes; 400 ml Coconut milk; 2 tbsp Red palm oil (dendê); 2 tbsp Olive oil; 3 tbsp Fresh coriander, chopped; Salt (to taste); Black pepper (to taste)

A colourful stew from Bahia: firm white fish simmered with peppers, tomato and coconut milk, finished with red palm oil and coriander.

50 min25 prep · 25 cook
MediumDifficulty
520 kcalper serving

Ingredients

4 servings

Firm white fish (monkfish or cod), in chunks800 g
Limes2
garlic3 cloves
Onion1
Red pepper1
Yellow pepper1
Tomatoes3
Coconut milk400 ml
Red palm oil (dendê)2 tbsp
Olive oil2 tbsp
Fresh coriander, chopped3 tbsp
Saltto taste
Black pepperto taste

Missing something? Ingredients with × can be left out.

Steps

1
Marinate the fish with the lime juice, crushed garlic, salt and pepper.
2
Slice the onion, peppers and tomatoes into rounds.
3
Drizzle the olive oil into a wide pot and layer half the vegetables, then the fish, then the rest of the vegetables.
4
Pour over the coconut milk and palm oil, cover and simmer gently without stirring.
5
Uncover, shake the pot gently and let the sauce reduce a little.
6
Scatter with coriander and serve with white rice.

Tips and questions

What can I use instead of palm oil?: Olive oil with a pinch of sweet paprika gives a similar colour. Without dendê it is closer to the Espírito Santo style.
Can I add prawns?: Yes, mixed fish and prawn moqueca is very common. Add the prawns in the last 3–4 minutes so they stay juicy.
What is it served with?: White rice and farofa (toasted cassava flour), plus a little pirão made from the broth if you like.

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Moqueca (Brazilian fish stew)

Ingredients

Steps

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