Moqueca Fish Stew
Moqueca Fish Stew is a vibrant Brazilian dish featuring fresh fish simmered in a rich, aromatic coconut milk and palm oil broth with tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Brazilian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs white fish fillets (such as snapper or cod), cut into chunks
- 1 lime, juiced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
- 2 tbsp dendê oil (palm oil)
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1-2 fresh chili peppers, sliced (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Marinate the fish chunks with lime juice, salt, and pepper; set aside for 15 minutes.
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté onions, garlic, and bell peppers until soft.
- Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they begin to break down, about 5 minutes.
- Pour in the coconut milk and dendê oil, stirring to combine.
- Add the marinated fish to the pot, cover, and simmer gently for 10-15 minutes until the fish is cooked through.
- Stir in chopped cilantro and sliced chili peppers if using; adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve hot, ideally with steamed rice and farofa on the side.
Notes
For a richer flavor, allow the stew to rest for 15 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld together.