Moqueca is a traditional Brazilian seafood stew that is popular in the states of Bahia and Espírito Santo. The dish is known for its rich and flavorful broth made with coconut milk, dendê oil (palm oil), and a variety of seafood such as shrimp, fish, and crab.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 lb white fish fillets (such as cod or haddock), cut into chunks
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon dendê oil (palm oil)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
- Salt and black pepper
- Lime wedges (for serving)
- Cooked white rice (for serving)
Instructions:
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant.
- Add the bell peppers and tomatoes to the pot and sauté for another 5 minutes or until the vegetables are softened.
- Stir in the tomato paste, coconut milk, and dendê oil. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Add the shrimp and fish to the pot and gently stir to combine.
- Cover the pot and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the seafood is cooked through and the broth is fragrant and flavorful.
- Stir in the chopped cilantro and remove the pot from the heat.
- Serve the moqueca hot over cooked white rice, garnished with lime wedges.
Enjoy your delicious and aromatic moqueca as a main course and savor the flavors of Brazil!
