Name: Moqueca (Brazilian Shrimp and Fish Stew)
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: Central & South American
Ingredients: 4 pickled hot cherry pepper (3 ounces); 1/2 onion , chopped coarse; 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 1/8 teaspoon sugar; Salt; 1 pound large shrimp (26 to 30 per pound), peeled, deveined, and tails removed; 1 pound skinless cod fillets (¾ to 1 inch thick), cut into 1½-inch pieces; 3 garlic cloves , minced; Salt and pepper; 1 onion , chopped coarse; 1 (14.5-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes; 3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 red bell pepper , stemmed, seeded, and cut into ½-inch pieces; 1 green bell pepper , stemmed, seeded, and cut into ½-inch pieces; 1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk; 2 tablespoons lime juice

Moqueca (Brazilian Shrimp and Fish Stew)

By Annie Petito

Published on January 8, 2018

Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 6

Moqueca (Brazilian Shrimp and Fish Stew)

Ingredients

4 pickled hot cherry pepper (3 ounces)½ onion , chopped coarse¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil ⅛ teaspoon sugar Salt 1 pound large shrimp (26 to 30 per pound), peeled, deveined, and tails removed1 pound skinless cod fillets (¾ to 1 inch thick), cut into 1½-inch pieces3 garlic cloves , mincedSalt and pepper 1 onion , chopped coarse1 (14.5-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes ¾ cup chopped fresh cilantro 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 red bell pepper , stemmed, seeded, and cut into ½-inch pieces1 green bell pepper , stemmed, seeded, and cut into ½-inch pieces1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk 2 tablespoons lime juice

Before You Begin

Pickled hot cherry peppers are usually sold jarred, next to the pickles or jarred roasted red peppers at the supermarket. Haddock or other firm-fleshed, flaky whitefish may be substituted for cod. We prefer untreated shrimp, but if your shrimp are treated with sodium, do not add salt to the shrimp in step 2. Our favorite coconut milk is made by Aroy-D. Serve with steamed white rice.

Instructions

for the pepper sauce

Process all ingredients in food processor until smooth, about 30 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Season with salt to taste and transfer to separate bowl. Rinse out processor bowl.

for the stew

Toss shrimp and cod with garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in bowl. Set aside.

Process onion, tomatoes and their juice, and ¼ cup cilantro in food processor until finely chopped and mixture has texture of pureed salsa, about 30 seconds.

Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add red and green bell peppers and ½ teaspoon salt and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion-tomato mixture and ½ teaspoon salt. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until puree has reduced and thickened slightly, 3 to 5 minutes (pot should not be dry).

Increase heat to high, stir in coconut milk, and bring to boil (mixture should be bubbling across entire surface). Add seafood mixture and lime juice and stir to evenly distribute seafood, making sure all pieces are submerged in liquid. Cover pot and remove from heat. Let stand until shrimp and cod are opaque and just cooked through, 15 minutes.

Gently stir in 2 tablespoons pepper sauce and remaining ½ cup cilantro, being careful not to break up cod too much. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, passing remaining pepper sauce separately.