A simple Brazilian Fish Stew called Moqueca made with your choice of fish and simmered in coconut milk with onion, tomatoes, chilies and lime. Easy, fast and full of flavor! Serve this with rice! Video.
Looking for more? Check out 50+ Best Fish Recipes! and 50+ Easy Dinner Ideas!
This simple recipe for Brazilian Fish Stew is easy to make and takes about 35 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights! Brazilians call this dish Moqueca (pronounced “mo-KEY-ca”) and it can vary a bit from region to region.
This version hails from Salvador, a bustling city on the coast of Brazil, just north of Rio de Janeiro, that offers up delicious seafood prepared using African influences and techniques. This part of Brazil is known for pairing fish with spicy chilies, lime, and cooling coconut milk, a lovely combination.
What I love about this Brazillian Fish Stew is how simple it is, and how quick it is to make! Quick enough for weeknights and special enough for Sunday supper….either way, I think you will like this recipe for Moqueca. Serve it with rice or a simple green salad, or both!
We have several other popular fish stews on the blog all super delicious; Portuguese Fish Stew (Caldeirada), Sea Bass with Cannellini Bean Stew and Peruvian Seafood Stew with Cilantro Broth
How to make Moqueca! | 45-second video
What is Moqueca?
Moqueca is a Brazillian Fish stew with coconut milk, tomatoes and peppers. It’s traditionally served over rice with lime and cilantro.
Ingredients in Moqueca:
- White fish- Halibut, Black Cod, Sea Bass , Cod, escolar, etc. (thicker cuts are best)
- Dende – Brazillian Red Palm oil ( or coconut oil)
- Onion
- Carrots
- red bell pepper
- garlic
- chili peppers
- tomato paste
- spices
- fish or chicken stock
- Tomatoes
- coconut milk ( liquid and solids)
- Lime
The best firm fish for soups or stews:
You generally want to use firm white fish for most stews and soups, because they will hold their shape and not disintegrate in the liquid. Here are 10 the best fish (and seafood) to use in soups and stews.
- sea bass
- halibut
- black cod
- haddock
- escolar
- ono
- red snapper
- salmon
- scallops
- shrimp
Where to find the best fish!
If looking for a good source of wild-caught, sustainably-raised fish or seafood with no antibiotics, I highly recommend Seatopia!
How to make Moqueca
It starts with seasoning the fish. Use black cod, halibut, sea bass, black cod, escolar or any firm white fish ( or shrimp) you like.
Even shrimp or shellfish (clams or mussels) would work well here.
In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and salt, and sauté 2-3 minutes.
Turn heat down to medium, add carrot, bell pepper, garlic and jalapeno pepper and cook 4-5 more minutes.
Add tomato paste, spices and stock.
Mix and bring to a simmer and add tomatoes.
Cover and simmer gently on medium-low for 5 minutes or until carrots are tender.
Add the coconut milk and taste and add more salt if necessary.
Nestle the fish in the flavorful coconut stew, pouring the remaining marinade over the fish and into the stew, and either continue cooking stovetop, spooning the flavorful liquid over the fish for about 3-5 minutes ( until the desired doneness) or for thicker cuts, place in a 350F oven, for 8-10 minutes.
Once done, the Moqueca will have thickened beautifully.
Sprinkle with fresh cilantro or Italian parsley and serve with a wedge of lime.
We enjoyed this with a simple green salad, dressed with lemon, olive oil and salt and rice.
Crusty bread makes a nice vehicle for left-over pan juices. Trust me, you won’t want to waste this! So much flavor!
Please let me know what you think of this Moqueca Recipe in the comments below!
You may also like:
- Balinese Fish and Potato Curry (Kari Ikan)
- Sinigang (Filipino Sour Soup)
- Sea Bass with Cannellini Bean Stew
- Portuguese Fish Stew (Caldeirada)
- Peruvian Seafood Stew with Cilantro Broth
- Simple Salmon Chowder
- Simple Authentic Cioppino Recipe
Happy week friends!
xoxo
Brazilian Fish Stew – Moqueca
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: Main
- Method: Braise
- Cuisine: South American
Description
Brazilian Fish Stew (Moqueca) with coconut milk, lime and jalapeño – a flavorful seafood stew that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Fish:
- 1 – 1 1/2 pounds firm white fish- Halibut, Black Cod, Sea Bass ( thicker cuts are best)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- one lime- zest and juice
Stew/ Sauce:
- 2–3 tablespoons coconut or olive oil (or use Dende – Brazillian Red Palm oil for the best flavor!)
- 1 onion- finely diced ( red, white or yellow)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup carrot, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 4 garlic cloves- rough chopped
- 1/2 jalapeno, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin (or whole seed)
- 1 cup fish or chicken stock
- 1 1/2 cups tomatoes, diced ( preferably fresh)
- 1 14 ounce can coconut milk ( liquid and solids)
- more salt to taste
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, scallions or Italian parsley
- squeeze of lime
Serve over cilantro rice, basmati rice, black rice or everyday quinoa.
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry the fish and cut into 2 inch peices. Place in a bowl. Add salt, zest from half the lime and 1 tablespoon lime juice. Massage lightly to coat all pieces well. Set aside.
- In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion and salt, and sauté 2-3 minutes. Turn heat down to medium, add carrot, bell pepper, garlic and jalapeno and cook 4-5 more minutes. Add tomato paste, spices and stock. Mix and bring to a simmer and add tomatoes. Cover and simmer gently on medium low for 5 mintues or until carrots are tender.
- Add the coconut milk and taste and add more salt if necessary.
- Nestle the fish in the stew and simmer gently until it’s cooked through, about 4-6 minutes. Spoon the flavorful coconut broth over the fish and cook until desired doneness or longer for thicker pieces. ( You can also finish this in a 350F oven).
- Taste and adjust salt and squeeze with lime.
- To serve, serve over rice, sprinkle with cilantro or scallions and a squeeze of lime.
- Drizzle with a little olive oil if you like.
Notes
Serve with rice or crusty bread to mop up all the juices.
If making this ahead, I recommend making the stew ahead (without fish), refrigerating it for up to 3 days, reheating it, and then nestling it in the fish to cook right before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 ounces fish plus ¼ of the stew
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 4.2 g
- Sodium: 429.9 mg
- Fat: 17.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 9.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 11.4 g
- Fiber: 2.3 g
- Protein: 23.5 g
- Cholesterol: 50.1 mg
Um, can I replace coconut milk with something else?
Coconut milk is pretty essential here. It wouldn’t be Moqueca without it, I’m afraid… so I hesitate to suggest a replacement.
Love this soup! No way we could only eat 4 oz, so I doubled the recipe except for the coconut milk and decreased the fat and calories significantly. No one missed it. ❤️
What an amazing recipe , cooked it many times absolutely delicious
Used cod , haddock and prawns
Will definitely be using again 👍🏼
Perfect!
So easy to make and tastes amazing , it’s a recipe I’ve done a few times now
Used cod , prawns and halibut 👍🏼
My boyfriend and I loved this! It was full of flavor, and I went with halibut which is always a good choice. Thank you for sharing! I will be making again soon.
Tellement bon! Encore meilleur le lendemain!
Have made this dish 3 times now, (used fresh Cod), wonderful favor profile. My housemates loved it.
This was delicious. It had the perfect blend of flavors to support the mild fish I used (halibut). I almost always add crushed red pepper to my soups and stews, but this definitely did not need any flavor boost. The hit from the lime was amazing. I don’t particularly care for fish, but I would eat it everyday if it always tasted this good.
I used this recipe to make Cod and it came out superb. Even my teenage daughter, who refuses to eat fish, happily had two plates full.It is delicious and not time consuming.
came out perfect, great recipe, very flavorful. had it with bread to soak up the spicy liquid – it was yummy!!
This is an excellent Fish stew, the squeeze of lime does kick it up. I did not add it to the stew but let each person squeeze a bit on their own serving.
I want to eat this once a week. Never cooked with coconut milk, love the light sweetness of it. Brought my son some and he commented on the balance of fish and veggies and the flavor, he loved it too. I’ve been cooking up a storm, several ethnic dishes. This one is on
MY BEST LIST. #COVID COOKING, would not be doing if we weren’t going thru this. Oh I made for my neighbors family, they loved it too, served with crunchy bread and spring salad with salt, pepper, olive oil.
This is amazing.
Easy to make and tastes like it’s from a restaurant!
A hit in our house! Even my teens liked it!!!!
Really good….couldn’t find the red oil but used coconut oil….added the cilantro in with the stew and let the fish cook with it (Chilean Sea Bass)…tremendous….better than a restaurant
I want to eat this once a week. Never cooked with coconut milk, love the light sweetness of it. Brought my son some and he commented on the balance of fish and veggies and the flavor, he loved it too. I’ve been cooking up a storm, several ethnic dishes. This one is on
MY BEST LIST. #COVID COOKING, would not be doing if we weren’t going thru this. Oh I made for my neighbors family, they loved it too, served with crunchy bread and spring salad with salt, pepper, olive oil.
Glad you enjoyed!
Order palm oil from Amazon. I did. Scoop out with a chop stick. Lol
Wonderful! Used halibut and replaced the jalapeno with dried chili flakes because that’s what I had. Simple and delicious.
Delicious
Delicious!
Extremely delicious!
My family reports that this was the best dish I had ever made!! Very delicious.
Thank you, it was delicious. I may double the heat next time. Do you have suggestions for other vegetables? I’m allergic to bell peppers.
Maybe just double the carrots or add celery?
Have you tried this with light coconut milk? Excited!
No I haven’t, just regular. 😉
I used it but added regular coconut oil…you need the solids from the full coconut milk for flavor
Just made this and it is delicious! Lots of flavor. I chose halibut for mine, turned out super soft. Thank you for sharing!!
Delicious, my kids and husband loved it