This Brazilian dish contains an unexpected ingredient, the Dendê (palm) oil. It gives the taste
and color of the authentic Moqueca, but it easy to find at health foods store and online, it is
worth the search. The result is a tropical fish or shrimp (or both) stew mellowed by slices of
tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, coconut milk and cilantro. Nothing can taste more Brazilian
than a Moqueca.
Ingredients:
1 pound medium size shrimp, peeled clean & deveined
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp pepper flakes
2 tbsp Palm oil, divided
2 red bell pepper sliced
2 onions sliced
2 tomatoes roughly chopped
1 cup packed with cilantro chopped and divided in two parts.
1 ½ cups coconut milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium high heat and gently sauté garlic, pepper flakes and
shrimps, just enough to get the shrimps a little color and to release flavor. Remove shrimps
and set aside. In the same skillet add 1 tbsp of palm oil, sliced onions, bell peppers,
tomatoes, cilantro, salt and pepper and sauté for 5 minutes. Add shrimps coconut milk 1
tbsp palm oil and gently stir. Cover and let simmer for 5 minutes, do not boil. Taste to adjust
salt if necessary.
Serve with rice, squeeze a wedge of lime and top with fresh cilantro. Enjoy! Bom apetite!