Chef Ricky's Moqueca Fish Stew

Yield: 4

Ingredients:
– 1 1/2 to 2 lb of fillets of firm white fish or shrimp
– 3 cloves garlic, minced
– 4 tablespoons lime or lemon juice
– Salt
– Freshly ground black pepper
– Extra virgin olive oil
– 1 c. chopped spring onion, or 1 medium yellow onion, chopped or sliced
– 1/4 c. green onion greens, chopped
– 1/2 yellow and 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded, de-stemmed, chopped (or sliced)
– 2 c. chopped (or sliced) tomatoes
– 1 tsbp paprika (Hungarian sweet)
– Pinch red pepper flakes
– 1 large bunch of cilantro, chopped with some set aside for garnish
– 1 14-ounce can coconut milk

Directions:

1.) Coat fish with garlic and lime juice: Place fish pieces in a bowl, add the minced garlic and lime juice so that the pieces are well coated. Sprinkle generously all over with salt and pepper.
2.) Start cooking the onion, bell pepper, tomatoes, onion greens: In a large covered pan (such as a Dutch oven), coat the bottom with about 2 Tbsp of olive oil and heat on medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook a few minutes until softened. Add the bell pepper, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. (At least a teaspoon of salt.) Cook for a few minutes longer, until the bell pepper begins to soften. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and onion greens. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, uncovered. Stir in the chopped cilantro.
3.) Layer vegetables with fish, add coconut milk: Use a large spoon to remove about half of the vegetables (you’ll put them right back in). Spread the remaining vegetables over the bottom of the pan to create a bed for the fish. Arrange the fish pieces on the vegetables. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Then add back the previously removed vegetables, covering the fish.Pour coconut milk over the fish and vegetables.

4.) Simmer, cook, adjust seasonings: Bring soup to a simmer, reduce the heat, cover, and let simmer for 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. You may need to add more salt (likely), lime or lemon juice, paprika, pepper, or chili flakes to get the soup to the desired seasoning for your taste.

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