Moqueca De Peixe (bahian Style Fish Stew)

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Title: MOQUECA DE PEIXE (BAHIAN STYLE FISH STEW)
Categories: Fish, Brazilian
Yield: 4 servings

3 Sprigs fr. cilantro
1 Md-sz ripe tomato,
-quartered
1/2 Md-sz green bell
-pepper, seeded
1 Md-sz onion, quart.
Salt and black pepper
2 lb Fish fillets (cod,
-scrod,haddock,or any
-white, firm-fleshed
-fish)
1 tb Fresh lemon juice
1/2 c Thin coconut milk*
2 tb Dende*
2 tb Peanut oil

*Heat a coconut in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes so it will
develop "fault lines. Remove from oven and, holding it in a cloth (it
will be hot) over a large bowl, hit it along the fault lines with a
hammer or heavy mallet. The coconut will open. Reserve the liquid,
remove the meat from the shell and take off the brown outer pieces
with a pairing knife. Grate the coconut meat, either with a hand
grater or in a food processor. Wrap in cheesecloth and pour 1/2 cup
warm water over it while holding it over a bowl. Squeeze the liquid
from the coconut into the bowl. This is thick coconut milk. Add the
reserved coconut water and grated coconut residue. This is the only
way to get the true Brazilian taste. Otherwise, you can buy a bottle
of coconut milk from specialty stores (and it is pretty hideous).
African markets in the United States.
Chop the coriander, tomato, pepper, and onion in a food processor
until you have a coarse paste. Then place the mixture in a large,
heavy skillet over low heat. Add the salt and pepper and cook for 15
minutes. Add the fish fillets to the mixture and continue cooking
for an additional 5 to 7 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients,
stir and allow to simmer for 5 minutes. Serve the moqueca hot with
white rice and Farofa.

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