Local food map Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Rio de Janeiro guides
Recipes 23
Pick a recipe
All Rio de Janeiro recipes
Moqueca — traditional dish from Bahia, Brazil
Main course Fish & Seafood

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥600kcal
💪42gProtein
🌾18gCarbs
🥑38gFat
🌿4gFibre
⚖️400 gServing

* Per serving · 400 g. May vary.

Allergens

🐟 Fish 🦐 Shellfish

Moqueca

How to order / say it
Say it Moqueca — [moh-KEH-kah]
Order I'd like the moqueca, please.
Locally Gostaria da moqueca, por favor.
Say locally

A Brazilian seafood stew with fish, coconut milk, and palm oil.

Why try it?

This dish is a cross-cultural masterpiece of Afro-Indigenous origin, reflecting the coastal setting of Rio de Janeiro. It embodies the freshness and tropical flavors pivotal to the coastal Brazilian diet.

How it tastes

Moqueca offers a rich, creamy, and slightly spicy flavor, with fish and prawn flavors enriched by coconut milk and the bright, warm notes of palm oil. The aroma of fresh coriander enhances its tropical allure.

Origin & History — first documented: 1700

Originating among indigenous and African descendants in Brazil, moqueca is over 300 years old. It's more prominent in coastal areas like Rio, where access to fresh seafood creates this sumptuous national treasure.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🐟 300 g white fish fillets
  • 🦐 150 g prawns
  • 🥛 200 ml coconut milk
  • 🫒 2 tbsp dendê oil
  • 🥕 1 large bell pepper
  • 🧄 1 onion
  • 🥕 2 tomatoes
  • 🍋 1 lime
  • 🌿 1 bunch coriander
  • 🧄 2 cloves garlic

Method

  1. 1 Marinate fish and prawns in lime juice, salt, and pepper for 30 mins.
  2. 2 In a pot, sauté onions and garlic in dendê oil until soft.
  3. 3 Add sliced bell peppers and tomatoes; cook until softened.
  4. 4 Pour in coconut milk, add marinated seafood, simmer for 20 mins.
  5. 5 Garnish with fresh coriander and serve hot.
keyboard_arrow_up