The wild cod is cooked in a rich broth to create this bright and fragrant 20-minutes easy Brazilian fish stew also known as Moqueca. This fish stew recipe is naturally gluten-free and low-carb, made with few and fresh ingredients.
The complex flavors of this Stewed Fish stew pairs well with a simple rice recipe , mashed potatoes or a side of green salad. But most importantly be sure to serve with some crusty bread to absorb that delicious sauce!
Fresh wild cod is the star of this one-pan Brazilian fish stew. The white fish is simmered in a hearty tomato and coconut broth with fresh bell peppers and coconut milk or sour cream for a welcoming tang. With its symphony of textures and flavors, moqueca is sure to please a crowd or work as a delicious go-to on busy weeknights.
This moqueca de peixe is a hearty fish dish that is super simple to make. You will love the vibrant colors and fragrant broth to warm up on a cold night, but you can also enjoy in the summertime with a splash of fresh lemon juice.
What is moqueca?
Moqueca is a flavorful Brazilian seafood stew. The recipe begins with an easy and savory tomato broth, flavored with a handful of aromatics like onion, garlic, lime, and coriander. Afterward, seafood and some vegetables are cooked in the broth, transforming the one-pot recipe into a hearty and rich seafood stew.
I love making my moqueca with white fish, like cod, but halibut, catfish, or tilapia can also be used. I’ve even made a few versions with shrimp (moqueca de camarão) and salmon! If you’re looking to go all out, add fresh crab or even lobster into your stew.
The traditional Brazilian recipe is heavily influenced by Portuguese flavors and usually served with starchy sides like plantain, pirão (a paste made with cassava root), and rice.
Moqueca vs. cioppino
It can be easy to mistake moqueca for cioppino and vice versa. It’s true that these two stews have similar ingredients and textures; however, both have distinct flavor profiles. Moqueca has many traditional South American and Portuguese flavors while Cioppino features Italian flavors.
Like moqueca, cioppino is made with a variety of seafood, like crab, clams, scallops, squid, mussels, or fish. The broth is made from red wine and tomatoes with very few other vegetables or spices included.
Jamaican Fish Stew
This is another variation that is similar to Brazilian fish stew. I have had the opportunity to try several Jamaican fish stew recipe and while they may very on spices or the choice of fish itself, the broth is similarly made with tomatoes, onions, peppers and coconut milk.
Jamaicans sometimes call this fish stew "Run Down" because the fish is typically cooked until the fish falls apart in the bowl.
Moroccan Fish Stew
Another favorite stewed fish option is the Moroccan Fish Stew that are sometimes made with lentils or chickpeas, and warm spices like cinnamon and coriander. The Moroccan Fish stew tend to use less or no tomatoes in the sauce, however the delicious broth very much calls for some crusty bread to soak up the goodness.
How to make easy fish stew
Heat the oil in a large skillet or cast iron pan and saute the onion and garlic. Cook until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
To your onion and garlic mixture, add the diced tomatoes, coconut milk, sour cream, and tomato paste. Give everything a good stir and allow the mixture to simmer for a few minutes.
Next, add the sliced bell pepper and cod chunks to the stew. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes before covering your pan and leaving the fish to simmer. If your fish hasn’t been fully immersed in the broth, be sure to flip the pieces ¾ of the way through the cooking time.
When done simmering, ladle your stew into shallow bowls, garnish with fresh cilantro, serve, and enjoy!
Tips and substitutions
- Easily substitute the coconut milk by using extra sour cream, cow’s milk, or your favorite dairy-free milk.
- Make your fish stew dairy-free by omitting the sour cream or by using a dairy-free sour cream.
- For a lighter, protein-rich alternative, use plain Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream.
- The wild cod in this dish can be easily swapped out. Try using shrimp, haddock, catfish, or salmon instead!
Make this dish spicier or milder by adjusting the amount of red pepper flakes. For a super-spicy broth, try using a full teaspoon of red pepper flakes. For a milder dish, omit the red pepper flakes.
Tips and substitutions
- Easily substitute the coconut milk by using extra sour cream, cow’s milk, or your favorite dairy-free milk.
- Make your fish stew dairy-free by omitting the sour cream or by using a dairy-free sour cream.
- For a lighter, protein-rich alternative, use plain Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream.
- The wild cod in this dish can be easily swapped out. Try using shrimp, haddock, catfish, or salmon instead!
- Make this dish spicier or milder by adjusting the amount of red pepper flakes. For a super-spicy broth, try using a full teaspoon of red pepper flakes. For a milder dish, omit the red pepper flakes.
What goes well with moqueca?
Showcase the bright and bold Brazilian flavors in this fish stew by serving it with a side of cilantro lime brown rice and Brazilian pinto beans. These traditional sides feature rich, smoky, citrusy, and tangy flavors that will perfectly complement the flavor profile of your stew.
Serve your hearty seafood stew cioppino style by pairing it with some toasted bread. I really like using a slice of my Irish Soda bread or my Instant Pot no knead artisan bread to soak up any remaining broth from the bottom of my bowl.
Looking for more comforting seafood recipes?
- Oven Baked Fish and Chips
- Mediterranean Salmon
- Baked Fish-in-Foil with Vegetables
- Sheet Pan Hawaiian Shrimp
- Instant Pot New England Clam Chowder
Easy 20-Minutes Fish Stew
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small white onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ lb wild cod
- 15 oz can diced tomato
- ½ cup coconut milk
- ¼ cup sour cream (optional)
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 whole red, green and yellow bell pepper, sliced in rounds
- 1 pinch sea salt and ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet or cast iron. Add onion and garlic, cook until fragrant (3 minutes). Add diced tomatoes, stir. Proceed to add in coconut milk, sour cream (if using) and tomato paste. Give sauce a stir and allow it to cook for about 3 minutes.
- Add sliced pepper and cod chunks. Season wtih salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Cover and allow fish to simmer for 10-12 minutes. About ¾ of the way carefully turn the cod, if the fish hasn't been fully immerse in the broth.
- When done, garnish with fresh cilantro and serve.
JoJo says
Is there a substitute for the coconut milk for those allergic to coconut?
Silvia Ribas says
Hi JoJo! I have never tried without coconut milk personally but I do know that two good (similar) substitutes for coconut milk is almond and cashew milk because they both have that similar nutty and creamy consistency. Hope this helps!
Stacy says
This stew is good but it needs a little more I will add potatoes or put it over some white rice next time. Also remember to season your fish liberally.
Amy says
I used a 28 oz can of tomatoes, 1 cup of sour cream and a can of coconut milk. It came out a paler color than the nice orange in the picture - maybe it needed more tomato.
I added fish sauce because I usually make Thai food with coconut milk
Silvia Ribas says
Fish sauce sounds delicous! Not sure why yours didn’t have the orange color, only thing I can think of is the tomato sauce itself, different brand yield different results. Did it taste good?
Rick says
The canned coconut milk is richer than the carton. The broth comes out more like a vodka sauce than a broth. I’d suggest using a 1:1 with water (or maybe a white wine) if using the canned coconut milk. My preference is for a broth so, while this recipe was very tasty and easy, I’ll be experimenting with it in the future. Thanks for posting
Joselyn Salazar says
I made this tonight for dinner. I followed the recipe as is. My boyfriend and I loved it! We will be adding it to our rotation. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe!
Silvia Ribas says
Joselyn, you are very welcome love. Thanks for visiting, hope you come back for more recipes!! xoxo
Caroline says
Did you use canned coconut milk, which is thicker and richer? Or do you use the kind in a carton? Thanks
Silvia Ribas says
Honestly I love BOTH, the canned coconut milk is definitely richer if you don’t mind the stronger taste but I actually used the carton coconut milk for this recipe. Both will work just fine! Personally, I think the canned option is better but that’s probably because I grew up eating it this way.
Rick Morgan says
I used the canned and, while very good, the broth consistency was more like a creamy vodka sauce. My preference would be for a broth over a sauce. So, if using canned I would suggest mixing 1:1 with water or maybe white wine. The carton of coconut milk would make a less rich “broth” without diluting. All in all, excellent recipe. Thanks for submitting
Silvia Ribas says
Hi Rick! yes you can adjust the ingredients to have more broth. I honestly have done it both ways and love it just as much as a thicker sauce.
Ana says
Hello!
Can I replace catfish for the cod?
Thanks!
Silvia Ribas says
Hi Ana! The best substitute for cod is actually haddock but you can try the catfish in this recipe.
Natasha says
Hello, i'm allergic to dairy. Can I substitute the cream cheese for something else?
Silvia Ribas says
Hi Natasha! There is no cream cheese required in this recipe. Either you were looking at something else or you mean sour cream? in this case you can try cooking it without the sour cream.
DALILAH SMITH SANTOS says
Do you think greek yogurt would work?
Silvia Ribas says
I have never tested with greek yogurt but as far as consistency it should work, just not sure about the taste. If you end up trying please let me know the outcome. Thanks!
Trisha says
I substituted sour cream with coconut milk and it was still delicious. I hope that helps you.
Silvia Ribas says
Thanks so much for your feedback Trisha. I often substitute for coconut milk too and it’s amazing! 🙂
Anna says
Would stripe bass work do you think? My husband and I have a ton from our fishing trip
Silvia Ribas says
Yes, it will! But you might have to let it cook a bit longer. Check the inside of the fish once in a while to make sure it is cooked through.
Michael says
Delicious, I doubled the recipe. Cooked as is
Silvia Ribas says
Nice!! So soooo happy you liked it! 🙂
Alexis says
The green pepper in the recipe, is that green bell pepper?
Silvia Ribas says
Yes! sorry, will add to the description 🙂
Cindy says
So is the total number of peppers in the recipe one? Is it green, red, OR yellow? Or all three?
Silvia Ribas says
I actually use 3 whole peppers, one for each color. But honestly it will not make a difference in the recipe if you use a total of 1 pepper, whether that is one color or a mix a colored peppers. If you love peppers (they do taste pretty great in the sauce), I'd recommend that you use more peppers, it also makes the dish look beautiful to serve. Hope this answers your question 🙂
Chelsea says
Hi! What size sour cream did you take 1/2 from? I am located in Ga and could not find the Hood brand anywhere.
Silvia Ribas says
Hi Chelsea, I used a 1/2 cup of Hood sour cream and I usually buy the big tub 16oz. I did look it up for your and it doesn’t look like Hood is available in Georgia, unfortunately.
Karl says
Hi this looks really good but I'm confused. People keep referencing sour cream yet I don't see any sour cream in the ingredients list?
Silvia Ribas says
I’ve done both but in the updated recipe I removed the sour cream because I didn’t feel like it added much to the recipe. The tomatoes and coconut milk which are in the traditional recipe are enough along with the peppers and cilantro
LaTerese C. says
Can I substitute salmon for the cod?
Silvia Ribas says
Absolutely! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
Gena says
I don't know but I'm actually going to try that myself. Why wouldn't that be good?
Crystal says
Hi. This was delicious. I made this tonight and used evaporated milk instead of coconut milk because my daughter has allergies to coconut and it came out wonderful! This recipe is definitely a hit even with my hubby and my 11 year old. I even forgot to add the sour cream and we still all approved. I didn’t read far enough that is was good over rice so we had this with those Red Lobster rolls you can make at home. ( my daughter helped with those as I was getting the stew ready)! Thanks again a very nice family dinner
Silvia Ribas says
Thank you so much Crystal for your feedback, it made my day! I am so happy to hear that this was a hit with your family. It is a good feeling, isn’t it? I have four kids and I know how hard it is to please everyone so when I do, it feels awesome!
Candace says
This is my go to reciepe for something quick and delicious. I have made it at least 4 times. I'm deciding to go pescatarian, so this will be a great staple meal for me.
Silvia Ribas says
That’s amazing Candace, good for you! My daughter who is 13 years old decided to be a pescatarian last year, it’s been about 8mo (I can’t believe how faithful she is to this diet!). I make this recipe often for her, for all of us really and it hits the spot every time. Thanks for trying it out, and also thanks for stopping by to share your feedback with me. Best luck if you decide to go pescatarian, and let me know how I can help you with that! hugs 🙂
Sue P. says
Do you drain the tomatoes?
Silvia Ribas says
Hi Sue! No, I don’t drain my tomatoes because together with the coconut milk and sour cream, they make a wonderful sauce.
Genia Sklute says
I made it tonight and it was a hit! Everyone, including my two kids absolutely loved it. I saw my 9 year old getting seconds (and maybe thirds?) later not the evening. It will definitely become a repeat. I also sautéed some mushrooms on the side and my husband and I ate it on a bed of spinach. The kids ate it with rice. Altogether, a great success. Thank you!
Silvia Ribas says
Wonderful, so happy to hear! Thanks for trying my recipe and sharing your feedback, means a lot to me!
Crystal says
I made this tonight using unsweetened vanilla almond milk instead of coconut milk (because that is what I had in the refrigerator) and it was delicious. This is the first time I have prepared/eaten fish stew and I loved it. Thanks for sharing.
Silvia Ribas says
Thank you so much for trying my recipe and string your feedback Crystal! Just so you know I recently published a similar recipe using salmon, so that might be something to try next 🙂
Faith says
Has anyone tried freezing this? I typically batch cook to freeze in mason jars. I’m just not sure about the coconut milk when defrosted.
Silvia Ribas says
I have froze the sauce before but not the fish. There is never any left 🙂 but the sauce is delicious and I usually freeze it and it’s perfect!
Alyssa says
Silvia , It is actually easy and very tasty, thank you!
Silvia Ribas says
Thanks so much Alyssa, I am so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Olga says
Silvia, it looks perfect and tasty! Can’t wait to have this anytime of the day, love it!
Silvia Ribas says
That’s great to hear, thanks so much Olga!!
Diwne says
I have whiting fish. Can I use that?
Silvia Ribas says
Yes, but cooking times may be different. Keep a close eye!
Jesse says
Does Whole Cream Mill work in this?
Silvia Ribas says
yes it will!
Anne says
Can we use frozen cod? Or any frozen white fish cut in chunk and cooked for a little longerr? Its hard here to get good fresh fish 🙁
Silvia Ribas says
You can use frozen fish, that not a problem. However, it will take a little bit longer to cook but if you use thin cuts, it really doesn’t take much time.
HoneyBunny20 says
Super good, super easy! Loved it.
Silvia Ribas says
So happy to hear that you loved it my fish stew recipe!
Jennifer says
I just started eating fish not crazy about it so I have been looking for ways to cook it and live it. This recipe did that for me! I substituted sour cream with Greek yogurt and added a TBS of Thai curry paste for a kick. Also added a TBS of Sofrito. It turned out so good I couldn’t even taste the fish. Glad I found your recipe this is a make again for sure!
Silvia Ribas says
Hi jen! This is wonderful to hear and I love that you added your own touch too 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to share you feedback!
Melissa says
I swapped the cod with barramundi and was really happy with the result! It absorbed the flavor of the sauce a lot better and didn't get mushy.
Silvia Ribas says
Awesome to hear, thanks Melissa!
Long says
Easy recipe, my family LOVES them! Will definitely be making again, thank you so much for the awesome recipe!
Sue K says
Wow!! Thank you so much for this fantastic recipe! I have never been a big fan of fish stew, and certainly never planned to make one myself, but my husband has been asking for it, and this recipe looked like a good one - simple, easy, no-fuss, and I had all the necessary ingredients (except sour cream, for which I substituted some plain Greek yogurt)... Boy am I glad I tried it! The only thing I added was some chopped Thai basil at the end. My husband loved it, my daughter said it was so tasty it brought tears to her eyes, and I am now an official lover of fish stew. I can't thank you enough! This recipe is a keeper!
Silvia Ribas says
Well, this message brought tears to my eyes!! Thank you for taking the time to write your feedback and share your experience, that means a lot to me!
Tony C says
I love this recipe, but of course, I have to “change it” to add more veggies and had to find a way to lower the potassium (CKD diet) so I made a red pepper sauce (using a little cream and 1%milk combo) I’ve also used fresh crushed tomato but they must be pealed and then blanched for 2 hours to reduce the potassium.. I replaced the tomato sauce w the pepper sauce. Now I add your veggies but also 5 white mushrooms, 2 carrots and a 1/2 a small head of cauliflowers cut into florets 4-5 spears of asparagus.
Finally, I use 1/4 lb of cod/ 1/4 lbs. of Mahi Mahi 1/2 dozen Sea Scallops and a splash of wine.
It’s good, very very good! It yields 4 meals,
Silvia Ribas says
That's awesome Tony, sounds like a feast!! Thanks for sharing your feedback!
Starc says
I made this last night with snapper. It is 5 star restaurant-quality flavor. Exactly like the Tuscan fish stew I made for years but lost the recipe for. We dipped huge hunks of toasted rosemary bread saturated with butter
Silvia Ribas says
Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing your feedback!
John M says
Just made this, followed the recipe exactly and we really enjoyed it, it’s now on our favourite recipes list. Will experiment by adding extra veg in future.
Silvia Ribas says
So good to know. Thanks for your feedback!
buttler says
This might be my favorite recipe. It is so easy and fast to make, but it is so delicious. I've made it so many times for family and friends and everybody loves it. Sometimes I add bay leaves, fresh herbs and potatoes, but I usually just follow the recipe.
Talk To Iconic says
Damn! It's looks so delicious and yummy recipe. Thanks for sharing this information.
Elise says
Hi. We Love this recipe. So quick, easy and always satisfying and delicious. We eliminate the sour cream and I always add a little chicken bouillon for a richer flavor.
Silvia Ribas says
So great to hear Elise. Thanks for sharing your feedback! xo, Silvia
Akash says
Fish sauce sounds wonderful! I'm not sure why yours didn't have the orange tint; the only thing that comes to mind is but i shall try this in Marble Coated Wok
Jean says
This fish stew was amazing! And ready in only 20 minutes! It tastes like it took much longer to make it. I added some fresh spinach and a leftover baked potato. Will definitely make this often. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Silvia Ribas says
That's great to hear Jean, thanks for trying my fish stew recipe!
luisa says
yum yum
sound so delicious and so easy
SNK Creation says
I tried it today at home, and it was delicious. Loved everyone, especially my team members. Thanks for sharing the amazing recipe.
Majestic Chef says
I love your recipes .. Much Love and support from Pakistan <3
Silvia Ribas says
Thanks so much for the love! xo, Silvia
Natalie says
Wow. Used the stew ingredients with leftover mixed seafood I had from a prior dinner. Jus delicious1
Silvia Dunnirvine says
That's so awesome Natalie, happy to hear!!
Toni says
Thanks so much for the recipe!
It was really tasty, and appreciated by the whole family.
I changed the peppers for green beans, and the pepper flakes with chili flakes, as that’s what I had. Omitted the sour cream, and used a whole tin of coconut milk. It goes really well too with polenta.
Silvia Dunnirvine says
I am so very happy to hear Toni, and thank you for taking the time to share your feedback!