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!

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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
Fish Stew Recipe (Moqueca)
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small white onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 lb wild cod
- 15 oz can diced tomato
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup sour cream (optional)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 whole red, green and yellow bell pepper, sliced in rounds
- 1 pinch sea salt and ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp 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 3/4 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Easy recipe, my family LOVES them! Will definitely be making again, thank you so much for the awesome recipe!
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!
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!
I love this recipe, but of course, I have to โchange itโ 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) Iโve 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.
Itโs good, very very good! It yields 4 meals,
That’s awesome Tony, sounds like a feast!! Thanks for sharing your feedback!
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
Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing your feedback!
Just made this, followed the recipe exactly and we really enjoyed it, itโs now on our favourite recipes list. Will experiment by adding extra veg in future.
So good to know. Thanks for your feedback!
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.
Damn! It’s looks so delicious and yummy recipe. Thanks for sharing this information.
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.
So great to hear Elise. Thanks for sharing your feedback! xo, Silvia
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
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!
That’s great to hear Jean, thanks for trying my fish stew recipe!