Moqueca Baiana-Style Seafood Stew with Dende Oil

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-06 · Updated 2026-06-06

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A fragrant and colorful Brazilian seafood stew from Bahia, simmered in coconut milk, tomatoes, and vibrant dende palm oil for a rich tropical flavor. This Brazilian-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, dende (palm) oil, coconut milk for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Brazilian cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 pound firm white fish fillets (e.g. cod or snapper), cut into 2-inch pieces
1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 tbsp dende (palm) oil
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
1 large (200g) yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 medium tomatoes, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat 3 tbsp dende oil over medium heat. Add 1 large thinly sliced yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves; sauté for 4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
Step 2: Stir in 1 medium thinly sliced red bell pepper and 2 diced tomatoes; cook for 5 minutes until tomatoes break down and mixture thickens slightly.
Step 3: Pour in 1 1/2 cups coconut milk and bring to a gentle simmer.
Step 4: Add 1 pound firm white fish pieces and 1/2 pound peeled shrimp to the skillet, season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 5: Cover and simmer gently for 8-10 minutes until seafood is cooked through and opaque.
Step 6: Remove from heat, stir in 2 tbsp lime juice and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro. Serve hot with white rice.