Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 pounds red grouper, cut into 2-inch pieces (or substitute redfish, flounder, striped bass, escolar or any other white fleshed fish)
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup dende oil (Brazilian palm oil) or olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced onions
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 cups roughly chopped tomatoes, plus 2 tomatoes sliced into 1/4-inch rounds, divided
  • 1/2 cup fish stock or water
  • 2 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 1/4 cup Piri Piri, recipe follows
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • Steamed white rice, as an accompaniment
  • 1 tablespoon, plus 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 5 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 4 cayenne chile peppers, stemmed, ribs and seeds removed, and roughly chopped (or substitute other hot red peppers)
  • 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Method

  • Put the fish in a large nonreactive mixing bowl along with the lime juice and set aside for 20 minutes.
  • Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat.
  • Add the dende/olive oil to the pan, and once hot, add the onions and saute, stirring often until translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Add the minced garlic to the pan and saute for an additional 30 seconds.
  • Add the tomato paste, chopped tomatoes, fish stock and 1 teaspoon of the salt to the pan and stir well to incorporate.
  • Bring to a boil, and add the fish with the lime juice, as well as the Piri Piri, and the coconut milk; stir to combine.
  • Once the liquid comes to a boil, dot the top of the pan with the sliced tomatoes and cover with a lid.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook until the flesh starts to flake, about 10 minutes.
  • Remove the cover and sprinkle the cilantro over the fish.
  • Season with the remaining salt, if needed.
  • Serve with the rice.
  • Heat a small saute pan over medium-high heat.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the pan.
  • Once the oil is hot, add the garlic and peppers to the pan.
  • Saute, stirring often, until the edges of the garlic start to turn brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Add the lemon juice and remove from the heat.
  • Place the contents of the saute pan into a blender and add the salt.
  • Puree the peppers and garlic until mostly smooth.
  • With the motor running, drizzle the remaining 1/2 cup of olive oil through the feed tube of the lid of the blender.
  • Let cool before using, and store refrigerated in an airtight container.
  • Yield: 3/4 cup