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Coconut Shrimp Stew or Moqueca de Camarão, in a bowl with a spoon. It's a delicious traditional dish in Brazil. It's a creamy stew with coconut milk and vegetables.
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4.67 from 3 votes

Coconut Shrimp Stew ~ Moqueca de camarão

Coconut Shrimp Stew or Moqueca de Camarão in Portuguese, is a delicious traditional dish in Brazil. It's a thick and creamy stew with coconut milk, chunks of hearty vegetables and succulent shrimp. Shrimp are seared to give the dish it's base flavor, then garlic, onion, and green pepper are added for aromatics and deep flavor. Cumin, cilantro, and lime juice bring smoky and acidic notes. Finally diced tomatoes, coconut milk, and broth give the stew it's creamy, tangy, and full finish. Serve with Brazilian Rice and it's a wonderful dinner!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Brazilian
Keyword coconut stew, moqueca, shrimp, stew
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 427kcal
Author Carrie Tyler

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ lbs Raw shrimp, 26-30/lb (peeled, deveined, tail removed)
  • 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 teaspoon Salt (divided for shrimp and sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper (divided for shrimp and sauce)
  • 2 Cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 Medium Onion diced
  • 1 Green bell pepper diced
  • 14-15 ounces Diced Tomatoes 1 can
  • ½ teaspoon Ground Cumin
  • ¼ cup Fresh cilantro chopped
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup Coconut Milk, unsweetened (I used A Taste of Thai, First Pressing)
  • ½ cup Vegetable broth or Chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons Lime Juice juice from 1 lime
  • 2 teaspoons Cornstarch
  • ¼ cup Cold Water

Instructions

Prep-Ahead Steps

  • Peel and clean the shrimp, if not already cleaned. Remove the vein and discard. Remove the tails as well. Season with Salt and Pepper.
  • Peel and mince the garlic. Dice the onion. Dice the green pepper. Chop the cilantro. Cut the lime in half and juice it. Mix the cornstarch and water.

Cooking Steps

  • Heat the coconut or olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 1 minute on each side. Transfer the cooked shrimp to a plate. Cook them in batches so you don’t overcrowd the skillet.
  • To the same pan, add the onion, garlic, and the green pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the onions are translucent.
  • Add the broth, diced tomatoes, coconut milk (shaken vigorously in the can ir whisked to mix the liquids and the solids before adding), cornstarch slurry, Ground Cumin, Cayenne pepper, lime juice, and Fresh cilantro. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and cook for 6 to 7 minutes until slightly reduced and thickened.
  • Finally, add the shrimp and any juices back to the stew and warm through for just 1-2 minutes. Serve with Brazilian Rice or by itself and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  1. Can I use any other milk in the Creamy Coconut Sauce?
    The traditional Brazilian Moqueca dish uses coconut milk, but you can substitute with regular cows milk, plain unsweetened almond milk, half and half or heavy cream.
  2. Can I make this Coconut Shrimp Stew Ahead and Reheat it?
    This Coconut Shrimp Stew is best when eaten right after you cook it. First, scroll up to read my TIP for the best way to make this ahead. Shrimp is generally not great reheated as it tends to get overcooked and rubbery. If you do need to reheat them, do so on very low heat on the stove and remove from the heat immediately when they are warm.
  3. Is this Moqueca Shrimp Stew Gluten Free?
    This Coconut Shrimp stew recipe is gluten free with the ingredients listed. Check all packaging ingredient labels to ensure that it does not contain gluten.