Tambaqui Fish Stew — Brazilian Amazonian Caldeirada
A soul-warming Brazilian stew from the heart of the Amazon: tender tambaqui simmers with ripe tomatoes, sweet chilli peppers and fresh coriander in a golden, fragrant broth. An overnight lime marinade is the secret to deeply flavourful, melt-in-the-mouth fish. Serve generously with fluffy white rice for a true taste of Amazônia.
🛒 Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 kg tambaqui (Amazonian freshwater fish — ribs, loin or both)
- 3 ripe tomatoes, deseeded and quartered
- 3 onions, cut into wedges
- 15 sweet chilli peppers (pimenta de cheiro), deseeded and halved
- 1 bunch fresh coriander (cilantro), finely chopped
- 1 bunch fresh chives, finely chopped
- Sweet paprika or tomato paste (to colour the broth)
- Olive oil, to taste
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- Salt, to taste
- 2 limes (for the marinade)
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Directions
- 1
The day before, rinse the fish thoroughly under cold water. Place it in a deep dish, drizzle generously with lime juice, season with salt, cover and refrigerate overnight.
- 2
The next day, quickly rinse the fish once under cold water to remove excess lime and salt.
- 3
In a large pot, layer the fish, then top with tomatoes, onions, sweet chilli peppers and half the coriander and chives.
- 4
Pour in enough cold water to fully submerge the fish.
- 5
Drizzle with olive oil, add the vinegar and paprika (or tomato paste) to give the broth a warm golden colour.
- 6
Season with salt gradually — the salt from the marinade will dissolve into the broth as it heats.
- 7
Bring to the boil, then simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes.
- 8
Remove from heat, scatter over the remaining coriander and chives, and serve immediately with steamed white rice.
💡 Chef's Tip
Can't find tambaqui? Sea bream, cod or any firm white fish work beautifully as substitutes. Never skip the overnight lime marinade — it is the secret behind deeply flavoured, incredibly tender fish.
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