Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, cut into 1/4inch dice
  • 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 1/4inch dice
  • 1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 1/4inch dice
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 1/4inch dice
  • 2 plum tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/4inch dice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 serrano chiles, stemmed, seeded, and minced
  • 3 cups fish stock or bottled clam juice
  • 1 can (14 1/2 ounce) canned coconut milk
  • 6 green onions, white and light green parts only, finely sliced
  • 1 pound sea scallops
  • 1 pound monkfish fillets, cut into 1inch cubes
  • 1 pound rock shrimp, shelled and deveined
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 2 tablespoons dende oil (see Note)
  • 1/3 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut shards, lightly toasted, for garnish
  • 2 limes, flesh cut into supremes and diced
  • Fried plantains, for serving (optional)
  • Cooked white rice, for serving (optional)

Method

  • Heat a large castiron and enamel or other heavy casserole over low heat and add the olive oil.
  • Sweat the onion and peppers together for about 5 minutes, or until nicely softened.
  • Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper, and chiles and cook for 2 minutes more.
  • Add the fish stock and coconut milk and bring the mixture to a simmer.
  • Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peppers are tender.
  • Add the green onions and all the fish, cover, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes more, stirring together gently twice during the cooking time.
  • Add the lime juice, dende oil, and cilantro and simmer for 5 minutes more.
  • Serve in large heated bowls, sprinkled with the toasted coconut and diced limes.
  • Offer fried plantains and white rice on the side, if desired.
  • Note: Dende oil is Brazilian palm oil, available in Latin American markets.
  • Be sure to get the Brazilian rather than the West African product, which is much heavier.
  • Or use half the amount of the West African palm oil and substitute vegetable oil for the other half.