Brazilian recipe
Creamy Traditional Vatapá (Vatapá cremoso tradicional brasileiro)
A traditional, rich, and creamy dish featuring dried shrimp, white fish, palm oil, and nuts.
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Ingredients
70g smoked dried shrimp
250g white fish fillets
Salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 onion, sliced
1 tomato, peeled and diced
1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
2 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp red pepper flakes
20 mL lime juice
3 tbsp palm oil (azeite de dendê)
1/2 cup roasted cashews
1/2 cup roasted peanuts, peeled
1 tsp grated ginger
2 slices white bread, crustless and soaked
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup water
250g white fish fillets
Salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 onion, sliced
1 tomato, peeled and diced
1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
2 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp red pepper flakes
20 mL lime juice
3 tbsp palm oil (azeite de dendê)
1/2 cup roasted cashews
1/2 cup roasted peanuts, peeled
1 tsp grated ginger
2 slices white bread, crustless and soaked
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup water
Where to find ingredients
Find dried shrimp, coconut milk, and palm oil at specialized ethnic grocery stores or international markets. Roasted cashews and peanuts are available in local supermarkets. As a substitute for palm oil, you may use refined red palm oil, though it will alter the authentic flavor.
Preparation method
- Soak the dried shrimp in water to remove excess salt
- Toast the peanuts and remove the skins
- Season the fish fillets with salt and black pepper and set aside
- In a pot, heat half of the palm oil and sauté the onion, tomato, coriander powder, and green bell pepper
- Arrange the fish fillets over the sautéed mixture
- Cook for about 5 minutes
- Sprinkle with the red pepper flakes
- Drizzle with the lime juice and the remaining palm oil
- Cover the pot, place over medium heat, and cook until the fish is tender
- Remove the fish from the sauce, flake it into small pieces, and keep the sauce aside
- In a blender or food processor, add the drained dried shrimp, cashews, roasted peanuts, grated ginger, soaked bread, coconut milk, and water
- Process the mixture until a homogeneous paste is formed, maintaining a slightly textured consistency without over-processing
- Gently fold the processed paste into the reserved sauce in the pot
- Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the characteristic creamy consistency of vatapá is achieved
- Fold the reserved fish pieces into the mixture
- Adjust the salt and black pepper, if necessary
- Serve hot
Observations
Vatapá is an iconic dish of Brazilian cuisine, particularly popular in Bahia, known for its creamy texture and rich, complex flavor. Traditionally prepared with a base of stale bread, coconut milk, palm oil, and spices, it is enriched with dried shrimp and white fish. Its popularity is due to the unique combination of ingredients that result in a comforting dish full of flavor, ideal for special occasions or to enjoy a classic of the national gastronomy.
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