Vatapa Fish Soup with Coconut Milk

Vatapa Fish Soup with Coconut Milk

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp dende oil (or use safflower oil)
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 4 small jalapeno chiles stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped
• 6 plum tomatoes peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped
• juice of 2 limes
• ⅓ cup dried shrimp ground to a powder
• ⅓ cup cashew or peanut butter
• 2 cups chicken stock, homemade (or best-quality canned chicken stock)
• 2 cup coconut milk
• ½ bunch cilantro, leaves only finely chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 dash tabasco sauce or to taste
• 2 lb fish fillets bones, skin removed, cut into 1" cubes
• 1 lb large cooked shrimp cut ½" chunks
• 6 cilantro sprigs - (to 8) for garnish (optional)
• 2 limes cut into wedges

Procedures

1. In a large stock pot, heat the dende oil over medium-low heat.
2. Add the onion, garlic, ginger, and chiles.
3. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are well softened.
4. Add the tomatoes, lime juice, ground shrimp, and cashew butter and stir together for 1 minute more.
5. Begin adding the chicken stock, ½ cup at a time, stirring all the time to keep the mixture smooth.
6. Add the coconut milk, cilantro, salt, and tabasco.
7. When ready to serve, brush a very large, deep skillet or saucepan with a little oil and place in the fish in a single layer.
8. Place the pan over medium-low heat and, when it just begins to sizzle, pour in the broth mixture and slowly bring up to a simmer.
9. Cook for about 8 minutes, or until the fish is opaque, adding the shrimp for the last 2 minutes of simmering time.
10. Distribute the fish evenly among 6 or 8 bowls.
11. Taste the broth for seasoning and pour over the fish.
12. Squeeze a wedge of lime over each bowl and drop it in.
13. Garnish with cilantro sprigs, if desired, and serve.