Peixe com Banana Verde

Experience the tropical flavors of Brazil with "Peixe com Banana Verde," a traditional Caiçara dish that perfectly harmonizes the briny richness of fish with the starchy sweetness of green bananas. This heartwarming stew, enriched with aromatic vegetables, becomes unforgettable when paired with a creamy pirão.

Ingredients

🐟 5 posts of firm-fleshed fish, cleaned and descaled, snapper
💧 3 cups of water, plus 1.5 liters for cooking
🧅 1 large onion, sliced into rings
🧄 2 cloves garlic, minced, optional
🌶️ 1/2 green bell pepper, diced, optional
🧂 Salt, to taste, use slightly more for fresh fish
🍅 3 small tomatoes, diced, seeds can be removed
🌿 Coriander/Green onion, to taste, chopped
🍌 6 well-green bananas, Banana Nanica
🛢️ Generic cooking oil, for sautéing
🌽 Generic cassava flour, for pirão
🍋 Lime, to taste, for serving
🌶️ Pepper, to taste, for serving

Instructions

1- Vegetable Preparation:

• Chop the green onion stalk from the onion if present.
• Slice the onion into rings and dice the tomatoes. Remove seeds if desired.
• Chop fresh coriander. Dice the bell pepper, removing seeds and white parts.
• Mince garlic by crushing cloves and peeling off the skin.

2- Fish Preparation:

• Clean and descale the fish posts thoroughly. Place them in a stainless steel pan or pot.

3- Season and Layer:

• Drizzle the pan with generic cooking oil. Sprinkle salt generously over the fish.
• Add onions, coriander, tomatoes, bell pepper, and garlic over the fish in the pan.

4- Banana Preparation:

• Cut the ends of each banana. Make a superficial lengthwise cut.
• Peel under running water. If sticky, rub hands with oil.
• Place the whole peeled bananas in the pan with the fish and vegetables.

5- Cooking Process:

• Gently mix ingredients to combine flavors and seasonings.
• Place the pan over medium-high heat. Sauté until it starts "berrar" (emits flavorful aroma).
• Pour 1.5 liters of water, or enough to cover ingredients. Adjust for more broth if desired.
• Cover the pan and cook for 30-40 minutes until the fish turns opaque and is fully cooked.

6- Prepare the Pirão:

• Remove a few cooked bananas from the pan. Mash them on a serving plate.
• Spoon some fish broth over the mashed bananas. Sprinkle in cassava flour.
• Stir the mixture until you achieve a thick, porridge-like consistency.

7- Serving:

• Serve the stew with pirão on the side. Add a squeeze of fresh lime and a dash of pepper for elevated flavor.
• Pair with white rice to complete the meal.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 4
Calories: Approx. 350
Proteins: 30g
Fats: 15g
Carbohydrates: 35g
Equipment: Cutting board, Nissei, white plastic; Chef's knife; Stainless steel pan/pot; Wooden spoon; Stainless steel ladle; Small glass pitcher; Fork; Serving plate

Cooking Tips

• Peel bananas under running water to minimize stickiness.
• For marinade infusion, allow fish to rest 10-20 minutes before cooking.
• Wait for the "berrar" stage for richer stew flavor before adding water.

#brazilian #caiçaracuisine #greenbanana #fishstew #comfortfood

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Peixe com Banana Verde