History of the Dish
Fish, which is the main ingredient of the dish, has always been part of the cuisine of the Americas, and there are records indicating that long before the arrival of colonizers to the continent, it was already an essential food for all tribes inhabiting the width and breadth of America.
Initially, the chiefs went fishing and gathered with the tribe around a campfire to cook and eat the fish. Over time, this practice evolved, eventually leading to roasting the fish using tree leaves.
Written documents from the Portuguese even record that Brazilian tribes cooked this dish and regarded it as one of their favorite foods because it had good flavor and was satisfying.
Curiosities
Also known as muqueca, moqueca is a dish defined as a stew made from fish, cooked together with ingredients like tomato, oregano, cilantro, onion, and chili, prepared with a bit of palm oil and sometimes coconut milk to enhance its flavor.
However, it was not always called that, as the tribe from which the recipe originates called the food "pokeka," but over generations, ingredients were added to the recipe, and it came to be known by the name we use today.
Thanks to its cultural significance, moqueca is one of the foods most offered to tourists, who are amazed by its unique and tropical flavor after tasting it.
Besides its delightful charm, this dish is very healthy and beneficial for the human body. It is a great source of Omega 3, rich in proteins, helps prevent cardiovascular issues, and reduces anemia.
