Tapado

Ingredients

• 2 cups coconut milk (fresh)
• 1 small onion
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 2 lbs red snapper fillets (or bass, or tilefish)
• 1 lb medium shrimp
• 1 tablespoon corn oil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon achiote (also called annatto) (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (fresh ground )
• 1 medium banana
• 1 medium tomato
• 3 tablespoons cilantro leaves (minced)
• 2 cups water
• 4 cups grated fresh coconut

Directions

1. 1

   Make the Coconut Milk : In a 2- to 2 1/2-quart saucepan bring water to a boil and add coconut. Cook coconut over moderately high heat 2 minutes and remove pan from heat. Let mixture stand, covered, 10 minutes. In a food processor or blender blend coconut mixture until very thick. In a fine sieve set over a bowl strain coconut mixture, pressing hard on solids. Working over bowl, squeeze small handfuls of solids to extract as much milk as possible. Coconut milk keeps, covered and chilled, 3 days or frozen in an airtight container 6 months.

2. 2

   Peel and thinly slice the onion (1/2 cup).

3. 3

   Core, seed, and cut the bell pepper into 1/4-inch strips.

4. 4

   Cut the fish fillets into 2-inch pieces. Peel, rinse, and devein the shrimp.

5. 5

   Heat the corn oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and red pepper and.

6. 6

   sauté over medium heat until softened, about 1 minute.

7. 7

   Add the Coconut Milk, oregano, achiote, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring liquid to a boil and then simmer over low heat until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.

8. 8

   Stir in the fish and the shrimp and simmer until seafood is just cooked through, about 10 minutes.

9. 9

   Peel and cut the banana into 1-inch slices. Cut the tomato into 1-inch dice.

10. 10

    (3/4 cup) and add it to the soup along with the banana. Simmer the soup.

11. 11

    until the banana and tomato are just cooked, 5 minutes. (You can cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.).

12. 12

    To serve reheat the soup if made in advance. Stir in the cilantro.