make

Cook a simple coconut fish stew

About 50 minutes

A weeknight version of a coastal staple — one pot, whole fish or fillets, coconut milk doing the work.

Printable steps & tools

Watch it done

Cooking Garifuna Food: Machuca & Hudutu · Then Came Roatan

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Do these 3 things next

  1. Simmer the coconut milk gently; never let it hard-boil.
  2. Add the fish last and stop stirring once it's in.
  3. Taste for salt before you serve, not after.

Say it while you work: Ereba cassava bread

Steps

  1. Season the fish with salt, pepper, garlic and lime, and let it sit 15 minutes.
  2. Soften onion, sweet pepper and garlic in a wide pot until fragrant.
  3. Pour in coconut milk with a sprig of thyme and bring it just under a simmer — never a hard boil.
  4. Slide the fish in, spoon liquid over it, and cook gently until it flakes, about 10 minutes.
  5. Add plantain or cassava in the last minutes if you want it to eat like a full meal.

When to call a professional

Any job

Nothing here says you can't do it. These are simply the moments where a professional is the cheaper answer.

  • The same problem comes back after a correct repair.
  • The next step needs a tool or permit you don't have.
  • You'd be working alone on something that could pin or fall.
  • You've lost confidence — that feeling is information, not failure.
Open “Cook a simple coconut fish stew

General guidance only. Local codes and conditions vary. If work involves electrical, gas, structural, HVAC or plumbing systems — or if anything feels beyond your comfort — stop and hire a licensed professional.

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Ereba cassava bread

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