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Brazilian Vatapá Fish Burger

Brazilian Vatapá Fish Burger

Elenor Craig
This Brazilian Vatapá Fish Burger is a delightful fusion of traditional Brazilian flavors and modern culinary creativity. Inspired by the classic Bahian dish Vatapá, known for its rich, creamy sauce infused with coconut milk and palm oil, this burger combines these unique flavors with a crisply-fried fish filet, encased in a soft brioche bun. Discover a taste of Brazil in a whole new way!
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Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine Brazilian
Servings 4 burgers
Calories 919 kcal

Ingredients
  

Vatapá Sauce

  • 1 cup coconut milk full-fat for a creamy texture
  • 2 tablespoons red palm oil authentic flavor
  • 3 tablespoons ground peanuts unsalted
  • 3 tablespoons dried shrimp ground
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro chopped
  • 1 teaspoon rice flour for thickening

Fish

  • 4 fillets white fish such as cod or haddock, skinless
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil for frying

Assembly

  • 4 medium brioche buns lightly toasted
  • 1 cup lettuce leaves crisp and fresh
  • 1 medium tomato sliced

Instructions
 

  • Preparation of Vatapá Sauce: In a blender, combine coconut milk, palm oil, ground peanuts, ground dried shrimp, garlic, onion, and cilantro. Blend until you achieve a smooth mixture. Transfer to a saucepan and heat over medium heat. Stir in the rice flour to thicken, cooking until the sauce reaches a creamy consistency, about 5-7 minutes. Set aside.
  • Preparation of the Fish: Season the fish fillets with salt and pepper. Dredge each fillet in beaten eggs, then coat with panko breadcrumbs. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and fry the fillets until golden brown and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil.
  • Assembly: To assemble the burgers, place a lettuce leaf on the bottom half of the toasted brioche bun. Add a slice of tomato, followed by the crispy fish fillet. Spoon a generous amount of Vatapá sauce over the fish, then top with the other half of the bun.

Notes

For an extra kick, add a dash of hot sauce to the Vatapá sauce. To make this dish gluten-free, you can substitute panko breadcrumbs with gluten-free crumbs and use gluten-free buns. If palm oil is unavailable, substitute with coconut oil for a different yet delightful flavor combination.

Nutrition

Calories: 919kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 59gFat: 52gSaturated Fat: 27gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 355mgSodium: 1001mgPotassium: 964mgFiber: 5gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 5366IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 223mgIron: 7mg
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