Main Course · Dinner · Latin American ·

Brazilian Moqueca de Siri

Name: Brazilian Moqueca de Siri
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 1 lb crab shells; 4 cups water; 1 onion, roughly chopped; 2 cloves garlic, smashed; 1 lb fresh crab meat; 2 tablespoons lime juice; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 onion, finely chopped; 1 red bell pepper, sliced; 1 green bell pepper, sliced; 2 tomatoes, diced; 1 cup coconut milk; 1 tablespoon dendê oil (palm oil); Salt and pepper, to taste; 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped; Lime wedges, for serving

A traditional crab stew from the coastal regions of Brazil, simmered with colorful bell peppers and laced with coconut milk for a rich, flavorful broth.

4.6(610 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·January 7, 2026

Brazilian Moqueca de Siri — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

Crab Stock

Moqueca

Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 395 kcal
Protein: 21.25 g
Carbs: 23.5 g
Fat: 25.1 g
Fiber: 5.1 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1578 kcal
Protein: 85 g
Carbs: 94 g
Fat: 100.4 g
Fiber: 20.4 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 lb crab shells	0	0	0	0	0
4 cups water	0	0	0	0	0
1 onion, roughly chopped	32	1	7	0.1	1.5
2 cloves garlic, smashed	9	0.4	2	0	0.1
1 lb fresh crab meat	410	82	0	3	0
2 tablespoons lime juice	8	0	3	0	0
1 tablespoon olive oil	119	0	0	14	0
1 onion, finely chopped	32	1	7	0.1	1.5
1 red bell pepper, sliced	37	1	9	0.5	1.5
1 green bell pepper, sliced	30	1	7	0.5	3
2 tomatoes, diced	44	2	10	0.5	2
1 cup coconut milk	552	5	13	57	6
1 tablespoon dendê oil (palm oil)	120	0	0	14	0
Salt and pepper, to taste	0	0	0	0	0
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped	1	0.1	0.2	0	0.1
Lime wedges, for serving	4	0	1.8	0	0.2

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Crab Meat

1
Combine Ingredients
In a large bowl, combine crab meat with lime juice, salt, and pepper.
2
Marinate
Gently mix and let marinate for 20 minutes to infuse flavor.

Preparing the Stock

1
Combine Stock Ingredients
In a large pot, combine crab shells, water, onion, and garlic.
2
Simmer
Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for 30 minutes.
3
Strain Stock
Strain and reserve the liquid for the stew.
Tip: Be sure to strain the stock well to remove any shell debris. Pro Tip: The longer the stock simmers, the deeper the flavor becomes.

How to Make Brazilian Moqueca de Siri

Total time: 2 h · Yields 4 servings

1
Sautéing
Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Sauté onion and bell peppers until soft, about 5 minutes.
2
Simmering
Add tomatoes, strained crab stock, and coconut milk to the pan. Stir in dendê oil.
3
Final Step
Stir in marinated crab meat into the simmering broth. Cook for an additional 10 minutes.