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Portugal · Eel

Aveiro Eel Stew over Toasted Bread

Ensopado de Enguias

Around the Ria de Aveiro, eels from the lagoon are stewed in white wine, tomato and onion, then ladled over thick slices of toasted bread that soak up every drop.

  • Prep 25 min
  • Cook 35 min
  • Serves 4
  • Level Medium
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kentwang/ · CC BY-SA 2.0
Served with: Portuguese Mixed Salad ↓En Español

Ingredients

Tap each item as you gather it.

For the stew

To serve

Method

Step by step, the way it is done on the island.

  1. Start the refogado. Warm the olive oil in a wide pot and cook the onions and garlic over medium-low heat 10 minutes until soft and golden.
  2. Add the tomato. Add the tomatoes, bay leaves, paprika and piri-piri and cook 5 minutes until saucy.
  3. Stew the eel. Add the eel, wine, water and salt. Simmer gently, uncovered, 15–20 minutes until the eel is tender and the broth has reduced a little. Stir in half the parsley.
  4. Serve. Lay the toasted bread in deep plates, ladle the eel and broth over and sprinkle with the rest of the parsley. Serve with a mixed salad.

On the side

The side dish that belongs with it, full recipe included.

Portugal

Portuguese Mixed Salad

Salada Mista

Lettuce, tomato and onion dressed simply with olive oil, vinegar and salt. Every grill house in Portugal puts one on the table next to the fish.

  • Prep 10 min
  • Cook 0 min
  • Serves 4
  • Level Easy

You need

  • 1 head green leaf lettuce, torn
  • 3 ripe tomatoes, in wedges
  • 1 small onion, sliced thin
  • ½ green bell pepper, in strips (optional)
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp dried oregano (optional)

How to make it

  1. Prep. Wash and dry the lettuce well. Arrange it on a platter with the tomatoes, onion and pepper on top.
  2. Season. Sprinkle the salt and oregano over the vegetables.
  3. Dress at the table. Just before eating, drizzle with the vinegar and then the olive oil. Toss and serve.

Photo: Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view from Los Angeles, USA · CC BY 2.0

More ways to cook Eel

Same fish, a different corner of the sea.

La Albufera, Valencia, SpainValencian Eel Stew with Garlic and Paprika
Naples, ItalyNeapolitan Christmas Eve Fried Eel
Barranquitas, Puerto RicoPuerto Rican Stewed River Eel