Caldeirada De Peixe

1/2 pound fish or shellfish, any kind
1/2 teaspoons salt
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
8 tomatoes, peeled & chopped
1 green pepper, seeded & chopped
4 large cloves garlic, crushed
1 pinch nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
3 teaspoons piri−piri sauce (recipe follows)
1 small glass dry white wine
1/2 ounce cilantro, chopped
4 slices of bread with the crusts cut off

Clean the fish and cut into fairly small pieces, removing as many bones as possible. Sprinkle the salt over the fish and leave while you make the following sauce. Heat 2−3 Tbsp of the oil in a saucepan and stir in the onions, tomatoes and pepper. Cook gently until they start to soften, then put in the garlic, nutmeg, allspice and piri−piri sauce. Add the wine and a little water. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, then remove from the heat. Lightly oil the bottom of a shallow, ovenproof dish (preferably earthenware). Put in a layer of fish followed by a layer of sauce and sprinkle with coriander. Continue with these layers until the ingredients are used up. Cover the top of with the bread and sprinkle well with the remaining oil or dot with a little butter. Cook in a pre−heated oven at 350F for about 30 minutes or until the fish is tender. Serve with boiled or sliced and fried potatoes, bread and a slad to make a substantial main meal. If you cannot obtain coriander leaves, you can use fresh parsley instead, but this will alter the flavor of the dish.

Piri−Piri Sauce:
1 1/4 cups olive oil
8 chilli peppers with tops removed
1 small piece lemon rind
1 bay leaf

Pour the oil into a small, screw−top jar and add the chilli peppers, bay leaf and lemon rind. Screw on the top and shake. Leave to stand in a warm place for at least 24 hours before use. It will keep at room temperature indefinitely.