Ceviche

This fresh ceviche is made from raw fish marinated in citrus juice. It doesn't need to be cooked, making it the perfect hot weather meal!

Dairy Free

Gluten Free

Nut Free

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There are some foods that just scream summer. For some people, it's hamburgers and ice cream. For me it's salads and anything grilled.

This Ceviche is none of the above, but it too is the perfect summer dish. You don't need to cook ceviche, and you can easily make it ahead of time.

I guess it is kind of like a salad in that it's a cold mix of veggies, protein, citrus juice, and oil. If you've never tried ceviche before, you definitely should. Right now.

What is Ceviche?

Ceviche originated in Peru and is now served all over Central and South America. It was widely available in Costa Rica when I went there several years ago, and that was where I first tried it.

Ceviche is a mixture of thinly sliced fish, and/or shellfish that has been marinated in citrus juice (often a mixture of lime, lemon, and/or orange). The acid in the citrus denatures the proteins in the seafood, essentially "cooking" it.

What kind of fish should I use to make ceviche?

Ceviche can be made with fish or shellfish, or a mix of both.

I've tried making it with salmon, but my preference is to use white fish, probably because it's often more neutral-tasting.
Tilapia is easy to come by, so that's what I've been using lately, but sole works well too.

Fresh fish is great if you have reliable access to it, but high-quality frozen seafood will work too. When you're choosing your fish, try to find pieces that are as thin as possible. That means less slicing for you. I also prefer to throw in a mix of shellfish for some flavor.

Is ceviche safe?

Even though the acid in the citrus that you will be using denatures and "cooks" the protein in the fish, ceviche is technically raw.

The acid in the citrus juice does not have the power to kill any potential microbial contaminants. So if you are at a higher risk of foodborne illness, you should stay away from ceviche. The risk is low though, for the average person.

To reduce your risk of getting sick, make sure you purchase your seafood from a reliable source. If your seafood is fresh (not frozen) make sure to eat it before the best-before date.

If you're using frozen seafood, check to make sure that it was frozen right after it was caught. This will likely be the better option for those who live far from the ocean or don't have a reliable seafood market nearby.

Ceviche Ingredients:

Along with the fish, bell pepper, jalapeno, garlic, scallion, cilantro, salt, and pepper give the ceviche its flavor.

Depending on where it's made, sometimes other ingredients like avocado, tomato, or grapefruit are added as well.

Firm, neutral-flavored white fish, or shellfish, or a mixture
Lime zest and juice
Lemon juice
Red bell pepper
Jalapeno pepper
Garlic
Salt
Extra virgin olive oil
Scallions
Cilantro
Sugar
Freshly ground black pepper

A hand dipping a tortilla chip in a bowl of ceviche

How to eat Ceviche:

You can serve Ceviche in any number of ways. You could eat it with a fork directly from a bowl or plate, like a salad.

Try serving it with tortilla chips to scoop as if you were eating salsa.

You can eat it with corn tortillas, like tacos.

Or you can serve it with lettuce leaves, like lettuce wraps. Your choice, but trust me, it's good in all of the above ways.

Want more seafood recipes?

Garlic Shrimp in a white bowl with bread — Mediterranean Garlic Shrimp

Bacon wrapped scallops on a plate — Perfect Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Perfectly Seared Shrimp - Domestic Dreamboat #glutenfree #shrimp #seafood — Perfectly Seared Shrimp

Ceviche Nutrition Notes

The nutrition information in the recipe below uses tilapia for the calculations. Other types of white fish will be similar.

Using shellfish instead or in addition to fish will slightly increase the cholesterol content, but cholesterol that comes from food doesn't significantly affect blood cholesterol levels.