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Fish Ceviche

While ceviche has become increasingly popular in the United States, it has been a staple in the Mexican kitchen for decades. Traditionally fresh fish is “cooked” by the acid of lime juice and flavored with red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro. Ceviche makes a fresh and light start to any meal. This is a good basic ceviche recipe, but feel free to make it your own by adding other aromatic ingredients, such as fresh ginger or tomato.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound firm white fish fillet (such as snapper, mahi mahi, sea bass, or tilapia), cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, stemmed, seeded (optional), and finely chopped
1 cup lime juice (about 14 limes)
1 teaspoon salt, plus more as needed
1 avocado, pitted and chopped
1 cup lightly packed cilantro leaves, chopped, plus sprigs of cilantro for garnish
Tortilla chips

Preparation

  1. Marinate the Fish

    Step 1

    Combine the fish, onion, and jalapeño in a nonreactive (ceramic, glass, or plastic) bowl and pour in the lime juice. Make sure all of the fish is covered in juice.

    Step 2

    Take a piece of plastic wrap large enough to cover the entire surface of the dish and press onto the fish mixture to create a plastic barrier between the fish and the air. Next, cover the entire bowl with a second layer of plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to 8 hours.

  2. Season the Ceviche

    Step 3

    Season the ceviche with the salt and stir well. Cover again with both layers of plastic wrap and return to the refrigerator for another hour.

  3. Add the Avocado and Cilantro

    Step 4

    Mix in the avocado and cilantro. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

  4. Garnish and Serve

    Step 5

    Serve the ceviche on a large platter or in individual dishes. Top the dish with sprigs of cilantro and accompany with tortilla chips.

  5. Cooking Notes

    Step 6

    TECHNIQUES

  6. Step 7

    Chopping an Avocado

    Step 8

    The easiest way to chop an avocado is in its skin. But first you have to slice it in half. Cut the avocado in half by slicing halfway into it with a large knife and once you hit the seed in the center, move your knife along its perimeter. Twist the avocado open by gently pulling on each half.

  7. Step 9

    Remove the seed by tapping the seed with the sharp edge of your knife, causing the knife to become wedged into the seed. Twist the knife a bit to dislodge the seed.

  8. Step 10

    Finally, chop the avocado by taking the tip of your knife and drawing a grid onto the avocado flesh. Keep in mind that the tighter the grid, the smaller the dice. Make sure the tip of the knife reaches the skin of the avocado. Use a spoon to scoop out the chopped avocado.

  9. Step 11

    ADVANCE PREPARATION

  10. Step 12

    The ceviche is best eaten the day it is made, but you can hold it for up to 2 days in the refrigerator. For best results, keep the ceviche wrapped under the two layers of plastic wrap.

Cover of the cookbook featuring the author shucking an ear of corn.
Reprinted with permission from Simply Mexican by Lourdes Castro, © April 2009 Ten Speed Press. Buy the full book at Amazon or Bookshop.
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