Ceviche (“seh-BEE-chay”) is a hugely popular dish in South America. The basic ingredient is raw fish, cut into bite-size pieces and marinated in the juice of an acidic fruit (usually lime), salt, and seasonings (usually chile peppers). The citric acid in the juice changes the texture of the fish, without changing its “raw” taste. Ceviche is an old tradition in South America, dating back to the earliest inhabitants.
The Incas preserved their fish with fruit juice, salt and chile peppers, and later the Spanish conquerors introduced the now essential limes.
But Is It Cooked?
According to common wisdom, the lime juice “cooks” the fish - partially or completely, depending on how long it is marinated. The citric acid in the lime juice does alter the structure of the proteins in the fish, making the fish more opaque and firm, just as if it had been cooked with heat. But the acid does not kill bacteria and parasites as well as heat does, so it’s important to start with the freshest, cleanest fish possible.
When To Have Ceviche
Ceviche is typically eaten at lunch or brunch, and because it is so light and refreshing, it’s popular at the beach. Ceviche restaurants (cevicherías) often close around 4 pm, as the fish caught in the morning is no longer fresh by afternoon.
Ceviche Variations
Ceviche is usually made with sea bass or flounder, but just about any fish or shellfish will work. The other ingredients vary widely.
Ecuadorian ceviche is often made with shrimp and ketchup in addition to the lime juice, and served with corn nuts. In Chile, ceviche is made with Chilean sea bass, grapefruit juice, and cilantro. In Peru, ceviche is garnished with thinly sliced onions and aji limo, aji amarillo or rocoto chile peppers. It’s served with sweet potatoes and large kernel andean corn on the cob (choclo).
Only a true ceviche lover would dare try tiger’s milk (leche de tigre), which is the leftover ceviche marinade served in a small glass. Brightly colored from the spicy chili peppers, and sometimes mixed with vodka, tiger’s milk is considered a great cure for hangovers.
Ceviche has become very trendy outside of South America, and chefs like to experiment with exotic ingredients such as passion fruit, coconut milk, octopus, shark, avocado, celery, mango and more.
Recipes
The next time you see some fresh looking fish at the store, why not bring some home and invent your own ceviche de casa? Here are some recipes to help you get started: