Ceviche, a classic Mexican seafood dish, is an exquisite blend of fresh fish or shellfish marinated in citrus juices and spiced with chili peppers, onions, and cilantro. It’s a refreshing and flavorful treat that’s perfect for any occasion. This step-by-step guide will help you prepare this delectable dish right at home.
To start off with the preparation of ceviche, you need to choose your seafood. Traditional Mexican ceviche often uses white-fleshed ocean fish like snapper or sea bass. However, you can also use shrimp, scallops or even octopus depending on your preference.
Once you’ve chosen your seafood, the first step is to cut it into small pieces; bite-sized chunks work best. The next step is marination which forms the core essence of ceviche wherein the raw fish gets “cooked” by the acidity of lime juice. For this purpose, squeeze enough limes to completely cover the fish in a bowl. Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes until it turns opaque – a sign that it’s ready.
While your seafood marinates in lime juice, chop up some fresh vegetables for added crunch and flavor. Typically used are tomatoes (preferably Roma), cucumber (deseeded), red onion and jalapenos (if you want some heat). Also mince up some cilantro leaves as they add a delightful freshness to the mix.
Once your vegetables are chopped and ready and your fish has turned opaque from marinating in lime juice – which means it’s “cooked” – drain out most of the lime juice from your bowl leaving just enough to keep things moist but not soupy.
Now comes assembling everything together! Mix together all these ingredients in a large bowl along with some salt according to taste preference. Sometimes diced avocado is also added at this stage because its creamy texture beautifully contrasts with other crunchy elements while adding richness to overall flavor profile.
Give everything a good stir, ensuring that all ingredients are evenly distributed. The final step is to let your ceviche chill in the refrigerator for about an hour before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together and intensify.
To serve, scoop generous portions of the ceviche into individual bowls or martini glasses for a touch of elegance. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with tortilla chips on the side for dipping.
So there you have it – a step-by-step guide to creating your own Mexican seafood classic at home. Ceviche is not just incredibly delicious but also simple and quick to prepare making it perfect for those summer get-togethers or even as an appetizer for dinner parties. It’s fresh, tangy and packed full of vibrant flavors – truly a celebration of seafood at its best!