If you study Spanish in Lima, you will no doubt encounter many restaurants serving up one of the country’s most popular dishes, ceviche. This marinated raw fish salad is popular throughout South America, with each region having its own version. The most common fish to use is sea bass, but shrimp and other seafoods are also used, depending on availability.
Here are a few things to keep in mind if you want to try ceviche:
- Because the fish is raw, you want to make sure to eat the freshest ceviche possible. Try to find a cevichería that specializes in this dish, go early for lunch. Most cevicherías close by 4 pm anyway because the seafood is no longer fresh.
- Pair ceviche with a trip to the beach. Since this dish is a very popular beach snack, the most authentic way to enjoy it is at a beachside cevichería. Enjoy a beer or two as well to cut the acidic taste.
- The idea that the lime juice in the ceviche marinade cooks the raw fish is a myth. The lime juice does change the texture of the fish, but it doesn’t kill parasites or bacteria.
- Have a hangover? If you’re really brave you can try a sip of “leche de tigre”, aka the leftover ceviche marinade, which some South Americans swear by as a hangover cure.
Here is a simple Peruvian ceviche recipe you can try for a taste of coastal Peru at home:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound white saltwater fish (anything good for sushi)
- 1 cup lime juice
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon salt
- chile pepper – 1 rocoto chile or 2 aji limon, or a habanero
- 1 medium onion, sliced thin
- 4 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Directions:
- Cut the fish into small pieces. The bigger your pieces, the longer it will take to marinate.
- Salt the fish and place it in a non-reactive (glass or plastic) container. Pour in the lime, lemon, and orange juice, add the sliced onions and the peppers, and cover the container. All of the fish should be covered with juice.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours (longer for big pieces).
- Serve on a bed of sliced onions and garnish with cilantro.