A simple delicious recipe for Peruvian Ceviche made with white fish, chilies, lime, a splash of coconut milk and a hint of ginger. Easy, healthy and flavorful!
It’s hot! The heat of summer is upon us and I’m finding that my appetite is not as voracious as it usually is and lighter meals are finding their way onto our dinner table.
Here is a refreshing recipe for Peruvian Ceviche, made with fish, red onions, chilies, lime, a hint of ginger and a cool and creamy splash of coconut milk. So cooling and delicious!
In Peru, it is traditional use Aja limo peppers to create “Tigers Milk”, the juicy flavorful marinade for the ceviche.
But Tigers Milk can take a couple of days to make, so to be clear, this recipe is much more simplified, not traditional, but mimics the flavors well.
It is also common to see sweet potatoes and corn in Peruvian Ceviche.
Because it is very difficult to find Ajo Limo Peppers here in the Northwest, I’ve substituted half of one habanero pepper.
Using gloves, de-seed the pepper, and mash the pepper with salt, garlic and ginger to make a paste.
Soak the onions in salt water to remove bitterness.
Toss both with the fish, adding lime juice, zest and a splash of coconut milk.
Let this marinate in the fridge for 30-60 minutes. Stir in cilantro.
Serve the Peruvian Ceviche in small bowls or small glasses for an appetizer or over rice or tender greens for a light refreshing meal.
Related: Simple Ceviche
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Peruvian Ceviche Recipe
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4-6
- Category: fish, appetizer, main
- Method: marinated
- Cuisine: Peruvian
Description
A simple delicious recipe for Peruvian Ceviche made with fish, chilies, lime, a splash of coconut milk and a hint of ginger. Easy, healthy flavorful!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup red onion, sliced very thin
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 habanero chili pepper ( or Ajo limo Pepper)
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound fresh firm, buttery white-fleshed fish (corvina, sea bass, escolar, mahi mahi) cut into 3/4 inch cubes, or thinly sliced.
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup fresh lime juice, more to taste (3-5 limes)
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 1 cup coconut milk (whisked until smooth)
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Place the sliced onion in a bowl of generously salted water to soak (to remove bitterness)
- Using gloves, de-seed the pepper, and chop two teaspoons ( half a habanero) finely. Finely chop the garlic, and ginger. Add the salt and using the flat surface of a chef’s knife mash it together until it becomes a fine paste.
- Cut the fish and place it in a medium bowl. Gently stir the chili-garlic paste in with the fish, to distribute evenly.
- Add the lime juice, zest and coconut milk. Stir to incorporate and cover and chill for 45-60 minutes.
- Drain the onions and add them along with the cilantro to the ceviche.
- Taste and adjust salt and lime, adding more if necessary.
- Serve in a small bowl as an appetizer or over rice or greens for a main course.
Notes
Ceviche will keep 2 days. in the fridge.
This can be made with crispy tofu. Make the salt and pepper version of this Crispy tofu using extra firm tofu cut into small 3/4 inch cubes. After crisping, place on a paper towel-lined plate in the fridge and chill. Proceed with recipe, adding tofu in place of fish and refrigerate once more for 30 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 233
- Sugar: 2.7 g
- Sodium: 667.4 mg
- Fat: 13.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 10.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 7.5 g
- Fiber: 1.7 g
- Protein: 22.4 g
- Cholesterol: 46.5 mg
It sounded so good! I’m disappointed! The corvina worked out well but the shrimp wasn’t just right. Maybe my pepper wasn’t spicy enough? Just very limey and not coco nutty tasting. I followed recipe to a tee. Have had this in Panama and was so good in a restaurant. Maybe I will stick to the restaurant.
Sorry Linda, I have not made this with shrimp, only white fish. There are so many variables here as far as finding the “balance”.
Try marinating the fish in the lime juice for 45 min, then drain it. Then add the coconut milk & everything else. That’s how I do it.
Better than TOP NYC Peruvian Restaurants!! Awesome 👌!
Garlic ginger pepper paste made all the difference!
Those restaurants add tomatoes, cucumber, jalapeños and a special corn.
Omitted the corn (not a fan). Added pickled carrots for color and texture.
Replaced tomatoes with strawberry (Dasher left me hanging;{ )
1/8 cup diced pickled carrots
1/4 cup thinly sliced Strawberries
3/4 cup diced cucumber
1/8 cup thinly sliced fresh jalapeños
I added these ingredients at the end and mixed well.
LMK!
Sounds perfect Nash- love your fun additions!
Absolutely delicious! I used about 3/4 lb grouper and 1/4 lb shrimp. Thought I was in Miraflores. Amazing! Definitely will make again.
Awesome, so great to hear this Chris!
Could you use shrimp instead of fish?
Thanks
Yes, I would just make sure it is wild and not farmed.
How do you make it with crispy tofu?
I added some notes for you in the recipe card above. 🙂
Excellent… we loved it! Will do this again – Thankyou
Great to hear Allison!
The recipe sounds right except for the habanero. Unless this is a different habanero than the ones grown here in Australia, two teaspoons without removing the seeds is a overkill. Also warn people to use gloves when dealing with habaneros.
Hi Kate- you are right with the gloves and I noted the recipe. If you are sensitive to heat, go lighter if you like, like 1 teaspoon, but I found the heat to be pretty balanced here!
Any way to cut out some of the sodium?
Hi Christine- Yes I suppose so, but keep in mind, you probably won’t consume all of the sodium, the fish is curing in it, almost like a marinade. 😉 You’ll leave some behind.
Tried this in the sunshine yesterday – even my husband (a Very fussy eater) loved it!! So fresh, creamy and packed with flavour. Will definitely have this again.
Great to hear Kate! I love this one too!
Great recipe but you need to fix the inconsistencies! The brief instructions above the ingredient list are very different from the detailed instructions below! Brief instructions mention lime zest but it’s not anywhere else in the recipe. Brief instructions say to add onion together with spices and liquids in the beginning, detailed instructions say to add onions after marinating in spices and liquids for an hour. Brief instructions don’t mention cilantro at all…etc. Clean it up and it will be perfect!
I will, sorry about that!
Really Brian!?!?!?!
SMH LOL
Looks delicious!,Ill make tour recipe!
Delicious!
Lovely to see a twist of one of my favorite dishes of my country! I will try it!
Thank you for all the inspiration!
Made this exactly as stated. Used half a habanero. Excellent!