Ceviche Recipe

This amazing Ceviche Recipe is made by “cooking” cubes of fresh snapper and halibut in fresh lime juice and then combining them with shallots, chili peppers, bell peppers, and fresh cilantro. Serve this delicious summer appetizer or light dinner with fresh corn tortillas, avocado, or plantain chips.

Easy Ceviche Recipe

I remember the first time I ever tried ceviche. My husband (then boyfriend) and I had just landed in San Jose, Costa Rica after what felt like the longest flight of my life. We ventured out of our hotel for dinner where he introduced me to the tangy and delicious world of ceviche.

I’ve been hooked ever since.

Ceviche is actually really easy to make and can be ready in as little as one hour. If you love this fish ceviche, be sure to check out my awesome shrimp ceviche recipe next.

What is Ceviche?

Ceviche (pronounced “seh-VEE-chay”) is a popular and well-known Latin American seafood recipe for raw fish marinated in citrus juice, primarily lime and lemon. Also known as cebiche, seviche, or sebiche, ceviche often includes onions, chiles, cilantro, and tomatoes. 

Ceviche recipes vary by region. Peru claims the origin of the dish to be nearly 2000 years ago in Lima.

Regardless of its origin, ceviche is now a popular international dish prepared in many different ways throughout the world (I have personally enjoyed this dish in California, Mexico, Tahiti, Fiji, and Costa Rica), with the greatest varieties found in Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, and Peru.

Is Ceviche Safe to Eat?

Yes, when made properly. Let’s discuss how citrus juice “cooks” raw fish.

Here’s how it works: The acid from the citrus juice denatures the proteins in the fish. In other words, proteins are made up of long chains of amino acids (adenine, guanine, thymine, etc) which are the most fundamental building blocks of life. Place the fish chunks in a bowl of citrus acid and it causes these perfectly configured chains to reconfigure or break apart. Heat also accomplishes this (usually much faster).

But is it safe? This can’t be answered with a yes or a no. Citrus does kill many of the nasty bits that can make you sick; however, it will not protect you from things such as salmonella, certain parasites, and worms.

Making Ceviche Safe to Eat

• ALWAYS purchase sushi-grade fish suitable for raw consumption. The safest choices include tuna, rockfish, halibut, lingcod, snapper, and seabass.
• Make sure to chop the fish into small chunks to create more surface area for the citrus juice to cover.
• If you’re really nervous, blanch the fish in boiling water for 1 minute before cooking in the citrus juice.
• Enjoy within 24 hours…48 hours at the absolute MAX!

Key Ingredients in Fish Ceviche

• Fish—As I mentioned above, tuna, rockfish, halibut, lingcod, snapper, and seabass are all great options. The quality of your fish matters. Fresh fish caught that day is best; otherwise, look for sushi-grade frozen fish.
• Chili peppers—Ají Amarillo is a type of chili used in many authentic Peruvian ceviche recipes. It may be used as a paste or finely minced. Unfortunately, I could not find Ají Amarillo, so I added serrano peppers, but jalapeño peppers would also work.
• Garlic cloves—The garlic is left whole and smashed, and it is used primarily to season the marinade. However, it is optional, so feel free to leave it out.
• Fresh cilantro—As part of the marinade and sprinkled fresh at serving.
• Salt—It’s necessary. Trust me.
• Limes—Making homemade ceviche will make you wish you had lime trees. That said, do not even think about making this with lime juice concentrate. Fresh lime juice only. Also, if you have an electric citrus juicer, definitely use it.
• Grapefruit and Oranges—The main citrus for ceviche should always be limes or lemons or a combination of both, as they have a much higher acidity than grapefruit and oranges. That said, these other citrus fruits add a nice fruity flavor to the marinade, so I always like to add one or two.
• Shallots—Ceviche almost always contains some kind of onion variety. I added thinly sliced shallots, but feel free to add red or white onion.
• Tomatoes—I’ve learned that tomatoes are one of the less common ingredients. That said, I always add a few because they add a nice, mellow contrast to the other ingredients.
• Bell pepper—I have made this recipe with bell peppers, cucumbers, and a mix of each. It’s entirely up to you. 
• Olive oil—You don’t technically need the olive oil, but a little drizzle just before serving adds a nice touch of flavor (especially if you’re using a high-quality EVOO).
• Hot sauce—Optional.

How to Make Ceviche

1. Marinate (“cook”) the fish: Add the cubes of raw fish, serrano peppers, garlic, cilantro, and salt to a large bowl. Cover with the juice from approximately 10 limes, 1 grapefruit, and 2 oranges. Mix well to combine. If the fish is not completely covered with lime juice, continue adding additional lime juice until it is.

2. Allow the fish to “cook”: Cover with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator to keep cold. Allow your fish to “cook” for 1-4 hours. Stir and check on the doneness of the fish every 30 minutes to 1 hour.

3. Soak the shallots: Add the sliced shallots to a separate bowl and cover with hot (not boiling) water and 2 teaspoons of salt. Mix well. Soak for approximately 10-15 minutes before draining and rinsing with cold water. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use.

4. Marinate the tomatoes: Approximately 30 minutes before serving (this can also be done ahead of time) add the shallots, tomatoes, and bell pepper to a new and much larger mixing bowl. Add the juice from approximately 5-10 limes and sprinkle with approximately 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix well to combine. Allow the mixture to rest for approximately 15 minutes. Drain approximately half of the liquid from the bowl, cover, and set aside in the refrigerator.

5. Check the fish: Check the doneness of your fish. The fish should, at the very least, be completely white around the outside. I prefer my fish to be almost “well done”, but if you prefer a more “medium rare” that’s ok, too.

6. Put it together: Once the fish is ready, remove the smashed garlic cloves. Add the tomato, shallots, and bell peppers to the fish, mixing well to combine. Stir in the chopped cilantro and olive oil and several dashes of hot sauce, if desired.

How Long Does Ceviche Last?

Ceviche made using fresh fish is best enjoyed within 24-48 hours. Always keep leftovers stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container.

Recipe Tips

• The primary citrus should always be lime juice (or lemon). Grapefruit and orange juice are added for extra flavor.
• Other delicious additions include finely chopped cucumber and corn kernels.
• You will be juicing a lot of limes. I highly recommend investing in an electric citrus juicer.
• Speaking of citrus, make friends with someone who has a lime tree because you will need A LOT of limes to get FRESH LIME JUICE. Concentrated bottled lime juice will not work to make fish ceviche.
• Although this should go without saying, remove any fish bones before marinating.

What to Serve With Fish Ceviche?

Traditionally, ceviche is served with sweet potatoes and corn-on-the-cob, especially when ordering as the main course.

As an appetizer, serve ceviche with tortillas, fried tortilla chips, tostadas, plantain chips, or simply scoop it right from the bowl with a spoon. Other delicious pairings include this classic margarita or mojito recipe. Serve it with my favorite chicken enchiladas, chicken mole, or even this Peruvian chicken soup.

More Fish Recipes

• Mediterranean Baked Fish with Artichokes and Olives
• Cioppino Recipe (Seafood Stew)
• Chicken, Sausage, and Seafood Gumbo Recipe
• Norwegian Salt Cod Stew (Bacalao)
• Easy Mahi Mahi Recipe with Lemon Garlic Sauce
• Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter (20 minutes!)

If you make this Fish Ceviche Recipe, please leave me a comment below! I always love to read your thoughts and feedback!