One of our favorite towns was Kinsale. In the south of Ireland, right on the water, we found some of the freshest seafood. At Max's Wine Bar, my husband had a starter that included crab three ways. One of them was ceviche and it was delicious. I love ceviche, but have never made it at home. I concluded after eating that dish that I would attempt it when I returned to the states, and I'm happy that I did!
I couldn't find crab on sale at my local grocer, so I opted for shrimp and scallops. Ceviche is a dish that calls for raw fish that you "cook" in citrus juice. Most ceviche recipes call for lemons and limes, but I added some orange to this one too and it was yummy!
I started with the veggies. The ceviche we had in Ireland had carrots, an ingredient I don't typically see in ceviche, but I liked the extra crunch it added. I used 1 cucumber, 1 carrot, 1 jalepeno (remove the seeds), and half a red onion. Chop all of these veggies on the smaller side - I used a knife, but if you're not great at chopping, you may want to use a food chopper or processor. Just be sure that you don't puree it!
After a couple hours I removed the ceviche and let it sit at room temperature for about a half hour. Give it a taste and see if it needs more salt and pepper. I drained out some of the liquid and added just a splash of EVOO to balance out the flavors. You should taste the citrus, but not have it too overpowering. I like to dish it up in a margarita glass, and garnish with a sprig of cilantro and a pita chip. Serve with the pita chips and enjoy!
This was another example of a non-traditional dinner. I served this with fresh guacamole on the side. It was light and refreshing....perfect for a hot summer night!
Do you like ceviche? Have you ever made it?
XoXo,
Nicole