Ceviche, y Bienvenidos en Mexico!

It’s day two of a week long vacation near Tulum in the Yucatan peninsula and I’m already dreaming of how I am going to quit everything and move here to sell ceviche out of a palapa on the beach. Our house is a stone’s throw from the waters edge, where hammocks and kayaks await our every whim, whether we want to lounge lazily under the sun or explore the colorful, lively reef beneath the water.

Across the bay, about a 15 minute walk from our palapa-roofed casa, is a tiny shack where Carlos and his family have set up an exceptional little seafood restaurant right on the beach. The tables are scattered beneath the palm trees on the blindingly white sands, the beer is cold, the service cheerful and the food more than memorable. Ceviche, a raw fish dish, is a specialty of the region and one of my personal favorites. The mixture of scallops, shrimp, red snapper and any fresh catch of the day, is marinated in lime juice and spices and served with sliced avocado, fresh tortillas and hot sauce. The result is a tender and flavorful explosion of colors and tastes.

Ceviche Yucatán

  • 1 lb scallops
  • 1 lb shelled deveined shrimp
  • 1 lb skinned deboned redfish, cubed
  • Or any mix of fish and/or shellfish you fancy
  • 1 pint fresh lime juice

Combine all above ingredients in a glass or ceramic bowl (not metal) and marinate for 4-6 hours, turning occasionally. About an hour before serving add the following ingredients an hour before serving.

  • salt
  • fresh black pepper
  • ¾ cup olive oil
  • dried oregano
  • 12 deveined and deseeded jalapenos or serranos, thinly sliced
  • 1 red onion, finely diced
  • 2 avocados, cubed
  • 6 tomatoes, cubed
  • 1 bunch cilantro, chopped

1 Comment

  • Ahhh! Take me back… for the ceviche never tastes like that when the fish and shellfish hasn’t just pulled from the ocean. Yum!!
    What fun we had!
    Love, love,love!

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