RECIPE: Ceviche & Lettuce Cups

[1] Ceviche in lettuce cups (photo courtesy The Chalk Board Magazine).

[2] Want something more substantial? Fill an avocado half: Here’s the recipe (photo courtesy Avocados From Mexico).

[3] Want something more elegant? Get out your Martini glasses (photo courtesy Elegant Affairs Caterers).

Here are more ways to present ceviche.

A light lunch or first course on a hot summer day…high in protein, low in calories and carbs…a fusion of a popular seafood dish and lettuce “cups…”

It’s ceviche cups (photo #1). Originally made as a “vegan ceviche” recipe from The Chalkboard Magazine, we adapted the concept to a mix of fresh fish and shellfish (the mix is up to you).

 
 
WHAT IS CEVICHE?

Ceviche (pronounced say-VEE-chay, also spelled cebiche, seviche and sebiche based on region) is a dish of fish and/or shellfish cured by acidic citrus juice—typically lime juice. It has been popular in Latin America for many centuries, and its roots go back for millennia.

In the early 1500s, the Spanish conquistadors wrote of an Inca dish of raw fish marinated in chicha, a fermented maize beer. That recipe dates back some 2,000 years. The concept evolved into ceviche: raw fish or shellfish cured with citrus juice.

Both Ecuador and Peru claim to have originated ceviche; both were part of the Incan Empire. But why quibble: Today, ceviche—or seviche or sebiche, depending on the country—is so popular that there are cevicherias, restaurants that specialize in ceviche.

The Spanish brought the lime and onion that are integral to modern ceviche. In fact, the term “ceviche” is thought to come from the Spanish escabeche, meaning marinade. Others argue that the word comes from the Quechua (Incan) word siwichi—although we could not find this word in the Quechua dictionary we consulted.

Ceviche is one of the national dishes of Peru, and June 28th is National Ceviche Day.
 
Types Of Raw Fish Dishes

Ceviche is part of a group of refreshing raw or cured fish dishes, including:

 
Mix & Match

As with the other dishes, ceviche welcomes almost every type of fish and shellfish. You can also vary the:

 
Here’s the master template for how to create your ideal ceviche recipe.
 
 
RECIPE: CEVICHE LETTUCE CUPS

Bibb and butter lettuces turn into natural “cups,” while baby romaine leaves are sturdy and can be picked up to eat by hand (the different types of lettuce).

 
Garnishes

 
Preparation

1. PREPARE the ceviche and keep in the fridge. You can do this a day in advance. When ready to serve…

2. PREPARE the lettuce leaves: wash and pat dry. Fill each leaf with a scoop of ceviche.

3. GARNISH as desired.
 
 
Ceviche Vs. Tiradito

Why Ceviche Is Good For You

What To Drink With Ceviche