There is so much to love about this beloved seafood appetizer. It’s beautiful. Festive. And incredibly delicious.
The process of “cooking” the raw shrimp in fresh lime juice is amazing. You will not believe the flavor and texture. It’s not fishy tasting at all and the shrimp is about as succulent as you will ever find. It’s so good! The taste and presentation will transport you to the beautiful sunny beaches down Mexico Way.
How To Make Mexican Shrimp Ceviche
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The Ingredients You Will Need
Shrimp – Fresh is best. If frozen, go with a top-notch seafood provider. We use Whole Foods and Wild Fork.
Lime juice – Again, freshly squeezed is best. Usually, about 3 lbs of fresh limes will give you enough.
Onion – Red or white, finely chopped.
Tomatoes – Go with the ripest tomatoes you can find. Core and remove the seeds. Cut into small bite-sized pieces.
Peppers – Jalapeño or Serrano are excellent choices. For less heat, remove all seeds and ribs on the inside of the chili. Serranos tend to pack more heat than a seeded jalapeño.
Olives – Pitted green are best. We recommend manzanillos for the most authentic flavor. Roughly chop them.
Cucumber – Peeled and halved then used the end of a spoon to remove the seeds. Cut into small bite-size pieces, about the same as the tomatoes.
Cilantro – Fresh is a must. Chopped.
Oil – Quality extra virgin is recommended.
Avocados – Ripe, but not overly soft. Don’t peel and chop them until just before bringing the ceviche together.
Orange juice – Freshly squeezed produces the best flavor.
Seasoning – Kosher salt is all you need.
Chips for Serving – Purchase some thin corn tortillas, cut them into triangles, and fry them up in some vegetable oil. Then lightly salt. Heavenly!
EXPERT TIP: Make sure to remove all of the shells and devein the shrimp before cutting them up. The freshly squeezed lime juice will produce perfectly ‘cooked’ ceviche. Allow them to ‘cook’ (or marinate) for a minimum of 30 minutes, but no longer than 4 hours. We find that 2 to 2½ hours is just right.
Tips for Making Perfect Mexican Shrimp Ceviche
Use Fresh Shrimp – Select high-quality, fresh shrimp for the best flavor and texture. If possible, use wild-caught shrimp. Make sure to devein and peel them before cooking. If desired, you can lightly poach the shrimp in boiling water for a minute or two until they turn pink, then chill them in ice water.
Go With Fresh Lime Juice – The acidity from the fresh citrus will “cook” the shrimp while adding a bright flavor. Allow the shrimp to marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours. Discard the lime juice once the shrimp is “cooked.”
Fresh Is Always Best – Incorporate a variety of farm-fresh ingredients like diced tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, jalapeño, and cilantro. These add texture, color, and flavor. Adjust the ingredients based on your personal taste and desired level of heat.
Season Tortilla Chips Immediately – If frying, season the chips with salt right after they come out of the oil while they’re still hot. This helps the salt adhere better. You can also experiment with other seasonings like chili powder or lime zest for added flavor. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
EXPERT TIP: It won’t take long for the shrimp to change in appearance once it has been covered with the fresh lime juice. The shrimp will become pink and opaque. Once it is ready, you can drain the liquid, and make the ceviche immediately, or you cover and refrigerate it for several hours if not used immediately.
How To Serve
This is the quintessential seafood appetizer. Even non-seafood lovers like this dish.
It is wonderful served in individual bowls along with some freshly fried corn tortillas. Be sure to have hot sauce and extra lime on hand.
You can also serve in a large bowl (preferably over ice) and let guests serve themselves. They also make incredible tostadas and lettuce wraps.
Other Classic Mexican Seafood Recipes to Try
- Golden Shrimp Dorado Tacos
- Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos
- Baja Fish Tacos
- Veracruz-Style Shrimp with Pumpkin Sauce
- Grilled Salmon with Poblano Compound Butter
- Seafood-Stuffed Poblano Peppers
These are all amazing and authentic. But, in the meantime, isn’t this gorgeous recipe calling your name?
There is truly something magical about how the various components of this dish work together.
The sum is definitely greater than its parts with this dish.
It is one of the best seafood appetizers we have ever created, served, and eaten. Get ready for massive rave reviews!
Every bite will take you down to a gorgeous beach in beautiful Mexico.
Ready to make the best seafood appetizer this side of Cozumel, Mexico? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a photo of it, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon!
Mexican Shrimp Ceviche
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined, as fresh as possible.
- 1½ cups fresh lime juice usually from about 3 lbs of fresh limes
- ¼ cup red onion finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes cored and roughly diced
- 1 jalapeño seeds removed and finely chopped
- ½ cup green olives pitted, roughly chopped
- ½ cup cucumber peeled, seeded, and roughly chopped
- ¼ cup cilantro fresh, chopped
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large avocado peeled, pitted, and roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp orange juice juice from 1 large orange
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- corn tortilla chips for serving
- lime wedges, or wheels for garnish
- hot sauce for serving
Instructions
- Cut the shrimp into bite-sized pieces. Place in a shallow bowl and carefully pour the lime juice over the shrimp (the juice should cover all of the shrimp). Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes and no more than 4 hours.1 lb shrimp, 1½ cups fresh lime juice
- Drain the "cooked" shrimp through a sieve. Discard the lime juice.
- Mix the shrimp, red onion, tomatoes, jalapeño, olives, cucumber, and cilantro, in a large serving bowl. Stir in the olive oil.¼ cup red onion, 2 medium tomatoes, 1 jalapeño, ½ cup green olives, ½ cup cucumber, ¼ cup cilantro, 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Gently mix in the avocado, orange juice, and salt.1 large avocado, 2 tbsp orange juice, 1 tsp Kosher salt
- Serve at once with tortilla chips, lime garnish, and hot sauce, if desired.corn tortilla chips, lime wedges, or wheels, hot sauce
I love how this recipe uses simple ingredients to create such a delicious dish. The shrimp looks perfectly cooked in the lime juice.