What differentiates the Chilean ceviche from the Peruvian and other versions from countries in Latin America? Let’s see, the size of the pieces of fish: in the Chilean ceviche the fish is cut small, I remember how sometimes my grandmother did it with cubes of 1/2 cm, almost ground. The onion variety, in the Chilean version, is always Spanish or yellow onion. And finally the other ingredients: that are minimal in the Chilean case: bell peppers, if desired, and cilantro. In the Peruvian version, the corn and the sweet potato abound and the onion is the purple variety and chopped in half-moons.
I am a super fan of all ceviches; I’m always happy to try all its variants. Use very fresh fish, and hopefully make friends with your fisherman or fishmonger. I buy mine at the local Farmers Market, at Airline Seafood.
Maybe you’re interested in the recipe: Sauteed white fish.
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Chilean Ceviche
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Raw
- Cuisine: Chilean
Description
Learn the secrets for a great Chilean ceviche.
Ingredients
- 1/2 kilo of firm white fish (in Chile: sea bass, in the USA red snapper)
- 1/2 Spanish or yellow onion, chopped into tiny cubes
- 1/4 red bell pepper, chopped into small cubes
- 1/4 green bell pepper, chopped into small cubes
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves without stems
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- salt, pepper, and merkén if desired
- 5 lemons
Instructions
- The previous night if you want to serve it for lunch or in the morning if it is for dinner. Wash the fish and cut it into small cubes of 1 cm per side. Place in a container and squeeze enough lemons to cover the fish. I used three.
- Before serving, put the fish in a large bowl and add the onion, pepper, paprika or Merkén, and cilantro — the juice of half a lemon, oil, and salt.
- Stir everything and taste. Adjust the seasoning. Serve cold.
Keywords: Chilean ceviche
Do I add paprika? Or should that be pepper?
Hi, is pepper and paprika or Merken. I modified the recipe to make it more clear. Thanks for your comment.
Best recipe. Feels like I’m in Santiago!
Awesome. I’m glad!