Ceviche

Prep Time 40 minutes | Cook Time 30 min (minimum) | 4-6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1-2 tomatoes

  • 1 cucumber

  • 1/2-1 red onion

  • 1 filet of fish (I typically use a mixture of sushi grade tuna and tilapia. Shrimp is also a popular option)

  • 8-12 limes

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • Hot sauce to taste (optional)

  • Tostadas

Equipment

  • Bowl

  • Citrus Juicer

Instructions

  1. Dice the tomato(es), cucumber, and fish into cubes. Slice the onion into very thin strips.

  2. Juice 8-12 limes.

  3. Place everything into a large bowl and pour the lime juice onto the ingredients.

  4. Cover with a towel and let it “cook” for a minimum of 30 minutes in the fridge. The longer you let the ceviche cook, the better—up to 6 hours.

  5. Add salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste.

  6. Serve on tostadas and enjoy!

The Novel

My partner had a lifelong dream of marrying someone who 1. loves ceviche, and 2. enjoys giving massages. I don’t think I need to tell you that he was completely blindsided when he learned that I hated both. Ceviche is one of his top-tier favorite foods, and I can’t even look at shellfish without feeling vaguely offended.

Before we moved to NYC, our neighbor (who owns the world’s cutest chihuahua—Toby, if you’re curious) took me out for dinner at a new seafood place. That night something in my brain, possibly a lapse in judgment, told me to give the ceviche a shot. I noticed it was made with fish, not shrimp, and figured, “Why not? What’s the worst that could happen?” My life changed forever.

For the next few days, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. After nearly three years of my partner begging me to try ceviche, I finally understood the hype. I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced a moment of enlightenment, but it’s like the clouds part and the heavens sing, except it’s just a plate of fish and citrus. You can imagine the shock on his face when I got home and shared the news.

I still hate shrimp and giving massages. In fact, my aversion to shrimp has only deepened, now that I’ve tasted what ceviche should be like. But now, my partner’s dream has half come true. We can now eat ceviche on the regular, which I suppose is a victory. After all, who needs massages when you’ve got ceviche?