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Goodness, I love ceviche—especially this Shrimp Ceviche. It’s light, fresh, tangy, and just delicious!
I am surprised to say that this is the first ceviche recipe I’ve shared on my blog. How is that even possible, especially considering that it’s one of my favorite appetizers?
I’ve always made ceviche using shrimp. I prefer the texture of it over other types of fish but, again, ceviche is ceviche and I’ll eat it no matter how it’s prepared. The trick to making a high-quality shrimp ceviche that isn’t too tough or chewy all depends on how you cut it. Slice the shrimp in half lengthwise first so that they’re nice and then before dicing into bite-sized pieces.
Now, this recipe does have a bit of a kick to it because I love spice — y’all know that. If you’re like me, you’re going to love the extra step of blending the serrano pepper with the lime and lemon juice. It adds an element of flavor to this ceviche that really makes it stand out! That said, if you want a more mild touch to your ceviche, I’ve added some notes at the bottom of this post so you can adjust the flavor to your preferences.
Ingredients:
- Large Peeled, Deveined, and Tail-Off Shrimp
- Red Onion
- Fresh Cilantro
- Serrano Peppers
- English Cucumber
- Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
- Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
- Dried Oregano
- Kosher Salt
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Avocado
Step-by-Step:
Step One: Cut the Shrimp
Cut the shrimp in half lengthwise (so it makes two thin slices of shrimp) and then cut each half into 3 to 4 smaller pieces, depending on how chunky you want your ceviche!
Step Two: Blend the Serrano-Citrus Mixture
In a food processor, add the lime juice, lemon juice, and 1 serrano pepper. Blend until smooth.
Step Three: Combine the Ceviche + chill
Place the shrimp in a large bowl. Add the serrano-citrus mixture, red onion, cilantro, the remaining serrano pepper (seeds removed and diced small), cucumber, oregano, salt, and pepper. Gently toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors come together and for the shrimp to cook through.
Step Four: taste and Serve!
Before serving, add the diced avocado and toss to combine. Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if needed. Serve as desired!
Recipe FAQs:
Yes, you chop the shrimp up raw! The acidity in the lime juice cures it so that it’s not completely raw once you eat it.
Yes! To keep this dish Whole30, skip the chips for dipping and simply eat it with a fork or over some greens for a ceviche salad.
This recipe calls for two serrano peppers, but if you want a more mild ceviche, you can use just one serrano pepper or a jalapeño pepper instead!
If you are a freak like me and love extra spicy food, I include the seeds from the serrano peppers when blending it with the lime and lemon juice!
This Shrimp Ceviche is so good for a summer gathering, especially paired with a Clayton Margarita! Comment below and let me know what you think!
want More crowd-friendly appetizers? try these!
Bacon Apricot Zingers with Blue Cheese Drizzle
Shrimp Ceviche
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined and tail-off
- 1/3 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 serrano peppers *see notes
- 1/3 cup seeded and finely diced English cucumber
- 8 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 3 to 4 limes)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 avocado, diced small
Instructions
- Cut the shrimp in half lengthwise (so it makes two thin slices of shrimp) and then cut each half into 3 to 4 smaller pieces, depending on how chunky you want your ceviche!
- In a food processor, add the lime juice, lemon juice, and 1 serrano pepper. Blend until smooth.
- Place the shrimp in a large bowl. Add the serrano-citrus mixture, red onion, cilantro, the remaining serrano pepper (seeds removed and diced small), cucumber, oregano, salt, and pepper. Gently toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors come together and for the shrimp to cook through.
- Before serving, add the diced avocado and toss to combine. Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if needed. Serve as desired!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this today for a pool party and it did not disappoint! Easy, delicious, and impressive. Perfect appetizer/snack for a hot day! Thank you, Alex 😊
yay! thank you, Brandy!
Are you using raw shrimp here? I see it says to let it “cook” in the fridge, just wanted to confirm.
Yes! It it is raw shrimp that is then “cooked” in the citrus. The acid in the citrus transforms the proteins in the shrimp, similar to how heat does, but without the need for high temperatures.
What white fish could you add to this?
I recommend you choose a firm, white fish like sea bass, red snapper, cod, halibut, or mahi-mahi! I like red snapper most if you can find it!
Is it possible to leave off the onion??
Yes- you could omit.
This is the perfect light, lime-y, spicy dish! I like to make mine extra spicy by leaving the serrano seeds in. It’s perfect for a meal on the patio or by the pool.
How long does ceviche last in the fridge as left overs?
It lasts about 2 days
Every time I get ceviche I always say I want to make it at home, but I always get scared! This recipe was amazing! I doubled it and followed the instructions exactly. I did 1/2 of a Serrano to keep the heat down just in case as I was having guests. I was amazed that the shrimp really does cook perfectly in the lime & lemon! I chilled it for 2 hours before serving. I served it with, Grilled Salmon Tacos with Jalapeño Tartar Sauce & Mezcal Mules, all of which are Alex’s recipes that you must try!
Everyone was raving about the dinner and wanted the recipes for all of it! Thank you for making such amazing recipes that give me confidence to be in the kitchen 🤣
So glad this was a hit! Great menu
I’m making this for a party and one of the guests has a shellfish allergy. What fish would you substitute for the shrimp?
Red snapper/red fish works well!