As the summer heat sets in it can be hard to find food that sounds appealing, but one meal that will keep you cool is Shrimp Ceviche. The refreshing dish is light and bright, so it won’t weight you down. Plus, you won’t have to turn on your oven or stove to cook it since requires no actual heat. Of Peruvian origin, ceviche is fish or seafood marinated in citrus juices, which then “cook” the fish. 

Typically prepared in lime or lemon juice with spices like Slap Ya Mama seasoning, people can also add chopped onion, salt and cilantro to the fish. Ceviche can come with any side dish, often it is placed with sweet potato, lettuce, corn, or avocado. The dish isn’t cooked with heat, so it must be prepared fresh or frozen properly to minimize the risk of food poisoning. 

The most important thing to do is making sure your fish is fresh. Buying the fish, the day you are going to cook it is highly recommended and putting it in the freezer as soon as you get home to ensure freshness. 

If it is your first time making ceviche there are a few tips to make your dish perfect. While most fish work, the best kinds are semi-firm white-fleshed ocean fish like sea bass, grouper or flounder. When you start to prepare the fish make sure to remove the bloodline, the dark red portion on the fillet or your dish will have a fishy flavor. 

Chefs recommend marinating the fish for a least 10 to 20 minutes, however marinating it over an hour can risk the fish falling apart. To make ceviche properly you need enough lemon or lime juice. It’s recommended to have ½ of juice to 1 pound of fish. 

As always don’t forget your Slap Ya Mama Seasoning to make your ceviche the best dish this summer.