Fresh, healthy and easy! This Shrimp Ceviche recipe will wow as a restaurant-quality party appetizer that is so simple to make at home.

Fresh, healthy and easy! This Shrimp Ceviche recipe will wow as a restaurant-quality party appetizer that is so simple to make at home. | foxeslovelemons.com

It’s National Ceviche Day! I think this may only be a food holiday in Peru, but let’s just pretend I’m in South America for the day, not Detroit. Cool?

Does lime juice cook shrimp?

Ceviche is one of those things that allow me to appreciate the chemistry of cooking.

The conventional wisdom is that the acid of the citrus juice “cooks” the seafood, but upon some further research, I’ve discovered that the citric acid in the lemon and lime juice causes the proteins in the seafood to become denatured, which means that the seafood looks like it is cooked (it will become more opaque and firm).

The same thing happens to meat if you leave it in buttermilk chicken marinade or flat iron steak marinade too long. It’s not really “cooked,” but it does get firmer, which makes it tough when you grill it.

Fresh, healthy and easy! This Shrimp Ceviche recipe will wow as a restaurant-quality party appetizer that is so simple to make at home. | foxeslovelemons.com

Start with the freshest seafood for Shrimp Ceviche

The very fact that citrus juice can do this at all is pretty amazing to me. However, it is still a raw fish dish – if you like sushi, you’ll probably like ceviche.

If you’re pregnant or your immune system has issues, you may want to skip it, because the acid in the lime juice will not be able to kill any stray bacteria or parasites the way that heat does (treat yourself with some fully-cooked shrimp fajitas or shrimp wonton soup instead).

I probably don’t need to tell you this, but it’s important to start with the freshest, best-quality seafood you can find. Use this as an excuse to head to a great fish market in your area (and pick up some Chilean sea bass while you’re there, for my best Chilean sea bass recipe).

Fresh, healthy and easy! This Shrimp Ceviche recipe will wow as a restaurant-quality party appetizer that is so simple to make at home. | foxeslovelemons.com

You don’t need to cook the shrimp for ceviche!

Invite your friends over for a ceviche party, and wow them with the chemistry experiment. Although be prepared for detailed explanations to skeptical diners.

I wrote a similar shrimp ceviche recipe for a publishing company I work for. It was published in a grocery store magazine, and shortly after it hit newsstands the publishing company received a voicemail from a very confused lady that thought we had accidentally forgotten the step where you cook the shrimp.

We returned her call and tried to explain how ceviche works, but I’m pretty sure she didn’t trust us. Oh well, her loss, right? She’ll miss out on the spicy, tangy, fresh summer delight that is ceviche!

Fresh, healthy and easy! This Shrimp Ceviche recipe will wow as a restaurant-quality party appetizer that is so simple to make at home. | foxeslovelemons.com

The ingredients for shrimp ceviche are simple and fresh:

  • shrimp
  • lemon juice and zest
  • lime juice and zest
  • olive oil
  • sugar
  • paprika
  • salt
  • tomato
  • cilantro
  • cucumber
  • green onions
  • jalapeño

Fresh, healthy and easy! This Shrimp Ceviche recipe will wow as a restaurant-quality party appetizer that is so simple to make at home. | foxeslovelemons.com

How to make shrimp ceviche:

First, combine shrimp with lemon and lime juice. Simple! Let it sit in the refrigerator for at least four hours or overnight.

Next, make the dressing for the ceviche using olive oil, sugar, paprika, salt, lemon juice and zest and lime juice and zest.

Right before you’re ready to serve, remove the shrimp from the juice and place it in a bowl. Add tomato, cilantro, cucumber, onion, jalapeño and the dressing and toss it all to combine. Serve as is or with chips!

Fresh, healthy and easy! This Shrimp Ceviche recipe will wow as a restaurant-quality party appetizer that is so simple to make at home. | foxeslovelemons.com

How long does shrimp ceviche last?

I would recommend keeping it in the refrigerator for no longer than 2 days. Eat it up as soon as possible (preferably with a tequila mojito or Strawberry moscow mule in hand) for the freshest flavor!

Fresh, healthy and easy! This Shrimp Ceviche recipe will wow as a restaurant-quality party appetizer that is so simple to make at home. | foxeslovelemons.com

Shrimp Ceviche

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Fresh, healthy and easy! This Shrimp Ceviche recipe will wow as a restaurant-quality party appetizer that is so simple to make at home.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound 51-60 count peeled and deveined shrimp
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon lime zest
  • 1 large tomato, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped peeled cucumber
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons seeded and minced jalapeño
  • Lime wedges for garnish (optional)
  • Tortilla chips for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. In medium bowl, combine shrimp and 1/2 cup each lemon and lime juice. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to overnight, stirring at least 2 or 3 times.
  2. In small bowl, whisk together oil, sugar, paprika, salt, lemon and lime zest, and remaining 2 tablespoons each lemon and lime juice.
  3. Just before serving, pour excess liquid off of shrimp mixture. Add tomato, cilantro, cucumber, onion, jalapeño and oil mixture; toss to combine. Serve immediately garnished with lime wedges, with tortilla chips, if desired.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 128Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 284mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g

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Fresh, healthy and easy! This Shrimp Ceviche recipe will wow as a restaurant-quality party appetizer that is so simple to make at home. | foxeslovelemons.com