Shrimp Ceviche Recipe - iFoodReal.com (2024)

Easy Shrimp Ceviche Recipe with raw or cooked shrimp that is cool, zesty, and refreshing. Dip into shrimp ceviche with tortilla chips, spread on a tostada shell or add to tacos.

Our other family shrimp favorites include these shrimp tacos, shrimp tostadas and grilled shrimp skewers.

Shrimp Ceviche Recipe - iFoodReal.com (1)

Table of Contents

  • Easy Shrimp Ceviche Recipe
  • What Is Shrimp Ceviche?
  • How to Make Shrimp Ceviche with Raw Shrimp
  • How to Make Shrimp Ceviche with Cooked Shrimp
  • How to Juice Limes Properly
  • How Long Does It Last?
  • What to Serve Shrimp Ceviche With?
  • Variations
  • FAQs
  • More Shrimp Recipes to Try
  • Best Ever Shrimp Ceviche Recipe Recipe

Easy Shrimp Ceviche Recipe

Shrimp ceviche is one of those high end healthy appetizers I never order in a restaurant because it is soooo expensive. Ha, truth be told we barely even go to restaurants except for sushi.

I used to wait all year round for our yearly all-inclusive vacation to eat my fair share of Mexican shrimp ceviche. No more.

Shrimp ceviche recipe is so easy to make at home. Once you get over a fear of “eating raw seafood” you will keep making ceviche with shrimp all summer long.

And to clarify, you will not eat raw shrimp as lime juice will “cook” it. You can also use cooked shrimp, no problem.

This is the best shrimp ceviche recipe that is cool, zesty and refreshing. A must have for summer! Let’s do it!

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What Is Shrimp Ceviche?

What is shrimp ceviche? I will explain in my own words. Ceviche is raw seafood “cooked” in lime juice for a few hours. Then mixed with traditional flavors like jalapeno, cilantro, red onion, avocado, tomato etc.

I can guarantee you there are a million variations of a shrimp salsa recipe. Ceviche cocktail with clamato juice, hot sauce and ketchup. With addition of cucumber or mango. And so on.

For today’s easy shrimp ceviche recipe all you need is shrimp, limes, red onion, tomato, avocado, cilantro, jalapeno, salt and pepper.

I like to share it as a seafood salsa type of dish alongside other salsa recipes like pico de gallo, fresh peach salsa or strawberry mango salsa, and even salsa guacamole!

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How to Make Shrimp Ceviche with Raw Shrimp

Here is how to make shrimp ceviche recipe step-by-step in photos. You can find full recipe card below.

I buy small peeled, deveined and tails off raw shrimp because it is the cheapest. You can also add crab and scallops if you happen to have them on hand.

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  • Place 1 pound of shrimp in a large bowl and cover with warm tap water. Let shrimp thaw for 10 minutes.
  • Drain and give shrimps a gentle squeeze.
  • Cut small shrimp in half lengthwise and large shrimp into 4 long stripes.
  • Then dice the shrimp. You want small pieces of shrimp with each bite.
Shrimp Ceviche Recipe - iFoodReal.com (5)
  • Pour fresh lime juice over diced shrimp in a bowl and stir.
  • Refrigerate shrimp mixture in acidic marinade for 1.5-2 hours or until pink and opaque.
  • Your shrimp is now “cooked” and ready to be combined with other ingredients to make homemade ceviche.

How to Make Shrimp Ceviche with Cooked Shrimp

If you are not “brave” enough to make raw shrimp ceviche, make cooked shrimp ceviche. No worries, no judgement here. I was the same until a few weeks ago. Until I saw how perfectly lime juice cooks the shrimp. It was pink after sitting in acid for 1.5 hours!

Many will say ceviche with cooked shrimp is not authentic ceviche but that’s OK. Marinate cooked shrimp in lime juice for only 15 minutes. That’s the only difference.

How to Juice Limes Properly

OK, friends. You can use a shortcut with cooked shrimp but don’t even think about bottled lime juice. It is not the same taste plus a ton of preservatives. Yikes.

You need 3/4 cup fresh lime juice. That’s about 6-8 large limes depending how fresh, juicy and big your limes are.

To juice limes:

Shrimp Ceviche Recipe - iFoodReal.com (6)
  • Roll limes on a cutting board pressing with your hand. Helps to release juice from the flesh.
  • Cut limes in halves.
  • Squeeze juice using this squeezer. Limes are not lemons. I find lemon rimmer doesn’t work as well.
  • You should end up with 3/4 cup lime juice. Discard the skins.

How Long Does It Last?

After you stir everything together, let Mexican shrimp ceviche marinate for 15 minutes. There are several salads that taste so much better with a bit of marinating time like this healthy shrimp salad, Kani salad and more!

I adjust salt and pepper to taste after taste testing shrimp ceviche with a chip. You have to take into consideration that all tortilla chips have different levels of sodium.

Homemade shrimp ceviche will keep fresh in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

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What to Serve Shrimp Ceviche With?

With tortilla chips. Our favorite are organic Kirkland tortilla chips. They are lower in sodium and seem to be not as oily. Set out for your guests or family as a dip.

Spread on a tostada. You can even make your own healthy tostada shells at home that can be used with any Mexican dish. So much better than store bought. Essentially tostada is a giant tortilla chip.

In tacos. If you are making fish tacos recipe or any veggie tacos, top with ceviche. Or just make shrimp ceviche tacos!

Variations

The beauty of shrimp ceviche recipe is that you can make it your own by adding seafood, vegetables and even fruit up to your tastes. Of course, it would not be an authentic ceviche but I am sure it will taste good either way.

  • Other seafood: Replace some of the shrimp with small pieces of firm white fish, scallops, crab or octopus.
  • Lemon juice: Use half fresh lemon juice and half fresh lime juice for more refreshing flavor.
  • Add fresh vegetables or fruit: Like diced cucumber, red bell pepper, green onion, serrano chile pepper, mango or pineapple.
  • Make Mexican shrimp ceviche: By adding traditional Mexican spice, Tajin.
  • Clamato: Add a bit of clamato to taste to cooked shrimp ceviche.

FAQs

Can you freeze shrimp ceviche?

I don’t recommend to freeze shrimp ceviche. It has vegetables and fruit which will become soggy and discolored when thawed.

What shrimp to use for ceviche?

Use the most affordable shrimp as you will dice it anyways. The smaller shrimp size, the cheaper it is. I used raw peeled and deveined shrimp with tail on, 31-40 count per pound. You can also make ceviche recipe with cooked shrimp. Please see above for instructions.

Where is shrimp ceviche from?

Ceviche is a Latin American dish that originated in Peru. However, it is popular in many coastal regions of western South America.

How long should ceviche be marinated?

Marinate ceviche with raw shrimp for 1.5 hours or until pink, and ceviche with cooked shrimp for 15 minutes.

Is it safe to eat raw shrimp ceviche?

Citrus juice is an acid and an agent of denaturation. It breaks down proteins in shrimp making it opaque in color and of firm texture. This method to cook shrimp for ceviche has been used for centuries.

However, from my research experts do not always agree and I recommend to consume it at your own risk. If you are not convinced, just use cooked shrimp or quickly poach the shrimp.

More Shrimp Recipes to Try

  • Shrimp avocado salad
  • Shrimp stir fry
  • Air fryer shrimp
  • Shrimp spaghetti
  • Bang bang shrimp tacos
  • Bang bang shrimp

You might also want to peruse through all of my shrimp recipes and Mexican inspired dishes!

Shrimp Ceviche Recipe - iFoodReal.com (8)

Best Ever Shrimp Ceviche Recipe

Best ever Shrimp Ceviche Recipe with raw or cooked shrimp that is cool, zesty and refreshing. Dip into shrimp ceviche with tortilla chips, spread on a tostada or add to tacos.

5 from 46 votes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 110

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Marinating Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Print RecipeSave RecipeRate Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

  • If using frozen shrimp, add it to a medium bowl and cover with warm tap water. Let thaw for 10 minutes.

  • In the meanwhile, squeeze juice from limes and add to a large bowl. Please do not use bottled juice.

  • Drain shrimp and give it a gentle squeeze. Dice it and add to the bowl with lime juice.

  • Marinate: Cooked shrimp for 15 minutes; raw shrimp for 1.5 hours or until opaque and pink. Acid will "cook" the shrimp.

  • While shrimp is marinating, dice tomato, avocado, red onion, cilantro and jalapeno and add to another bowl. Refrigerate if making ceviche with raw shrimp. I also recommend to dice avocado right before combining shrimp with veggies to avoid brown avocado.

  • Add vegetables to the bowl with shrimp, stir and add salt and pepper to taste. Remember tortilla chips are salty. So I would salt after the taste test with a chip.

  • Serve cold with chips, on a tostada and even in tacos.

Video

Notes

  • Store: Refrigerate covered for up to 2 days. Do not freeze.

Nutrition

Calories: 110kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 444mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Mexican

Author: Olena Osipov

Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!

Categories:
Appetizer Recipes, Cuisine, Dips, Easy, Gluten Free Recipes, Mexican, Seafood, Shrimp Recipes, Video

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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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Shrimp Ceviche Recipe - iFoodReal.com (2024)

FAQs

How long should ceviche marinate before eating? ›

After marinating for 10 to 15 minutes, the fish's exterior will start to firm up, while the center will remain tender and moist—this is medium-rare. Let it sit for 15 to 25 minutes for medium, and 25 minutes for medium-well.

How long does shrimp stay in lime juice? ›

Stir in 2 finely chopped shallots. Make sure the shrimp is covered well with the citrus juice. If your shrimp isn't well covered, transfer to a smaller bowl or add more juice. Cover the bowl and set in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Can I make ceviche with frozen shrimp? ›

Yes, you can use frozen shrimp for this recipe (in fact, most "fresh" shrimp you buy at the market is actually defrosted frozen shrimp), but you'll need to thaw it first.

How long does ceviche take to cook in lime juice? ›

The fish will begin to cook immediately, however, because citrus is acidic it is not being being cooked by heat but the citrus juice from the lime. This process will take anywhere from 15-20 minutes. You can leave in the lime juice longer as it will cook the fish more thoroughly. Overcooking isn't an issue.

What is the best fish to use for ceviche? ›

When it comes to making ceviche, you'll want to find high-quality fresh, flaky white fish. We used halibut in this recipe, but redfish, mahi-mahi, snapper, trout, and cod are all really good choices too.

How to tell when ceviche is done? ›

The “cook time” for ceviche depends on how tender you want the fish to be and how big the pieces are. But the general rule is to marinate for at least 20 to 30 minutes and no more than 4 hours. Here are a few notes to go by: 30 Minutes: The fish will be mostly opaque and a bit more “cooked” yet still tender.

Can I use grocery store shrimp for ceviche? ›

Key Ingredients in Easy Shrimp Ceviche

Peeled and deveined raw medium shrimp: Unless you're buying shrimp fresh off the boat, it's most likely been frozen at some point. Frozen shrimp is the best choice because you can find them already peeled and deveined in the frozen aisle at most grocery stores.

Is it okay to eat raw shrimp in ceviche? ›

Can You Eat Raw Shrimp in Ceviche? Yes, it is completely safe to use raw shrimp in ceviche. The acidity in the lime cooks the shrimp, so you're not actually eating raw shrimp at all. You can even watch the shrimp turn from raw and translucent to perfectly cooked and opaque in the bowl!

Is ceviche healthy for you? ›

According to health professionals, ceviche may be an effective weight-loss choice. It is low in fat and calories but has a lot of protein. One must also consider the health benefits of the vegetables used in ceviche. Because they are rich in antioxidants, veggies can assist in the battle against free radicals.

Can I use bottled lime juice for ceviche? ›

Bottled lemon and lime juice are safe to use for ceviche. The acids in them will "cook" the fish. However, we don't recommend using bottled juice because this simple recipe's success comes from the freshness of the ingredients. Bottled citrus simply doesn't compare to freshly squeezed lemons and limes.

Can you use supermarket fish for ceviche? ›

The ONLY fish you should use for ceviche is sashimi-grade fish that is suitable for raw consumption. It is not enough to just buy “fresh fish” from the stores – this usually just means it hasn't been frozen then thawed. It does not mean it's fresh enough to eat raw.

Should ceviche be raw in the middle? ›

One of the joys of really great ceviche is the contrast between the exterior and the center of the fish. "Consider each slice of fish to be like a little steak. You want a well-cooked exterior layer, but plenty of rare to medium-rare meat in the center."

Can ceviche marinate too long? ›

Getting perfectly fresh fish (and it must be perfectly fresh), and knowing exactly how long to let it marinate. Eat it too soon, and you end up with fish that's nearly raw. Let it sit too long, and your fish turns dry and chalky as the acid works its way into the flesh.

How long does ceviche take to cure? ›

Depending on the size of the fish pieces, you will need at least 30 minutes and normally an hour for the citrus to “cook” the fish. Two hours is fine, but beyond that the ceviche, while still good, becomes more of a pickled fish thing. It's a subtle difference, but you can taste it.

Do you have to eat ceviche right away? ›

Fresh ceviche is best eaten right away, but you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours. Just a note, that the fish will continue to “cook” in the juices as it sits so the fish will become tougher, but I've still enjoyed the leftovers!

How do you know if ceviche is safe? ›

Seafood and other TCS foods used in ceviche must be always held under temperature control (41 F or below) before and during acidification. After acidification, ceviche must also be date marked (to be consumed or discarded within seven days) as well as held at 41 F or below.

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