Spicy Ceviche Recipe

Many Latin American countries like ceviche for its fresh flavors and zesty bite.  Spicy ceviche may become your new favorite meal if you like seafood and pungent spices.  I’ll show you how to make spicy ceviche at home today.  This tasty recipe will test your culinary skills from choosing the freshest ingredients to balancing heat and tanginess.

What Is Ceviche And What Makes It Spicy?

Ceviche is a popular Latin American dish made from raw fish or seafood marinated in citrus juices, typically lime or lemon, which “cooks” the seafood. It’s often mixed with ingredients like onions, cilantro, tomatoes, and sometimes avocado. 

The spiciness in ceviche usually comes from the addition of chili peppers, such as jalapeños, serranos, or habaneros, which give the dish its signature heat. The level of spiciness can vary depending on the type and amount of peppers used, balancing the freshness of the citrus with the heat from the chilies.

Ingredients For Spicy Ceviche At Home

Making a delicious spicy ceviche at home is quite simple and requires fresh ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of the essential components:

Cooked Seafood Mix 1 ½ Pounds

Cooked seafood mix typically includes shrimp, scallops, squid, and mussels, lightly steamed or boiled. It offers a tender, juicy texture and mild briny flavor, perfect for absorbing the tangy, spicy marinade in ceviche.

Lime Juice 1 Cup

Fresh lime juice adds a zesty, citrusy punch to ceviche, enhancing flavors while naturally “cooking” the seafood. Its bright acidity balances the heat from spices, creating a refreshing and tangy taste in every bite.

Roma (Plum) Tomatoes 2 

Roma (Plum) tomatoes bring a firm texture and rich, slightly sweet flavor to ceviche. Their low water content ensures a hearty bite, while their vibrant red color enhances the dish’s visual appeal and freshness.

Red Onion 1 Small

Red onion adds a crisp texture and a sharp, slightly sweet flavor to ceviche. Its vibrant color enhances presentation, while its mild pungency complements the citrusy marinade and balances the dish’s spicy kick.

Worcestershire Sauce 2 Tablespoons

Worcestershire sauce adds a deep umami flavor to ceviche, balancing the tangy lime juice with its savory, slightly sweet, and mildly spiced notes. It enhances the seafood’s taste, creating a richer, more complex flavor profile.

Hot Pepper Sauce 1 Tablespoon 

Hot pepper sauce brings a fiery kick to ceviche, enhancing its bold flavors with spicy, tangy, and slightly smoky notes. A few drops add depth and heat, balancing the citrusy marinade and fresh seafood taste.

Tomato Paste 2 Tablespoons

Tomato paste adds a rich, concentrated tomato flavor to ceviche, enhancing its depth and slight sweetness. It blends smoothly into the marinade, providing a vibrant color and a hint of umami to balance the citrusy acidity.

Cayenne Pepper 1 ½ Teaspoons 

Cayenne pepper adds a bold, spicy heat to ceviche, enhancing its depth with a warm, lingering kick. It’s fine texture blends seamlessly into the marinade, balancing the citrusy acidity with a vibrant, fiery touch.

Ground Cumin ½ Teaspoon 

Ground cumin adds a warm, earthy depth to ceviche, enhancing its savory notes with a hint of smokiness. Its subtle spice balances the citrusy acidity, creating a well-rounded flavor profile with a touch of richness.

Chili Powder ½ Teaspoon

Chili powder adds a bold, smoky heat to ceviche, enhancing its depth with a warm, spicy kick. Its blend of dried chilies and spices balances the citrusy acidity, creating a vibrant and well-rounded flavor.

Salt 1 Teaspoon

Salt enhances the natural flavors of ceviche, balancing the acidity of lime juice and the heat from spices. It brings out the seafood’s freshness while tying all ingredients together for a well-rounded, flavorful dish.

Cilantro 1 Bunch 

Cilantro adds a fresh, citrusy brightness to ceviche, enhancing its flavor with herbal and slightly peppery notes. Its vibrant green color and aromatic essence balance the dish’s acidity and spice, creating a refreshing taste.

 Avocado 1       

Avocado adds a creamy, buttery texture to ceviche, balancing the acidity and spice with its mild, nutty flavor. Its richness complements the fresh ingredients, creating a smooth contrast to the tangy, zesty marinade.

Essential Equipments For Spicy Ceviche At Home

To make spicy ceviche at home, you’ll need a few essential tools. 

1. Sharp Knife: Essential for finely chopping fish and vegetables.
2. Non-reactive Bowl: A glass or ceramic bowl is ideal for marinating to avoid any metallic taste.
3. Citrus Juicer: Helps extract juice from limes or lemons efficiently for the marinade.
4. Cutting Board: Provides a stable surface for chopping ingredients like fish, onions, and chili peppers.
5. Mixing Spoon: Used for gently tossing the ceviche ingredients together without damaging the seafood. These tools ensure your ceviche is prepared with the right texture and flavor balance.

Step-By-Step Guide: Making Spicy Ceviche At Home

• Combine the seafood mixture and lime juice in a large, non-metal bowl. 
• Give it ten minutes to sit. 
• After adding the chopped tomatoes and onion, cover and refrigerate for half an hour. 
• In a small bowl, combine tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, and salt. 
• Add the hot pepper sauce and Worcestershire sauce and whisk. 
• Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Stir half of the tomato paste mixture into the fish mixture after 30 minutes.
• Cover the remaining combination of tomato paste and fish. 
• return them to the refrigerator for half an hour.
• Once another half hour has passed, add the remaining tomato paste mixture, stir gently, cover, and refrigerate for another half hour.
• Add the chopped avocado and cilantro to the ceviche and stir gently before serving.

Best Sides And Drinks To Pair With Spicy Ceviche

To pair with spicy ceviche, try light and refreshing sides. Tortilla chips or crispy plantain chips provide a crunchy contrast to the ceviche’s texture, while slices of cucumber or a tangy mango salsa offer a cool, sweet balance to the spice. A fresh avocado salad or a simple corn salad with lime and cilantro enhances the flavor. For heartier options, warm tortillas or rice work well to soak up the marinade.

For drinks, a light beer like a lager or pale ale pairs well, cutting through the spice with its crispness. Classic cocktails like a Pisco Sour or Margarita complement the citrusy and spicy notes of ceviche. For a non-alcoholic option, try a citrus-infused sparkling water or tropical fruit juices like pineapple or guava, which provide a sweet and refreshing contrast to the dish’s heat.

Final Words

This spicy ceviche recipe brings marine flavors to your table.  Fresh fish marinated in citrus liquids and spicy seasonings will delight your taste senses.  Seafood lovers should try this Spicy Ceviche Recipe for a party or a refreshing lunch.  This vivid and tasty dish will enhance your cooking skills and impress your guests!

FAQs

How Long Should You Marinate Ceviche For The Perfect Flavor?

For the perfect flavor, marinate ceviche for 15 to 30 minutes if using small, delicate seafood like shrimp or fish. This allows the lime juice to “cook” the seafood while maintaining a fresh, tender texture. For a firmer bite, marinate for up to one hour, but avoid over-marinating (beyond 2 hours), as the seafood can become mushy or too firm. Adjust the marination time based on seafood type and personal preference for texture and flavor balance.

Best Types Of Fish And Seafood For Spicy Ceviche

For spicy ceviche, use firm, mild-flavored fish like snapper, sea bass, halibut, mahi-mahi, or tilapia, which hold up well in citrus marinade. For seafood, shrimp, scallops, squid, and octopus work great, offering a tender, juicy texture. Avoid oily fish like salmon or mackerel, as they can overpower the fresh, tangy flavors. Choose the freshest seafood possible to ensure the best taste and texture in your spicy ceviche.