I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of ceviche. If you’re not familiar, it’s a South American dish made with raw fish, that’s been “cooked” in a mixture of citrus juices like lemon, lime, or orange and seasoned with onion, chili peppers and herbs. The acids in the juice break down the proteins in the fish, and give it the appearance of being cooked.
The only tiny issue I have with ceviche is that while the acid breaks down the proteins, it really doesn’t do much to kill any bacteria or toxins in the fish. So unless you are completely certain that your fish is super fresh and here’s the important part – toxin free (almost impossible to know), you may run the risk of serving up a dish of Scombroid or Ciguatera poisoning V. cholera, Vibrio Infection, or if you’re really lucky- Diphyllobothrium latum (aka tapeworm).
Sorry to be a raw-seafood Debbie Downer, but that was my take away from all of those microbiology and food science classes I took back in the day, while I was studying to become a registered dietitian. My advice is to cook your fish – ALWAYS and especially if you are pregnant or have a compromised immune system. I know it’s hard to not be the cool and adventurous kid when you’re out at a trendy Peruvian restaurant or for sushi, but believe me, I’ve had seafood poisoning (from cooked, not even raw fish) and it’s quite unpleasant.
OK, now that I’m off the raw fish soapbox, let me tell you about my version of ceviche. Actually, I found this recipe a while ago in Food & Wine magazine, and adapted it slightly. It’s made with super fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables – please wash them, because even they can harbor bacteria – and it’s light and refreshing just like the original ceviche, but completely vegan.
This summer harvest ceviche is a perfect side dish with grilled fish, or you can keep it vegetarian by adding some quinoa and black beans for protein.
Summer Harvest Ceviche
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups frozen corn - thawed
- 1 cup frozen edemame - thawed
- 2 nectarines cut into thin wedges
- 1 large red pepper seeded and cut into thin strips
- 1 ripe avocado pitted and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes sliced in half
- 1 small shallot thinly sliced
- 1 scallion thinly sliced
- 1 jalapeño pepper seeded and thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup loosely packed cilantro chopped (save for garnish)
Dressing
- juice of 1 lime
- juice of 1/2 orange
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together ingredients for dressing in a small bowl or measuring cup and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine nectarines and all vegetables. Toss well to combine. Pour dressing over salad and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow flavors to blend.
- Add cilantro before serving, adjust seasonings as necessary.
Notes
Have you ever gotten sick from raw seafood? Hopefully not!
Eat well!
This sounds so fresh and perfect for summer! I’ve never tried real ceviche with fish, but I think I would prefer this much more to the real thing since I’m vegetarian.
Thanks Genevieve! This is definitely a better way to go if you’re vegetarian 🙂
Gorgeous plate of veggie ceviche! And, so funny b/c this morning while I was lying in bed I was just thinking that I wanted to make some ceviche-seriously 🙂 Although I do love the fish version, your veggie twist is super fun!
Thanks EA! I love an RD who lays in bed thinking about healthy dinners 🙂
What a pretty bowl of veggies! Looks so light and refreshing, perfect for a hot summer day.
Thanks for visiting Jessica! This is definitely perfect for a hot day 🙂