This ceviche with potato and pea shoot salad is fresh, healthy and delicious. It's easy to make and makes a great appetizer or lunch.
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Whenever I have ceviche, it still takes me back to sitting in Lima, Peru, overlooking the ocean. But even without those memories, it's a dish anyone can enjoy. It's really easy to prepare and full of fresh, citrus flavors. A wonderful start to any meal.
A number of years ago now, I arranged that when I moved a new job, I had a two week break before getting stuck in to the new role. I didn't have masses of time to organize things but I fairly quickly decided to take a tour around Peru. It's somewhere that had been on my bucket list for ages and I loved every minute of it.
It's a fantastic place and I got to see some amazing sites and try some delicious foods. Plus the group on my tour was great - I say 'tour' in the loosest terms possible as I can't do fully guided tours, especially having been a tour guide in a past life myself. I liked it so much, in fact, that I went back a couple years later - partly to hike the Inca Trail that I hadn't managed by being so last minute the first time.
What is ceviche?
One of the many dishes I loved from the trip was ceviche. It's basically fish quick-cured in citrus juice, usually with chili of some kind in there too and sometimes other additions.
It's such a simple dish but delicious combination, as long as your fish is fresh of course, and one I am still drawn to if I see it in restaurants. For whatever reason, though, I don't make it often at home but I think I might have to change that after making this recently.
It's such a fresh-tasting dish that while it's not strictly-speaking a spring dish, it has that feeling of welcoming in the warm weather. In-keeping with the spring theme, I decided to serve it here with a simple salad of potatoes and pea shoots.
The flavor of ceviche is quite delicate so you don't want it with anything too overpowering so this lightly-dressed salad is perfect. A couple slices of avocado in the little stack I made, and you have an appetizer (or light lunch) that's fresh, healthy, and looks and tastes fantastic.
How to make this ceviche with potato salad
Ceviche is really easy to make, as you might have guessed by now. All you do is chop up the fish, then put it in a bowl with lemon and lime juice, chili and garlic. There are other variations on it, but this simple mix works well. Leave the acidic mix to 'cook' the fish - it will go transparent.
Meanwhile, make the salad which is simply cooked potatoes diced up with pea shoots, chopped up fairly small, and a little lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Simple but it all works so well together.
Everything in here is pretty light so it works well as an appetizer, but you could also just as easily bulk it out a little maybe with a green salad for a lunch. However you choose to have it, ceviche is one of those things to savor. The flavors are delicate but delicious. It's something that brings back great memories for me, but even without that, it's still delicious. Give it a try and you'll see what I mean.
Try these other tasty raw dishes:
- Salmon tartare
- Beef carpaccio with truffle vinaigrette
- Tiradito -a Peruvian fusion dish combining sashimi with a lime-chili sauce
- Scallop ceviche
- Shrimp ceviche toastadas
- Plus get more inspiration in the appetizer recipes archives.
Ceviche with potato and pea shoot salad
Ingredients
- 7 oz flounder 200g, approx, or other white sea fish such as bass or sole
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 chili
- 1 clove garlic small
For the salad
- 8 oz potatoes 250g, smaller new potatoes are best
- 1 oz pea shoots 30g
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- salt and pepper
- ½ avocado approx
Instructions
- Remove any skin from the fish and dice in around ½in/1cm pieces. Put it in a bowl with the lemon and lime juice, chili and garlic and set aside for a minimum of 20min but more may be better, depending on the fish (if over around 20min, refrigerate). It will go transparent both on the outside and further through the fish as it is ready.
- Meanwhile make the salad - boil the potatoes until tender (around 8-10min depending on size of potatoes). Drain and allow to cool.
- Dice the potatoes relatively small, around ¼in/1/2cm. Chop the pea shoots into small pieces and place both in a bowl with the olive oil, lemon juice and some salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Peel and thinly slice the avocado.
- Layer up the salad, using a large cookie cutter or similar as a mould. Start with a layer of potato salad, then a layer of avocado slices and topped with the ceviche. Remove the mould carefully and serve.
Nutrition
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Petra says
What a lovely spring dish, the flavours sounds perfect and who can resist pea shoots?! 🙂 beautiful!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Petra, I agree pea shoots are great and work really well here.
Judi Graber says
Actually this is a dish I have never tried but I do love fish. Your pea shoots remind me that I have seeds I need to start so I can grow my own to garnish different recipes. Thanks for bringing some memories from your trip to Peru with Fiesta Friday. Nice presentation too!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Judi - I really should grow some pea shoots myself some time!
Kaila (GF Life 24/7) says
Yum! While ceviche may be easy to make, I love how you combined it with the potatoes and pea shoot salad. I must admit that in a former life the avocado would have been an odd flavor to me. (Just because I didn't grow up with it.) But after living in Australia for a bit, I can see how it contributes a bit of balance to the dish. We eat a lot of avocados here! Your presentation is stunning too! Happy FF!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks so much Kaila. I can understand if you weren't used to avocados but glad you agree it works well (and they're great too!)
Christie says
Ceviche is something I'm afraid to branch out and make, but I have new confidence with this recipe. I can't wait to try it!!
Caroline's Cooking says
That's so nice of you to say, Christie, I hope you give t a try!
Monica says
What a stunning dish! Love ceviche...I have a friend from Peru and she makes it all the time. I may have to step up and try this.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Monica, I hope you give it a try, it really is easy!
Meaghan says
What a beautiful dish! I absolutely love ceviche but have not had the courage to make it at home before, but I think following your recipe I am going to have to change that.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Meaghan, it's not difficult you just need good fish as a base. I hope you enjoy.
Eileen says
This looks so light and tasty. I don't really make ceviche at home, and after seeing this beautiful dish I can't think why.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Eileen, I haven't really either but think I should more making this!
Kimberlie R says
You can't get more spring than citrusy fish and pea shoots. I really enjoyed reading your story about Peru a nd the Inca Trail. Nice post!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks so much Kimberlie, glad you enjoyed and I agree, they're great spring flavors.
Renee @ReneesKitchenAdventures says
Pea shoots are so good. I'm always excited when I can get them at the market (which is pretty rare). What a great recipe!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Renee, I agree I really like pea shoots. They seem to be becoming more common here at least, just not always obvious if you are not looking.