Cilantro

Shrimp Ceviche with Popcorn

January 22, 2016
4
4 Ratings
Photo by James Ransom
  • Serves 4 to 6 as an appetizer
Author Notes

I love this Ecuadorean addition of salty, crunchy popcorn to ceviche. Shrimp "cook" in the lime juice particularly well, although I have made this with firm-fleshed white fish as well as dry scallops. Ceviche is, of course, all about the freshness of the fish—so make sure that whatever you use is as fresh as you can get it. —Sara Jenkins

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Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup finely diced red onion (about 1/2 an onion)
  • Salt, to taste
  • 2 limes
  • 1 pound medium-sized fresh shrimp, peeled, deveined and cleaned
  • 1/2 fresh chili pepper, such as jalapeño or Serrano, finely minced
  • 2 ripe red tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped (should yield 1 cup); in the winter, feel free to substitute a peeled, seeded, and chopped cucumber
  • 1/3 cup finely minced cilantro
  • 1/2 cup freshly popped popcorn
Directions
  1. Place the diced onion and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Squeeze the juice of one lime over it. Finely dice the shrimp and add it to the onion.
  2. Add the chili, finely minced, and the tomato (or cucumber) and a pinch more salt. Add the cilantro and the juice of the second lime.
  3. Let the ceviche marinate for half an hour in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally. I like to serve this in small espresso cups or individual small glasses garnished with the popcorn.

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1 Review

LeBec F. January 25, 2016
Nice job, sj! I had NO idea Ecuadoreans put popcorn in things. But Jose Andres in D.C. at Cafe Atlantico- puts crushed Corn Nuts in his tuna ceviche with coconut milk, scallions, lime... I love crunchy textures used as counterpoints to dishes- like pan-toasted cooked quinoa, or pickled mustard seeds...