Ceviche

Peruvian ceviche
Course	Main course, appetizer
Place of origin	Peru[1][2][3][4](see text).
Serving temperature	Cold; cooked or raw (marinated)
Main ingredients	Fish (food), lemon, onion, chili pepper

Ceviche^[5] (Spanish pronunciation: [θe̞β̞itʃe̞], also spelled cebiche, or seviche, [se̞β̞itʃe̞])^[6][7] is a seafood dish popular in the coastal regions of the Americas, especially Central and South America. ^[2] The dish is typically made from fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juices such as lemon or lime and spiced with chili peppers. Additional seasonings such as onion, salt, coriander/cilantro, and pepper may also be added. Ceviche is usually accompanied by side dishes that complement its flavors such as sweet potato, lettuce, corn, or avocado.^[8][9][10] As the dish is not cooked with heat, it must be prepared fresh to minimize the risk of food poisoning^[11]. Actually is safer to prepare it with frozen or blast frozen fish due to Anisakis.

The origin of ceviche is disputed. Possible origin sites for the dish include the western coast of north-central South America,^[12] or in Central America.^[2][3] Other coastal societies such as the Polynesian islands of the south Pacific are also attributed the invention of the plate.^[13] The Spanish, who brought from Europe citrus fruits such as lime,^[14] could have also originated the plate with roots in Moorish cuisine.^[10] However, the most likely origin of the plate lies in the area of present-day Peru.^[1][4]

Along with an archaeological record that suggests the consumption of a food similar to ceviche nearly 2,000 years ago,^[8] historians believe the predecessor to the dish was brought to Peru by Moorish women from Granada who accompanied the Spanish conquistadors and colonizers, and this dish eventually evolved into what now is considered ceviche.^[4][15] Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio further explains that the dominant position that Lima held through four centuries as the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru allowed for popular plates such as ceviche to be brought to other Spanish colonies in the region, and that in time they became a part of local cuisine by incorporating regional flavors and styles.^[16]

Ceviche is nowadays a popular international dish prepared in a variety of ways throughout the Americas, reaching the United States in the 1980s.^[1] The greatest variety of ceviches are found in Peru, Ecuador, and Chile; but other distinctly unique styles can also be found in coastal El Salvador, Guatemala, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Panama, the Caribbean, and several other nations.^[1][8]

Etymology

The Royal Spanish Academy, the official institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language, claims that the name for ceviche might derive from the Spanish-Arabic word assukkabáǧ, which itself derives from the Arabic word sakbāj (سكباج) meaning meat cooked in vinegar.^[5][17] Historian Javier Pulgar Vidal proposes that the name ceviche comes from the Quechua term siwichi, which means fresh fish or tender fish.^[18] Gastronomist Marjorie Ross Gonzalez suggests that the term has its origin in the Latin word cibus,^[2] which translates to English as "food for men and animals."^[19]

The name of the dish may be spelled variously as cebiche, ceviche, or seviche based on regional location;^[2] all three spelling variations are accepted by the Royal Spanish Academy.^[5][6][7] Despite this, other local terms, such as cerbiche and serviche, are still used as variations to name the plate.^[10]

History

Background

Origin

In regards to the origin of the plate, there exists various explanations. According to some historic sources from Peru, ceviche would have originated among the Moche, a coastal civilization that began to flourish in the area of current-day northern Peru nearly 2000 years ago.^[8][20] The Moche apparently used the fermented juice from the local Banana passionfruit.^[21] Recent investigations further show that during the Inca Empire, fish were marinated with the use of chicha, an Andean fermented beverage. Different chronicles also report that along the Peruvian coast, prior to the arrival of Europeans, fish was consumed with salt and ají.^[20] Furthermore, this theory proposes that the natives simply switched to the citrus fruits brought by the Spanish colonists, but the main concepts of the plate remain essentially the same.^[22]

The invention of the dish is also attributed to places ranging from Central America to the Polynesian islands in the South Pacific.^{[12][2][3][13]} In Ecuador, it is believed Ceviche could have also had its origins with its coastal civilizations as both Peru and Ecuador have shared cultural heritages (such as the Inca empire) and a large variety of fish and shellfish.^[22] According to the book "Mexico One Plate At A Time" ceviche is not native to Mexico, despite the fact that the dish has been a part of traditional Mexican coastal cuisine for centuries.^[14] It is believed that the Spanish, who brought from Europe citrus fruits such as lime,^[14] could have originated the plate in Spain with roots in Moorish cuisine.^[10]

Nevertheless, most historians agree that ceviche originated during colonial times in the area of present-day Peru.^[1][4] They propose that the predecessor to the plate was brought to Peru by Moorish women from Granada who accompanied the Spaniards, and this dish eventually evolved into what nowadays is considered ceviche.^[4][15] Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio further explains that the dominant position that Lima held through four centuries as the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru allowed for popular plates such as ceviche to be brought to other Spanish colonies in the region, and that in time they became a part of local cuisine by incorporating regional flavors and styles.^[16] Other notable chefs who support the Peruvian origin of the plate include Chilean Christopher Carpentier and Spaniard Ferran Adrià, who in an interview stated that "Cebiche was born in Peru, and so the authentic and genuine [cebiche] is Peruvian."^[23][24]

Spread

Origin dispute

Preparation and variations

Ceviche is marinated in a citrus-based mixture, with lemons and limes being the most commonly used. In addition to adding flavor, the citric acid causes the proteins in the seafood to become denatured. Traditional style ceviche was marinated for about 3 hours. Modern-style ceviche, created by Peruvian chef Dario Matsufuji in the 1970s, usually has a very short marinating period. With the appropriate fish, it can marinate in the time it takes to mix the ingredients, serve, and carry the ceviche to the table. Most Latin American countries have given ceviche its own touch of individuality by adding its own particular garnishes.

Central America

In Central America, Ceviche is served in cocktail cups with tostadas, or as a tostada topping and taco filling. Shrimp, octopus, squid, tuna, and mackerel are popular bases for Mexican ceviche. The marinade ingredients include salt, lime, onion, chili peppers, avocado, and coriander (known as cilantro in the Americas). Tomatoes are often added to the preparation. According to the book "Mexico One Plate At A Time," even though the dish has been a part of traditional Mexican coastal cuisine for centuries, ceviche is not a dish native to Mexico.^[14] Despite this, Mexican ceviche has developed its own distinct styles that make it unique from other available variations .^[14]

In El Salvador the ceviche tradition is very strong. One of the most exotic ceviche recipes is "Ceviche de Concha Negra," known in Mexico as Pata de Mula or "The Black Clam." It is dark, nearly black, with a distinct look and flavor. Ceviche is prepared with Lime juice, onion, yerba buena, salt, pepper,tomato, Worcester sauce, and sometimes picante (any kind of hot sauce or any kind of hot pepper) as desired.

In Costa Rica, the dish includes marinated fish, lime juice, salt, ground black pepper, finely minced onions, cilantro and finely minced peppers. It is usually served in a cocktail glass with a lettuce leaf and soda crackers on the side, as in Mexico. Popular condiments are tomato ketchup and tabasco sauce. The fish is typically tilapia or corvina, although mahi-mahi, shark and marlin are also popular. In Panama, ceviche is prepared with lemon juice, chopped onion, celery, habanero pepper, and sea salt. Ceviche de corvina (white sea bass) is very popular and is served as an appetizer in most local restaurants. It is also commonly prepared with octopus, shrimp, and squid, or served with little pastry shells called "canastitas."

Chile

In Chile, ceviche is often made with fillets of halibut or Patagonian toothfish,^[25] and marinated in lime and grapefruit juices, as well as finely minced garlic and red chili peppers^[26] and often fresh mint and cilantro are added.^[27]

Ecuador

In Ecuador, shrimp ceviche tends to be made with tomato sauce for a tangy taste. The Manabí style, made with lime juice, salt and the juice provided by the shrimp itself is very popular. Occasionally, ceviche is made with various types of local shellfish, such as black clam, oysters, spondylus, barnacles (percebes), among others. It is served in a bowl with toasted corn kernels as a side dish (fried green plantain chunks called "patacones", thinly sliced plantain chips called "chifles", and popcorn are also typical ceviche side dishes). Sea bass (corvina), octopus, and crab ceviches are also common in Ecuador. In all ceviches, lime juice and salt are ubiquitous ingredients. It is also served in a large crystal bowl with the guests helping themselves by spearing it with toothpicks.^{[citation needed]}

Peru

In Peru, ceviche has been declared to be part of Peru's "national heritage" and has even had a holiday declared in its honor.^[28] The classic Peruvian ceviche is composed of chunks of raw fish, marinated in freshly squeezed key lime or bitter orange (naranja agria) juice, with sliced onions, chili peppers, salt and pepper. Corvina or Cebo (sea bass) was the fish traditionally used. The mixture was traditionally marinated for several hours and served at room temperature with chunks of corn-on-the-cob, and slices of cooked sweet potato. Regional or contemporary variations include garlic, minced Peruvian ají limo, or the Andean chili rocoto, toasted corn or "cancha" and yuyo (seaweed). A specialty of Trujillo is ceviche prepared from shark (tollo or tojo). Lenguado (sole) is often used in Lima. The modern version of Peruvian ceviche, which is similar to the method used in making Japanese sashimi, consists of fish marinated for a few minutes and served promptly. It was created by the now deceased Peruvian-Japanese chef Dario Matsufuji, during the 1970s. Many Peruvian cevicherías serve a small glass of the marinade (as an appetizer) along with the fish, which is called leche de tigre or leche de pantera.

The Caribbean

In Cuba, ceviche is often made using mahi-mahi prepared with lime juice, salt, onion, green pepper, habanero pepper, and a touch of allspice. Squid and tuna are also popular. In Puerto Rico and other places in the Caribbean, the dish is prepared with coconut milk. In The Bahamas and south Florida, a conch ceviche known as 'conch salad' is very popular. It is prepared by marinating diced fresh conch in lime with chopped onions, celery, and bell pepper. Diced pequin pepper and/or scotch bonnet pepper is often added for spice. In south Florida, it is common to encounter a variation to which tomato juice has been added.

Potential health risks

Aside from contaminants, raw seafood can also be the vector for various pathogens, viral, bacterial, as well as larger parasitic creatures.^[29] According to the 2009 Food Code published by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), specific microbial hazards in ceviche include: Anisakis simplex, Diphyllobothrium spp., Pseudoterranova decipiens, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.^[30] Anisakiasis is a zoonotic disease caused by the ingestion of larval nematodes in raw seafood dishes such as ceviche.^[31] The Latin American cholera outbreaks in the 1990s have been attributed to the consumption of raw cholera-infested seafood that was eaten as ceviche.^[32] Other studies concluded that the lack of sanitary food supply conditions, including "unwashed fruit and vegetables, contaminated food and ice from street vendors, contaminated drinking water, and contaminated crab meat transported in luggage" caused the epidemic.^[33]

The American Dietetic Association urges women to avoid ceviche during pregnancy.^[34]

Social aspects

See also

• Escabeche, cooked, rather than raw, fish in an acidic marinade
• Kelaguen
• List of raw fish dishes

Notes

References

• Benson, Sara; Hellander, Paul; Wlodarski, Rafael (2007). Peru. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1-74059-749-4.
• Butler, Cleora (2003). Cleora's Kitchens: The Memoir of a Cook and Eight Decades of Great American Food. Council Oak Books, LLC. ISBN 1-57178-133-1.
• Harris, Jessica B. (2003). Beyond gumbo: Creole fusion food from the Atlantic Rim. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-684-87062-2.
• Meyer, Jon M.; Vann (2003). The Appetizer Atlas: A World of Small Bites. John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 0-471-41102-7.
• Peschiera, Emilio (2005). Cocina Peruana. Ediciones Granica S.A. ISBN 956-8077-30-8.
• Rodriguez, Douglas (2010-06-08). The Great Ceviche Book. Ten Speed Press. p. 3. ISBN 1-58008-107-X.
• González, Marjorie Ross; Ross, Marjorie. Entre el comal y la olla: fundamentos de gastronomía costarricense. Euned.
• "Revolución de los gustos en el Perú". Américas. General Secretariat of the Organization of American States. 2006-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

Media related to Ceviche at Wikimedia Commons