We met some delightful people today at a fun gathering back in my hometown. While enjoying some good conversation and some yummy food, which included fresh guacamole, salsa, shrimp and grilled smoked tofu, I learned that you can cook shrimp without using heat.And it's not just limited to shrimp. It's called ceviche.
Ceviche is a citrus-marinaded seafood. When you place seafood in a mixture of lime juice (lemon juice can also be used), the citric acid causes the proteins in the seafood to pickle or "cook" the fish without heat. With the appropriate fish, it can marinate in the time it takes to mix the ingredients and carry the ceviche to the table.
Shrimp, octopus, squid, tuna and mackerel are popular bases for Mexican ceviche. The marinade ingredients include lime, salt, onion, chile, avocado and cilantro.
This sounds like a science experiment I have got to try.
Sounds interesting. Although after researching it further, I found this note in a recipe:
ReplyDeleteWhile the acidic marinade "cooks" the proteins, it doesn't kill the bacteria. Whereas this isn't as much of an issue with raw fish (think sushi, sashimi), it is with shellfish like shrimp and scallops which can go bad much more easily.
They suggest pre-cooking shellfish.