Peruvian Mixed Seafood Ceviche

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This particular ceviche is spicy because the addition of a fair amount of crushed ajís or whatever dried chiles you have available. The use of corn and sweet potatoes signal this dish as being very typically Peruvian. Serve it as an entree for lunch or dinner on those hot and sweltering days of summer. Note: This recipe requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup fresh lime juice

  • 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

  • 3 dried ají chiles, seeds and stems removed, crushed in a mortar, or substitute 2 New Mexican chiles (mild) or 6 piquins (hot)

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 1 large red onion, sliced paper thin

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 pound white fish fillets, such as catfish, cut into 1 inch pieces

  • 1 pound cleaned shellfish (clams, oysters, or mussels or a mix)

  • 1 teaspoon paprika (optional)

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, Italian preferred

  • 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch thick slices

  • 3 ears of fresh corn, cleaned and cut into 2-inch thick slices

  • 4 Bibb lettuce leaves

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients except the potatoes, corn, and lettuce a large ceramic bowl, mix well, cover tightly, and refrigerate for 3 to 5 hours. If the citrus juice doesn’t cover the fish, add more.

Just before serving, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and drop in the sweet potatoes and boil for 10 minutes. Then, add the rounds of corn to the pot and boil for another 10 minutes. Drain the vegetables thoroughly.

Drain the fish in a colander to remove the marinade and arrange the fish on the lettuce on 4 dinner plates. Garnish with the sweet potatoes and the rounds of corn.

Fried Chile Salsa

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In northern Mexico, the chiles, tomatoes, and onions are grilled before making Salsa Cruda, so why not substitute some fried vegetables? Separately frying the ingredients and flavoring with cilantro keeps this from being a pasta sauce. Serve this with chips or as a topping for grilled meat, poultry, or fish.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup olive oil (or more as needed)

  • 5 mild jalapeños, stems removed (or 2 hot ones)

  • 1 large onion, coarsely chopped

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 6 medium tomatoes, chopped and drained

  • 3 tablespoons minced cilantro

  • ½ teaspoon Mexican oregano

  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (or more to taste)

Instructions

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil until hot and fry the jalapeños until their skins start to blister and brown. Remove them from the heat and drain on paper towels. While they are cooling, add the onion and garlic to the oil and fry for 1 minute. Remove, drain on paper towels, and place in a bowl. Add the tomatoes to the olive oil and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring well. Remove, drain on paper towels, and add to the onions.

Peel the jalapeños, cut in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds. Chop the jalapeños and add them to the onions and tomatoes. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well. Serve at room temperature.

Chiles and Garlic Fried in Oil

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This is a Greek dish that is served as an appetizer with a loaf of French bread. The diners tear off pieces of the bread and spread the chiles and garlic over it. This dish has big, bold flavors, so it is not for the timid consumers.

Ingredients

  • 2 red bell peppers, stems and seeds removed, sliced into 1/4-inch rings

  • 3 yellow wax hot chiles, stems on

  • 3 jalapeños, stems on

  • 6 small onions

  • 10 cloves garlic, peeled and left whole

  • 1 teaspoon crushed dill weed

  • 2 cups olive oil

Instructions

In a large skillet, place the bell peppers and chiles in a single layer. Add the rest of the ingredients and heat the skillet so that the vegetables begin to fry. Turn once and fry for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible level, cover the skillet and allow to cook until all vegetables are very soft, 45 minutes to an hour. Remove the vegetables to a bowl and mash the vegetables together, removing any skins of the chiles.

Pimientos de Padron

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These are small, horn-shaped, conical chiles with a heat level that is usually mild, with about one in five pods spicy. Substitute mild jalapeños or serranos.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 12 pimientos de Padrón or mild jalapeños, stems removed

  • Sea or rock salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil hot. Add the chiles and fry, stirring well, until they blister and start to turn brown.

Remove them from the pan and remove the skins by scraping with a small knife. Return them to the pan and fry for 1 minute, stirring well.

Remove the chiles from the pan, drain on paper towels, place in a bowl and add salt and pepper to taste. Stir or toss the chiles to cover.

Grilled Crab-Stuffed Cherry Peppers

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‘This recipe is reminiscent of the wonderful canned stuffed jalapeños from Mexico–in fact, this recipe works with pickled jalapeños as well.’

Ingredients

cream cheese, milk, crab meat, garlic salt, cilantro

Instructions

We don’t usually think about grilling pickled peppers, but for some reason they turn out great. Just remember not to over-grill the peppers or they may blacken on the outside. Note that although some commercial cherry peppers are called “hot” by the manufacturers, they are usually rather mild. This recipe is reminiscent of the wonderful canned stuffed jalapeños from Mexico–in fact, this recipe works with pickled jalapeños as well.

The Peppers

  • 12 pickled “hot” cherry peppers

Crab Filling

  • 1 ½ tablespoons cream cheese

  • 1 teaspoon milk

  • 3 tablespoons crab meat (canned works fine)

  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro

  • 4 teaspoons dried bread crumbs

Cut out the stems and core the chiles. The opening should be wide enough to fill. The tip of a vegetable peeler works well for this chore.

In a bowl, combine all the ingredients for the filling and mix well. Stuff the cherry peppers with the filling and thread on wooden skewers that have been soaked in water. Be sure to thread the peppers so that the filling side is up.

Grill over a medium fire for about 3 to 4 minutes until hot, and do not turn or the filling could fall out.

Yield: 6 servings

Heat Scale: Mild

Serves 4.