Miami Ceviche

Dave DeWitt Leave a Comment

Ceviche is made all over Central and South America, so it is no surprise that it has become popular in many Miami restaurants. The citrus marinade creates an opaque color and firm texture that mimics the effect of traditional cooking. In celebration of Miami chefs’ tendency to borrow from many different sources to create a their own recipes, I have come up with a version using the Peruvian garnish of sweet potatoes, the Ecuadorian addition of roasted corn and a combination of seafood that you are likely to find at a typical Miami table. For a glamorous touch, serve the Ceviche in martini glasses. Note: this recipe requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

  • 1/3 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1/3 pound sea scallops, thinly sliced crosswise
  • 1/3 pound tilapia or snapper fillet, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1/4 of a small red onion, sliced as thinly as possible into half moons
  • 1 jalapeno, halved lengthwise, seeded and very thinly sliced
  • Juice of 3 to 5 limes
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup sweet potato, cut into 1/2 inch pieces and boiled until just tender
  • 1/3 cup corn nuts
  • Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Instructions

Place the seafood, red onion and jalapeno in a medium bowl. Add the citrus juice, using additional lime juice to just cover the seafood, if needed. Add the pepper and gently toss the seafood mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for two and a half to three hours, or until the seafood is opaque and firm. Stir the mixture once or twice during marinating.

To serve, stir the sweet potatoes into the Ceviche mixture and spoon it into four martini glasses. Sprinkle with corn nuts and cilantro and serve.

Sweet n’ Spicy Caribbean Hot Sauce

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This sauce is wonderful on grilled chicken and firm fish like salmon. Use it as they would in Trinidad to spice up a fried shark sandwich. If you are using whole spices, grind them in a mortar or in a spice grinder. Allspice berries can be found in Latin and Caribbean markets, as well as specialty food stores. Note: this recipe requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

  • 3 dried chipotle peppers

    3 dried allspice berries, ground (or 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice)

    1 tablespoon mustard seeds, ground (or 1 tablespoon mustard powder)

    1 clove, ground (or a pinch of ground clove)

    1 teaspoon turmeric

    1/2 teaspoon red curry powder

    1 teaspoon ground black pepper

    1 tablespoon canola oil

    2 cloves garlic, minced

    1 shallot, chopped

    1/2 inch piece ginger, peeled and chopped

    5 habaneros, finely chopped

    1/2 mango, chopped

    2 tablespoons white vinegar

    3 tablespoons light brown sugar

    1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses

    1/4 cup pineapple juice

    Salt to taste

Instructions

Soak the dried chipotles in warm water for 1 hour. Drain the chipotles, reserving the soaking water. Remove the seeds, finely chop the chiles and set aside. Combine the allspice, mustard seeds, clove, turmeric, curry powder and black pepper in a small bowl and set it aside.

In a medium saucepan, heat the canola oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, shallot, ginger, chopped chipotles and spices. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine them. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Check the consistency. If you want a thinner sauce, add more pineapple juice or the chipotle soaking water. Remove the pan from the heat. If you have an immersion blender, put it directly into the saucepan and blend. I like a chunky texture for this sauce. If you are using a regular blender, be sure to leave the air hole open so steam can escape. Hold a dish towel loosely over the hole and blend to the desired consistency. Transfer the sauce to a jar and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.


Chipolte-Habanero Hot Sauce

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Jalapeno, habanero and Scotch bonnet are the most common types of fresh chiles found in Miami cuisine. Plenty of chipotles (smoked jalapenos sold both dry and canned) are used too, as well as the many other dried varieties available. Though most recipes call for some type of chile, the real source of heat in many Latin and Caribbean dishes is the hot sauce. Here, I have included two versions. The Chipotle-Habanero Sauce is a thinner, Latin-style sauce with a scorching finish, and the other is a chunky Caribbean-style version with a little sweetness to temper the heat.

Note: this recipe requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

  • 3 dried chipotle peppers
    1 tablespoon canola oil

    1 medium onion, chopped

    Salt and pepper, to taste

    1 tablespoon mustard seeds, ground in a mortar or spice grinder (or 1 tablespoon mustard powder)

    1/2 inch piece ginger, peeled and chopped

    1 clove garlic, chopped

    1/4 cup pineapple juice

    3 habanero chiles, chopped

    1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

    1 teaspoon tomato paste

    1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses

    2 tablespoons white vinegar

    1 teaspoon red curry powder

    1/2 teaspoon chile powder

Instructions

Soak the dried chipotle peppers in warm water for 1 hour. Drain the chipotles, reserving the soaking water, and finely chop.

Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper and cook until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the ground mustard seeds and chopped chipotles and cook for 2 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add the remaining ingredients, bring the contents to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat.

If you have an immersion blender, put it directly into the saucepan and run it until you reach the desired consistency. If you want a thinner sauce, add small amounts of the reserved chipotle soaking water.

If you are using a regular blender, be sure to leave the air hole open so steam can escape. Hold a dish towel loosely over the hole while blending. Puree to the desired consistency. The sauce will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week.

coconut masa

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‘Don’t use sweetened coconut flakes or the masa will become too sweet. Look for unsweetened shredded coconut in the bulk aisle at your natural foods store or in any Asian or Latin American market.’

Ingredients

ground masa, butter, sugar, vanilla, coconut milk

Instructions

Baby Banana Tamales with Coconut and Brown Sugar

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I just happened to have a bunch of baby bananas sitting on the counter one day when inspiration struck and now these are my absolute favorite tamales. The fun part is watching your guest’s faces when they dig into the tamale and find a whole banana inside. Wrapping the tamales in banana leaves gives more flavor, but use corn husks if that’s all you have.

Ingredients

1/2 recipe Coconut Masa (recipe follows)

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup brown sugar

12 baby bananas, peeled

Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Dulce de leche (recipe follows)

At least 12 (6-inch by 8-inch) pieces of banana leaf, plus more for tying

Instructions

Add the masa to a large bowl and work the raisins, chestnut puree and nutmeg into the masa.

To assemble the tamales, spread about 1/3 cup filling in the middle of a softened piece of banana leaf, press a baby banana into the masa then fold and tie it. Repeat for the remaining tamales.

Steam the tamales for 1 hour and serve hot with vanilla ice cream and Dulce de leche.