Ceviche

Ceviche () is a Peruvian dish typically made from fresh raw fish cured in fresh citrus juices, most commonly lime or lemon. It is also spiced with '' ají'', chili peppers or other seasonings, and julienned red onions, salt, and cilantro are also added
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Because the dish is eaten raw and not cooked with heat, it must be prepared fresh and consumed immediately to minimize the risk of food poisoning. Benson et al. ''Peru'' p. 78 Ceviche is often eaten as an appetizer; if eaten as a main dish, it is usually accompanied by side dishes that complement its flavors, such as sweet potato, lettuce, maize, avocado, or cooking banana. Harrison, ''Beyond Gumbo'', p. 85

The dish is popular in the Pacific coastal regions of western South America. González and Ross, ''Entre el comal y la olla: fundamentos de gastronomía costarricense'', p. 171 The origin of ceviche is from the ancient Moche culture, which today corresponds to the modern day country of Peru. The technique of macerating raw fish and meat in vinegar, citrus, and spices (escabeche) was brought to the Americas from Spain and is linked to the Muslim heritage in Spanish cuisine. However, archeological records suggest that something resembling ceviche may have been in western South America as early as 2,000 years ago. The dominant position Lima held through four centuries as the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru allowed for popular dishes such as ceviche to be brought to other Spanish administrative provinces in the region, and in time they became a part of local cuisine by incorporating regional flavors and styles. Revolución de los gustos en el Perú pp. 80-81

Etymology

The first documented evidence of the term is from 1820, in the song "La Chicha," sung by Peruvian soldiers.

According to the Royal Spanish Academy, the word has the same etymology as the Spanish term , which derives from Mozarabic , in turn descending from Andalusian Arabic , which also derives from Classical Arabic (, meaning meat cooked in vinegar). It is ultimately from the unattested Middle Persian , from ("vinegar") and ("soup"), which also yielded the Persian word (, a soup made with meat and vinegar).

The name of the dish is spelled variously as , , , or , but the most common spelling is ''ceviche'' with ''v'', which is an alternative spelling accepted by the Royal Spanish Academy. There are also other local variants of the name, including and .

History

Various explanations of ceviche's origin exist, with Peruvian nationalists favoring a Pre-Hispanic origin. According to some historic sources from Peru, the predecessor of ceviche originated among the Moche, a coastal civilization that began to flourish in current-day northern Peru and southern Ecuador nearly 2000 years ago. In El Salvador, ceviche is a second favorite dish. This tropical country provides a variety of ceviche choices, such as shrimp, fish, octopus, and black clam ceviche. The simple recipe includes Roma tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. The Moche used the fermented juice from the local banana passionfruit. Recent investigations further show that during the Inca Empire, fish was marinated with '' chicha'', an Andean fermented beverage. Different chronicles also report that along the Peruvian coast before the arrival of Spaniards, fish was consumed with salt and '' ají''.

Nevertheless, most historians agree that ceviche originated during colonial times in present-day Peru and Ecuador. Rodriguez, ''The Great Ceviche Book'', p. 3 Peschiera, ''Cocina Peruana'', p. 35 They propose that the predecessor to the dish was brought to the area by Andalusian women of Moorish background who accompanied the Conquistadors and that this dish eventually evolved into what nowadays is considered ceviche. The Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio further explains that the dominant position that Lima held throughout four centuries as the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru allowed for popular dishes such as ceviche to be brought to other Spanish colonies in the region and to eventually become a part of local cuisine by incorporating regional flavors and styles.

The Peruvian origin of the dish is supported by chefs including the Chilean Christopher Carpentier and the Spaniard Ferran Adrià, who in an interview stated, "Cebiche was born in Peru, and so the authentic and genuine ebicheis Peruvian."

Of the different stories that exist about the origin of the ceviche, we only know that it is Peru and Ecuador, the two countries that dispute this denomination, perhaps because they were the ones that the Incas influenced; however, the first recipe of this dish deserves to Manual Atanasio Fuentes in “The Guide of Lima.”

Preparation and variants

Ceviche is marinated in a citrus-based mixture, with lemons and limes most commonly used. In addition to adding flavor, the citric acid causes the proteins in the seafood to become denatured, appearing to be cooked. Acid marinades will not kill bacteria or parasitic worms, unlike the heat of cooking. Traditional-style ceviche was marinated for about three hours. Modern-style ceviche, popularized in the 1970s, usually has a very short marinating period. The appropriate fish 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 their own particular garnishes.

File:Cebiche-don-lucho.jpg, Peruvian ceviche
File:Ceviche ecuador.JPG, Ecuadorian ceviche, made of shrimp, lemon, and tomato sauce
File:Lobster and shrimp ceviche.jpg, Mexican ceviche
File:Ceviche CR.jpg, Ceviche from Costa Rica

South America

In Peru, ceviche has been declared part of the country's national heritage and has even had a holiday declared in its honor. The classic Peruvian ceviche is composed of chunks of raw fish, marinated in freshly squeezed key lime, 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, fish bone broth, 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, similar to the method used in making Japanese sashimi, consists of fish marinated for a few minutes and served promptly. It was developed in the 1970s by Peruvian-Japanese chefs, including Dario Matsufuji and Humberto Sato. Many Peruvian ''cevicherías'' serve a small glass of the marinade, which is called ''leche de tigre'' or ''leche de pantera'', as an appetizer along with the fish.

In Ecuador, shrimp ceviche is sometimes made with tomato sauce for a tangy taste. The Manabí style, made with lime juice, salt, and the juice provided by the cooked shrimp itself, and sometimes topped with peanut butter, is very popular. Occasionally, ceviche is made with various types of local shellfish, such as black clam (cooked or raw), oysters (cooked or raw), spondylus (raw), barnacles (cooked percebes), among others mostly cooked. 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 ''chifle'', and popcorn are also typical ceviche side dishes. In some regions, ceviche is served with rice on the side. Well-cooked sea bass (corvina), octopus, and crab ceviches are also common in Ecuador. In all ceviches, onion, lime juice, cilantro and salt are ubiquitous ingredients.

In Chile, ceviche is often made with fillets of halibut or Patagonian toothfish and marinated in lime and grapefruit juices; finely minced garlic and red chili peppers and often fresh mint and cilantro are added. On Easter Island, the preferred fish is tuna, marinated in lemon juice and coconut milk.

North and Central America and the Caribbean

In Mexico, the U.S., and some parts of Central America, it is served either in cocktail cups with tostadas or as a tostada topping and taco filling. In Mexico, when served in a cup with tomato sauce, it is called a ceviche cocktail. Shrimp, octopus, squid, tuna, and mackerel are also popular bases for Mexican ceviche. The marinade ingredients include salt, lime, onion, chili peppers, avocado, and cilantro (coriander). Cut olives and tomatoes are often added to the preparation.

In El Salvador and Nicaragua, one popular ceviche recipe is ''ceviche de concha negra'' ("black conch ceviche"), known in Mexico as ''pata de mula'' ("mule's foot"). It is dark, nearly black, with a distinct look and flavor. It is prepared with lime juice, onion, yerba buena, salt, pepper, tomato, Worcestershire sauce, and sometimes picante (any hot sauce or any kind of hot pepper) as desired.

The dish includes marinated fish, lime juice, salt, ground black pepper, finely minced onions, cilantro, and finely minced peppers in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. 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, mayonnaise, 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, cilantro, assorted peppers, and sea salt. Ceviche made with 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 small pastry shells called "canastitas."

In the Caribbean, ceviche is often made using mahi-mahi prepared with lime juice, salt, onion, green pepper, habanero, 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, chopped onions, and bell pepper. Diced pequin pepper 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.

Health risks

Bad sanitary conditions in its preparation may lead to illness. Aside from contaminants, raw seafood can also be the vector for various pathogens, viral and bacterial, as well as larger parasitic creatures. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration and studies since 2009, specific microbial hazards in ceviche include ''Anisakis simplex'', '' Diphyllobothrium'' spp., ''Pseudoterranova decipiens'' and ''Pseudoterranova cattani'', and ''Vibrio parahaemolyticus''. Anisakiasis is a zoonotic disease caused by the ingestion of larval nematodes in raw seafood dishes such as ceviche. The Latin American cholera outbreaks in the 1990s may have been attributed to the consumption of raw cholera-infested seafood that was eaten as ceviche.

The American Dietetic Association urges women to avoid ceviche during pregnancy due to the health risks it introduces if not prepared properly.

See also

* marinated in vinegar, garlic and parsley eaten in Spain
* , cooked or raw fish or meats in an acidic marinade
* , sometimes referred to as "Philippine ceviche"
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References

Bibliography

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* {{cite book
, title=The Great Ceviche Book
, first=Douglas
, last=Rodriguez
, isbn=978-1-58008-107-8
, publisher=Ten Speed Press
, date=2010-06-08
, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dJcNQZi7_hQC&q=cebiche+origin+peru&pg=PA3
, page=3
, ref=great_ceviche

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Nicaraguan cuisine
Panamanian cuisine
Peruvian cuisine
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Uncooked fish dishes
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