WorldBites.The world, dish by dish

📍 Lima

Peruvian fish ceviche

· Lunch

Very fresh white fish briefly marinated with lime, ají limo, red onion and cilantro, served with sweet potato and corn.

Editorial content by WorldBites · · Contact

Peruvian fish ceviche: Very fresh white fish briefly marinated with lime, ají limo, red onion and cilantro, served with sweet potato and corn.
Photo: Picanteria karol · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
⏱ 30 min🍽 4 servings📊 Easy🏷 Commonly associated🌱 Gluten-free🌱 Dairy-free
Preparation
20 min
Cooking
0 min
Waiting and resting
10 min

History

Ceviche is one of Peru’s most emblematic dishes and was declared National Cultural Heritage in 2004. Its background is linked to ancient fish preparations on the Peruvian coast, while the modern form reflects centuries of exchange, with lime and onion added after the Spanish arrival and marinating techniques refined later.

Ingredients

Adjust quantities

Only numeric quantities at the start of an ingredient are adjusted. Descriptive quantities, seasoning to taste and timings remain unchanged; check them when changing servings.

Preparation

  1. 1

    Cut 800 g fish into even cubes of about 2 cm and keep them very cold.

  2. 2

    Squeeze 12 limes without pressing the peel too hard to avoid bitter flavors.

  3. 3

    Mix the fish with 2 ají limo peppers, 20 g cilantro, salt and pepper.

  4. 4

    Add the citrus juice and 1 red onion; mix gently and marinate for 10 minutes.

  5. 5

    Serve immediately with 2 cooked sweet potatoes and 2 ears of corn.

Cooking tips

  • Do not extend the marinade beyond 20 minutes: the fish should remain firm and fresh.

References to consult

References provide information about the dish, its context or a technique. Quantities in this version may differ from those in the source.

Keep exploring

More flavors from Peru

Peruvian ají de gallina: Shredded chicken in a creamy yellow ají sauce with bread, milk, pecans and cheese, served over potato.🍽️ Lunch⏱ 60′

Peruvian ají de gallina

Shredded chicken in a creamy yellow ají sauce with bread, milk, pecans and cheese, served over potato.

Peruvian lomo saltado: Peruvian wok stir-fry of beef, onion, tomato and yellow ají, finished with soy sauce and vinegar and served with French fries and rice.🍽️ Lunch⏱ 40′

Peruvian lomo saltado

Peruvian wok stir-fry of beef, onion, tomato and yellow ají, finished with soy sauce and vinegar and served with French fries and rice.

Dairy-free
Papa a la huancaína: Boiled potatoes covered with a creamy fresh-cheese and yellow-ají sauce, served with egg, olives, corn and lettuce.🍽️ Lunch⏱ 45′

Papa a la huancaína

Boiled potatoes covered with a creamy fresh-cheese and yellow-ají sauce, served with egg, olives, corn and lettuce.

Vegetarian
See all recipes from Lima →