Nitrate & Nitrite Free No-Cook Ceviche
Fresh, bright, and completely free of processed meats or cured ingredients, this citrus-marinated ceviche is one of the most naturally clean dishes you can put on the table. The "cooking" happens entirely through acid — a generous pour of fresh lime and lemon juice denatures the fish proteins right in the bowl, no heat required. Sushi-grade sea bass, halibut, or flounder gets cubed and submerged in that citrus bath alongside thinly sliced red onion, jalapeño, and a whisper of ground cumin, building layers of flavor that feel anything but simple. After a short rest in the refrigerator, the fish turns opaque and silky with that classic Peruvian texture — tender at the center, firm at the edges. Diced avocado folded in at the end adds richness that balances the sharp citrus punch beautifully. Because every single ingredient here is whole and fresh — no cured fish, no packaged deli proteins, no brined or preserved anything — you never have to scan a label or second-guess what's in the bowl. Scoop it up with tortilla chips or eat it straight; either way, it's the kind of dish that disappears fast.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 lb fresh sushi-grade white fish (such as sea bass, halibut, or flounder), skin removed
- ¾ cup fresh lime juice (from about 6–7 limes)
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
- ½ small red onion, very thinly sliced
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
- 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 avocado, diced
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
For serving
- tortilla chips, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Use only sushi-grade or sashimi-grade fish labeled safe for raw consumption — this recipe relies entirely on acid marination, not heat, to denature the fish proteins. Cut the fish into ½-inch cubes and place in a large mixing bowl.
- 2
Add the lime juice, lemon juice, and kosher salt to the bowl and stir to coat every piece of fish. The fish should be fully submerged in the citrus juice; add a splash more lime juice if needed.
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