The Best Shrimp Ceviche
This Easy Shrimp Ceviche recipe is the best dish for summer. Cool, light and refreshing, easy Shrimp Ceviche is made with just a few simple ingredients creating a flavor explosion for your tastebuds. Fresh cooked shrimp, crisp veggies, buttery avocado are all tossed in a light dressing for an easy dish that is great as a dip or a light summer salad.
Shrimp Ceviche
I’m a huge fan of making shrimp dishes on the regular because shrimp cooks quickly, allowing me to get dinner on the table in a hurry. These Shrimp Tostados are on regular rotation lately because they take minutes to prepare and I only have pan to clean.
And when I’m entertaining, I love to serve up these Garlic Roast Shrimp Cocktail because shrimp soaks up all the flavors when you cook them making it a pleasant surprise from the usual shrimp cocktail recipes. And also….one pan to clean.
We also love this Grilled Shrimp with easy Romesco because it’s absolutely mess free!
But the winner of all shrimp dishes has got to be this quick easy Shrimp Ceviche recipe because…..no cooking required.The flavor is out of this world and it takes just minutes of hands on time. AND you only have one bowl to clean. I thought about how to make shrimp ceviche in the easiest way I possibly could!
What is Shrimp Ceviche?
Traditional ceviche is a South American dish of raw seafood tossed in an acidic marinade like citrus juice or vinegar which “cooks” the fish. I first fell in love with ceviche while on vacation in Mexico, it was light and refreshing which was perfect because the heat was insane down there. Their ceviche had a variety of fish and shellfish mixed in with some vegetables.
For my version, I started with cooked shrimp because it helps the recipe come together a lot more quickly AND I like the texture better than when I start with raw shrimp.
I also wanted to punch up the flavor of this best Shrimp Ceviche with avocado recipe a bit more by adding in finely diced jalapeños, chopped jicama for crunchy sweetness and creamy avocado. The traditional flavors are there, as is, the burst of fresh citrus juice that’s a staple in ceviches.
Is the Shrimp in ceviche raw?
Unlike most ceviche recipes where the fish “cooks” in the citrus juices, shrimp ceviche is made with cooked shrimp making this recipe come together so quickly. While you certainly can start with raw shrimp, I much prefer the ease of using cooked shrimp purchased at my local store.
How To Make Ceviche
This Easy Ceviche Shrimp recipe is so simple to make with just a handful of ingredients.
I start with cooked shrimp from my grocer’s seafood counter that’s been peeled and deveined.
- Chop the shrimp into 1/2 inch pieces and toss it in a bowl along with a combination of citrus juices like lime, lemon and orange. The orange in the marinade tones down the tartness of the lemon and lime adding a vibrant, freshness you will miss if you skip it.
- Marinade the shrimp in the citrus juice for about 30 minutes while you chop up the vegetables. For this Shrimp Ceviche recipe, I use tomatoes, jalapeños, jicama, cilantro and red onion.
Ingredient Substitutions for Ceviche
If you’re looking for something a little on the mild side, you can substitute the jalapeño for a bell pepper or skip it altogether. I just like a little heat in my ceviche recipes but it’s not a total necessity.
Jicama is a crispy root vegetable also known as a Mexican turnip that looks like potato. They’re usually found with the avocados and other ethnic produce at your local grocery store. They taste a bit like an apple with a similar texture so if you can’t find them at your store you can substitute a peeled and chopped apple, any variety will work but I would lean towards a Granny Smith for the tartness alone.
I have had traditional ceviche recipes in Mexico and I have to say that THIS recipe blows away anything I’ve had anywhere else. So, you can say I’m saving you some airfare because you can make this Classic Mexican Shrimp Ceviche recipe right in your very own kitchen.
Serving Suggestions
I like to make a big batch of this easy shrimp ceviche when I have friends over and serve with a bowl full of tortilla chips so guests can dig right in. Or I just pile a few spoonfuls right onto a romaine leaf, taco style, for a light lunch or dinner.
You could also pile it high on a tortilla for a fresh take on tacos or serve alongside these Birria Tacos to add a big of freshness.
More Easy Shrimp Recipes
And if you’re working on your weekly meal planning….you should definitely add this easy Shrimp Fried Rice or my favorite Singapore Rice Noodles with Shrimp….both are take out fake outs that will save you time AND money!
We also love this easy Hunan Shrimp for a quick weeknight dinner!
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Ceviche Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, about two lemons
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, about 3 limes
- 1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
- 4 whole plum tomatoes, seeds removed and diced
- 2 whole jalapeno peppers, seeds and vein removed, minced
- 1 cup diced jicama, or diced peeled apple
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 avocado, pitted and diced
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
Equipment
Instructions
- Chop the shrimp into 1/2 inch pieces and transfer to a bowl. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon, lime and orange juice to combine. Pour 1/2 cup of the citrus juice over the shrimp and toss to combine. Allow the shrimp to marinade in the juice for 15 minutes.
- Add the tomato, jalapeño, jicama (or apple), cilantro and red onion to the shrimp. Toss the ingredients to combine and allow to marinade for an additional 10 minutes. Stir in the avocado and remaining juices.
- Season the ceviche with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve immediately with tortilla chips, if desired.
- Shrimp Ceviche is best enjoyed the same day it’s made.
Video
18 Comments on “The Best Shrimp Ceviche”
This is how I make mine, too! The only difference is, I add diced english cucumber; seeds removed. It adds an even fresher flavor. So good! Thanks for sharing.
Love the addition of cucumber! So happy you liked it!
The only thing I would add is some chopped green onions. Especially if you’re like me and dont like cilantro
This is a great recipe. easy and delicious. great with chips or grab some small flour tortillas and make shrimp tacos
Thank you so much! I’m so happy you liked it!
Ceviche was great ! Used cooked shrimp to speed up time. Was a “Big Hit”. My Go To Recipe for Ceviche. Thank You Soo Much
Thank you so much! I’m so happy you enjoyed it.
I made this with fresh lemons & limes picked from my fruit trees and served a party of 20 this delicious shrimp ceviche – it was a show stopper! Everyone commented on the delicious flavor and loved the fact that the marinade was made with fresh fruit I picked and squeezed. I served the ceviche in little plastic martini glasses with mini spoons/forks so guests could eat them as an appetizer. Loved this recipe – thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for your comment!
My wife was concerned about eating ceviche, until I made it with recipe. She absolutely loved it! Thank you
That makes me so happy! Thank you for your comment!
This was so good! My husband is a huge shrimp fan and loved this recipe. Can’t wait to make it again!
You weren’t kidding!! The flavors explode in your mouth!! I will be snacking on this way more than I should!!
I love any shrimp recipe and this was by far one of my favorites! Such a delicious and fresh recipe! I will definitely be making this again.
Was looking for something different, easy and fresh as an alternative to the meals we’ve been having during these times. Saw a segment on Fox 29 and went searching. I did not use Jicama / Apple, simply due to not having those ingredients. I also adjusted the amount of jalapeño for my wife’s taste (less in this case). This was simple and tasted amazing! We have traveled many times to Mexico and this rivaled anything that we had enjoyed in the past. I’ll certainly be bookmarking this and enjoying it again!
Thanks!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’ve also had ceviche in Mexico and I created this to be a bit more flavor packed. Thanks so much for your kind comment!
This sounds so nice and refreshing, but I was wondering since the juices are suppose to cook the raw fish and you use cooked shrimp, will it become tough? This is my first review or question that I have ever written, yet it says I wrote this before….Interesting!
It will not be tough, just don’t marinade it for too long.