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Ceviche Ecuatoriano

Fresh fish dressed in a bright lime-and-tomato marinade with red onion and cilantro — Ecuador’s coastal classic, served with popcorn and plantain chips.

⏱ 25 minPrep time
🔥 5 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Ceviche Ecuatoriano - Coastal Fish Ceviche

Unlike its Peruvian neighbor, Ecuadorian ceviche comes with a saucy, tomato-kissed marinade and a generous pile of crunchy sides: popcorn, chifles, and tostado. Born on the fishing coasts of Guayaquil, it is a sunny, citrusy bowl that is equal parts appetizer, lunch, and beach-day ritual.

A saucy, citrus-bright bowl with all the crunch

The fish is barely cooked, so it stays silky and firm, while the tomato-orange-lime sauce keeps every bite juicy and tangy. Pickled red onion adds bite, cilantro brings freshness, and the ritual of scooping it all up with popcorn and chifles makes each spoonful a little party.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Bring a pot of salted water with a squeeze of lime to a bare simmer, add the fish pieces, and poach for 1 minute only; drain immediately and let them cool on a plate.
  2. Soak the sliced red onion in a bowl of salted ice water for 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry; this softens its sharpness while keeping the crunch.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the lime juice, orange juice, tomato sauce, olive oil, and salt until combined.
  4. Add the cooled fish and drained onion to the dressing, fold in the cilantro, and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes so the flavors marry.
  5. Taste and adjust the salt, adding a little more lime juice if you want it brighter.
  6. Serve chilled in deep bowls with popcorn, chifles, tostado, and lime wedges on the side.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Buy the freshest fish you can find the day you serve this — the brief poach and the acid only 'cook' the surface. Ceviche is best eaten the same day; leftovers keep barely 1 day refrigerated and turn mushy, so make only what you will eat.

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Recipe details

Prep25 min
Cook5 min
Servings4
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →