Ceviche is awesome because you can make it ahead and is a great party appetizer. Learn how to serve ceviche at a party safely, what other side dishes and drinks go well with it, as well as a few of my favorite ceviche recipes.
The holidays are here and we’re all thinking about what to serve for all the holiday parties coming up. I don’t know about you but nothing makes me happier than walking into a party and seeing a beautiful platter of fresh ceviche. It feels special and a bit fancy but ceviche is actually really easy to make and benefits from being made in advance—another advantage for party planners.
All over Latin America from South America where Peruvian ceviche is king, to Mexico, fresh raw fish in the form of ceviche is a beloved seafood dish.
The question I get asked most often about ceviche is, “What do I serve with it?”. I think most people know that you need to serve it with plantain chips or some other kind of way to get the ceviche from the bowl to your mouth. Aside from that, maybe you’re wondering what side dishes go with ceviche to make it more of a meal and which drinks go best.
The next question is, “How do I serve ceviche without making people sick?” Ceviche is actually very safe if you do it right. That being said, there are some things to keep in mind to serve it safely–it is raw seafood after all.
Keep reading for the answers to all your questions, my best tips for how to serve ceviche at a party, plus a few of my favorite recipes that’s sure to wow every guest.
What Do You Serve With Ceviche?
All ceviche goes well with creamy avocado and your favorite hot sauce (I’m a big Valentina fan). For dipping, I suggest tortilla chips, crispy tostadas, and/or sweet potato chips.
I like to set out little bowls of simple ingredients that add texture and flavor to the ceviche. Great additions can include sliced jalapenos, chopped cucumbers, and cooked corn kernels that people can garnish their ceviche as they please. Pico de gallo is also a good idea.
If you want to make the ceviche feel more like a main dish and less of a snack these are the side dishes and drinks I like to serve with it.
Homemade Baked Tostadas
In Mexico, ceviche is traditionally served with baked tostadas. Making your own at home is crazy easy.
Sofrito Black Beans
One of the best side dishes to serve with ceviche is a big pot of beans. This will make the ceviche feel more like a main course than an appetizer. Plus the garnishes you make for the ceviche also go perfectly with the beans.
Arroz Blanco {Mexican White Rice with Vegetables}
Fluffy white rice with tender carrots and peas is a great option and goes well with the beans too!
Mango Salad with Cucumbers and Cayenne Dressing
An easy side dish is this simple mango salad is crunchy and refreshing and gets better as it sits, so no need to make at the last minute.
Micheladas
Micheladas are beer cocktails that are traditionally served with ceviche in Mexico. They are a bit spicy and completely refreshing. Made with beer, tomato juice, hot sauce, and lime.
Classic Palomas
This is the classic recipe: reposado tequila, freshly squeezed lime and grapefruit juice and the only way to make Palomas—with Squirt. The ultimate refreshing cocktail.
How Should Ceviche Be Served?
Because we’re dealing with fresh raw fish there are a few things to keep in mind. Follow these tips to stay away from harmful bacteria that could make people sick.
- The best ceviche is made with the best fish. Buy from somewhere you trust.
- One of the best ways to keep ceviche cold is to place the bowl of ceviche in a larger bowl of ice. To keep the ceviche safe to eat it needs to stay below 40°F. Invest in an ice-chilled serving dish if you plan on serving ceviche often.
- When in doubt, poach the fish or seafood first. This will kill off any bacteria.
Which Fish Are Best For Ceviche?
Sea bass, mahi mahi, halibut, salmon, and tuna all are good option for ceviche. Ask the person behind the fish counter what they have available that is safe for eating raw.
My Favorite Ceviche Recipes
Citrus Seafood Ceviche
Citrus juice, red onion, and chili peppers make this the most popular fresh fish ceviche on the site. This recipe is a mixture of small pieces of raw shrimp, white fish, and several other types of seafood. The citric acid in the orange juice and fresh lime juice “cook” the seafood and make it succulent and tender.
Shrimp Ceviche with Coconut Milk and Lime
If you are nervous about serving raw shrimp, a good choice is this shrimp recipe. It uses pre-cooked shrimp which get marinated in the tropical flavors of lime juice and coconut milk. It’s then tossed with fresh vegetables like radishes, green onions, and fresh cilantro.
Scallop Ceviche with Tomatoes and Avocado
This is not your traditional ceviche recipe. This one has scallops and cherry tomatoes in addition to fresh herbs like cilantro.
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Ceviche Is The Festive Appetizer You’ve Been Looking For
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Chef Mimi says
Beautiful ceviche. Great party ideas. I just wish I knew more people who ate seafood. The best I’ve ever had, actually, was in Miami and in Panama City. I’ve never made it where I live, cause I live in Oklahoma.
Kate Ramos says
Thank you Mimi! You could always try the vegetable ceviche ideas. 🙂