Cod ceviche with watermelon, lemon, avocado and mint

dinner | salads

appetizer | fish | salad with fish | salad with fruits

Jump to Recipe

Soft and tasteful fish appetizer or light salad for warm summer days. Inspired by the Peruvian ceviche, but a bit sweeter and milder. The cod is ‘cooked’ in lime juice with a small chopped red onion, some chili flakes, watermelon, avocado and fresh mint leaves. Great to serve in a nice wine glass. Super easy to make, but it sure will impress your guests!

Cod ceviche with watermelon avocado mint and lemon. In a nice glass, with a summer garden in the background. Landscape orientation.

What is ceviche?

Ceviche is a South-American dish made from raw fish. The fish is marinated in citrus juice and herbs and spices like ginger, peppers and cilantro. The citrus marinade alters the protein structure of the fish, making it soft and fluffy.

Where does ceviche come from?

The first time I ate ceviche I was travelling in Costa Rica, but since then I learned it’s eaten in several other countries as well. It’s often said to originate from Peru. But its also eaten frequently in Venezuela, Colombia and up to Mexico. And there is a wide range of flavours.

Haddock ceviche with watermelon avocado mint and lemon. In a nice glass, with a summer garden in the background. Portret orientation.

Ingredients

Wild caught, white fish – Like cod, haddock or halibut. A regular serving size would be 3,5 oz or 100 grams, but you can use half on this appetizer. You could even downsize to an ounce per serving.
Limes – You’ll just use the juice.
Soft tasting onion – You can use a shallot or half of a small red onion.
Chili flakes – Or a quarter of fresh red chili. Of course you can always use more or less to taste.
Avocado – Make sure its ripe. I sometimes use avocado from the freezer if I don’t have the right ripeness available.
Watermelon – One cup, measured diced.
Mint – One handful of fresh leaves.

White fish

I don’t eat fish often, but when I do, I eat fish that is caught as sustainably as possible. I don’t eat farmed fish and try not to eat from endangered fish stock. Personally, I usually use cod. I buy this online at my favorite sustainable fish supplier. My supplier is Dutch so I cant recommend that for the international market, and you of course you can make your own choices in this. You can choose any other whitefish. I understand that, for examplee in England, haddock is better known than cod. They are very similar and can both be used.

Other summer fish recipes

Castiron skillet wit cod, sweet potato and rhubarb in orange maple sauce — Haddock with sweet potatoes and rhubarb in orange maple sauce

Bowl of sweet potato curry and green asparagus in coconut milk with cod on top. — Thai sweet potato curry with cod, asparagus and coconut milk

Bowl of smoked mackerel salad with broccoli grapes and apple and yoghurt honey dressing. On a wooden board, landscape orientation. — Mackerel salad with broccoli, apple, grapes and a yoghurt dressing

Large pinkish bowl with an arugula salad with smoked Sockeye salmon, olives and samphire. Vertical orientation, from above. — Arugula salad with smoked Sockeye salmon, samphire and olives

FAQ

Is fish AIP paleo?

You can eat fish on a AIP paleo diet, but you have to be sure it’s not cultivated. That means only wildcaught.

Is this recipe AIP paleo?

For strict paleo, AIP and free of nightshade you can leave out the chili flakes.

Is fish Medical Medium proof?

The main focus for the Medical Medium protocol are healing foods like fruits, leafy greens, (root) vegetables and wild foods like mushrooms. Although the majority of MM followers eat plantbased, you can eat fish occasionally. You have to be sure it’s not cultivated and preferably you don’t eat the larger fish at the end of the foodchain because of heavy metals. Based on this article on the MM website, haddock is ok.

Is this recipe Medical Medium proof?

Yes, but it is not fatfree because of the avocado.

Is this recipe raw vegan?

‘Cooking’ in citrus juice, without using any heatsource, is considered raw. But it’s not vegan, since you use fish.