This Mexican ceviche offers is a delicious twist to the classical fish ceviche (cheviche de pescado) and includes delicious flavors from fresh avocados, tomatoes and cilantro.

Now that winter is practically over and the weather is warming up, we are enjoying our backyard and soaking up some warm sunshine. We are grilling more and enjoying some cold beverages and waiting for summer vacation.
Until then, we are going to bring some vacation vibes home. This delicious Mexican ceviche will take you to the beach with every bite. And it is super easy to whip together.
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Recipe highlights
- Simple: Ceviche is very easy to make. The key components are fresh fish and your acid, which chemically cooks the fish. You can also make ceviche with shrimp.
- Texture: Seafood “cooked” in ceviche is tender and not tough. It soaks up some of the moisture in your liquid so the meat is not dry at all.
- Flavor: This recipe creates a chunky salsa-like ceviche. The avocado makes this recipe a little creamy. Think of a big and chunky pico de gallo with avocados and fish. There’s the tang of lime juice and lots of fresh cilantro. It’s a great appetizer or light meal.
Ingredients you need
- Firm white fish: Any mild flavored commercially-frozen or high-quality fresh fish for ceviche white fish is perfect for ceviche like sea bass, tilapia, mahi mahi, snapper or grouper. You can also use shrimp, squid, scallops and other seafood, too.
- Garlic: For maximum flavor, I prefer to use fresh garlic.
- Jalapeño pepper: It’s not Mexican food without a little heat. You can use any pepper with the amount of heat you like or you can omit it altogether.
- Lime juice: If you do not have lime juice you can use lemon juice.
- Extra virgin olive oil: As I have repeatedly explained on my blog, always choose a high quality olive oil. If you do not like how the oil tastes plain and straight up, then don’t cook with it.
- Cilantro: For ceviche, it is best to use fresh cilantro and not dried.
- Red onion: I love using red onions if I’m eating onions raw, but you can use brown or sweet Vidalia onions.
- Tomato: Most store bought tomatoes are bland, so try to choose tomatoes that are ripe and full of flavor.
- Avocado: You can use any variety of avocado, but I’m partial to Haas and Fuerte.
- Salt and pepper
Step-by-step directions
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- Chop everything. Chop and combine white fish, garlic, jalapeño, lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, cilantro, red onion, salt and pepper in a large bowl. I usually chop the fish into small chunks since I serve it with tortilla chips. Think pico de gallo for the texture.
- Marinate. Press fish into the lime juice mixture so it is submerged. Cover bowl and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to overnight, or until fish has turned completely white.
- Finish and serve. When ready to serve, mix in diced tomato, avocado and remaining cilantro. Serve alone or with tortilla chips.
Recipe tips and FAQs
You can find variations of ceviche all of South and Central America, and even Europe. Living in Southern California, I enjoy all the flavors in this Mexican ceviche. It makes a light meal, snack or serve as an appetizer with tortilla chips.
Ceviche tastes best when freshly made. So I always suggest making small batches to insure that it gets eaten and enjoyed right away.
Japanese sushi is made with raw fish. You can have it sashimi style, in rolls or even in delicious quinoa poke bowls. Some people think that ceviche is raw fish, but it is not. The fish is chemically cooked with acid.
If you want a similar chunky salad but made with cooked seafood, you should try my avocado crab salad.
Storing/Freezing Instructions
TO STORE: Store leftover ceviche in an air tight container and refrigerate. It will keep this way for up to 2 days. This is assuming that you are using high quality fresh fish. If the ceviche is mushy or has a strong fish odor, discard your ceviche as it is unsafe to eat.
Once your fish is cut into chunks and immersed in the marinade, cover and refrigerate if or at least 4 hours or up to overnight, or until fish has turned completely white.
Ceviche is chemically cooked fish using fresh lemon and/or lime juice. The citric acid causes the proteins in the seafood to become denatured, or “cooked.” It is not cooked with heat, so if there is any bacteria in the fish it will not be removed. This is why it is not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing to eat ceviche.
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Mexican Ceviche with Avocado (Cheviche de Pescado)
Ingredients
- 1 lb firm white fish chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 garlic clove crushed
- 1 jalapeño pepper minced
- ¾ cup lime juice about 8-10 limes
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¾ cup chopped fresh cilantro divided
- ½ cup chopped red onion
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 large tomato diced
- 1 avocado chopped
Instructions
- Chop and combine white fish, garlic, jalapeño, lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, ½ cup cilantro, red onion, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
- Press fish into the lime juice mixture so it is submerged.
- Cover bowl and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to overnight, or until fish has turned completely white.
- When ready to serve, mix in diced tomato, avocado and remaining cilantro.
- Serve with tortilla chips.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
PS If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback.
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Written by Laura Bashar
Hi, I’m Laura, a certified professional cook and cookbook author living in San Diego. I have been sharing my family’s favorite recipes inspired from all over the world since 2008. Let’s cook up something fun!
Ceviche is great! Haven’t made it in ages, though. Great recipe (and wonderful inspiration!). Thanks.
I dont eat that much fish, but after seeing this recipe, I think I will start!
Beautiful presentation to a delicious dish. You did a wonderful job!
I am a little ceviched(word?) out after reading so many posts. However yours was presented beautifully and I sure was delicious. I really enjoy the texture of sea bass.
What your post has done is make me want a margarita. I just so happen to have all the fixins. 🙂
Love the sea bass! I just tried it for the first time last week and it is going to be a regular in my house.
I was just at Alaskan Cooks blog admiring his post for DC Challenge..
Yours is so colorful and mouthwatering 🙂 I want to dive right in!
Also, thank you for stopping by my blog ..
Your presentation is stunning it looks so light fresh and delicious, Lovely work and thank you for the link to my blog that is so nice of you. Beautiful photos.
Cheers from Audax in Sydney Australia.
Delicious! Love the avocado on yoru ceviche…great job on this challenge!
presenting the ceviche in a glass impressed me so much! Beautiful picture!
I love the super fresh look to your ceviche. I love the south of the border twist. Looks super yummy. Thanks for coming to check out my blog.
I love how you put your ceviche in a glass. I could see that served at a resteraunt. Great job on this challenge.
Yummm ceviche! Great theme this month. Hope your little one feels better soon.
I love your Mexican twist to the challenge, and your photos are stunning!
Gorgeous presentation! It is making my mouth water. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Your ceviche looks gorgeous! I love that you guys tried it using sea bass. I bet it was delicious!
What a lovely looking ceviche and gorgeous photos! Well done! 🙂
Your ceviche looks so fresh and delicious!! You did a fantastic job. Your photos are wonderful, also – really great work!