This dish makes me think about sunny days on the beach because it’s a perfect meal for a hot summer day.
I had lived in four beach towns in my life, but only one of those places has been here in the states, and that place is the wonderful Marco Island, Florida. If you live in Florida, you are a lucky fellow; Florida has some of the best produce and seafood in the country.
Tiritas de Pescado Zihuatanejo Style
“This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of Influencer Activation for Influence Central.”
Did you know that? My family loved to buy blueberries, tomatoes, sweet corn and watermelon locally! So fresh and grown right there close to the island. But it doesn't matter if you don’t live in Florida, many supermarkets carry those products in their produce section or seafood area.
As the weather starts getting warmer my family loves grilling and eating outdoors in our backyard. And weekends like “Memorial Day” or Four of July” are a perfect way to enjoy Florida fresh produce and seafood. Like preparing a Watermelon “Agua Fresca’, and this quick recipe for Fish strips made using Tilapia from Florida. A great appetizer your family and friends will enjoy before you start grilling.
This is easy to make the fish cocktail from Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo in the state of Guerrero, where it is usually prepared using sailfish or marlin. The fish is finely sliced in small 2-in stripes of about ¼-in thickness, that is quickly marinated with lime juice and then mixed with red onion slices and seasoned with peppers, oregano, salt, and pepper. Traditional serve with corn tostadas or saltine crackers. It's is very similar to a ceviche but with fewer ingredients and requires a shorter prep time. At home, we love to have it as an appetizer.
How to make Tiritas de Pescado Zihuatanejo Style
DIRECTIONS:
- Place the lime juice in a medium size glass bowl. Add the fish stripes and marinate for 5 minutes. (Please check the ingredients list below)
- Stir in the rest of the ingredients and serve immediately with corn tostadas or saltine crackers.
The next time you go to your local supermarket, look for fruits, vegetables, and seafood from Florida. You can visit the Fresh from Florida Website and the Florida Department of Agriculture to get ideas for your next dinner; they have recipes and information to know what type of produce is in the season.
Click here to see the list of produce available this month of May. And if you are visiting Florida, check their website for all the activities they have to offer: like fruit picking, and seafood festivals. Fresh from Florida and the Florida State of Agriculture guarantees fresh and delicious food so you can enjoy healthy and wholesome meals.
More recipes:
Quick Fish Fillets with Parsley Sauce
Pickled Beef Tongue
📖 Recipe
Tiritas de Pescado Zihuatanejo
Ingredients
- 1 Lb. Tilapia filets cut into 2-in by ¼ in
- ½ cup lime juice
- ½ medium red onion finely sliced (about ½ cup)
- 2 serrano peppers finely diced* (about ¼ cup)
- 2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste.
TO SERVE:
- Corn tostadas or Saltine crackers.
- Extra finely diced Serrano pepper for those that like spicy
- food.
Instructions
- Place the lime juice in a medium size glass bowl. Add the fish stripes and marinate for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the rest of the ingredients and serve immediately with corn tostadas or saltine crackers.
Notes
- You can substitute with other types of pepper like jalapeño or Habanero, use according to your own tolerance to spicy food.
- Make sure to cut the stripes along the length of the fish fillet, this way the stripes will keep their shape.
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JeannineR
Delicious! I made with fresh caught surf perch, and it made for a delicious appetizer. I served with coarse ground corn chips (Santito's), and didn't add the seeds in the pepper, it was spicy enough! I did leave those slices big enough to pull aside for those who don't like it so spicy.
Mely Martínez
Hello Jeannine,
Great idea of leaving the slices of pepper big enough to remove for those that do not like it too spicy!
Enjoy!
Tim
What fish could you use instead of Tilapia?
Mely Martínez
Hello Tim,
You can use any other red snapper or cod.
Kim
So the fish isn't cooked, just marinated?
mmartinez
The fish is cooked by the lime or lemon juice.
Ginette Carter
Had fabulous tiritas in Zihuatanejo. Hard to believe lime pickling could be obtained in 5 min?
Can you confirm. Your recipe is tried and true. I want all the fragrance to be in the fish with a very spicy finish as well. The fish has to be effectively "lime cooked" . Most ceviche recipes request several hours of lime marinade.... Why 5 min here? Or did I miss something critical al there?
mmartinez
Hello Ginette,
This is the way that this traditional dish ( as well as the popular "Aguachile") is made in order to not overcook the fish in the lime mixture. If you overcook the fish it loses it texture and delicate flavor.
Anonymous
Was in Ixtapa last month and had this. Amazing! We will be using this recipe tomorrow.
Ixtapa y Zihuatanejo
Amazing! greetings from Zihua!
Angelica aranda-herrera
Would it taste the same if I grilled it first? ��
mmartinez
Hello Angelica,
It will be a different taste.
Cassandra
Thanks for really good inspiration for cooking 🙂
mack
Mely,
What is the wooden utensil in the picture? What is it's purpose and how is it used?
mmartinez
Hello Mack,
That is a wooden spoon from Mexico, I use it to mix all the ingredients. But you can use any other wooden spoon or silicone spatula.
mmartinez
Hello Mack,
That is a wooden spoon from Mexico, I use it to mix all the ingredients. But you can use any other wooden spoon or silicone spatula.