1 minute read
Fresher than Fresh
Photos by Elizabeth Neal / Styled by Chef Dan Lewis
Looking to step up your raw seafood game? These no-cook seafood dishes are as delightful on the palate as they are on the plate.
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CRUDO
Crudo means “raw” in both Spanish and Italian, and rather than relying on the acid of citrus to define it, this Mediterranean-style dish utilizes another Italian pantry staple: olive oil. While there’s no standard recipe to follow, the general principle of preparation is to begin with slices of freshly caught fish and drizzle them with highquality olive oil along with optional dashes of sea salt, pepper and/or other herbs to garnish. It may also be finished with a bit of lemon or fine vinegar, but the trick is to complement the fish’s natural flavor without overwhelming it.
CEVICHE
This popular dish is Peruvian in origin, though it’s spread widely throughout South and Central America – and can be found on a number of menus stateside as well. Regardless of the type of seafood you use, the meat used to prepare ceviche is typically cubed and marinated in citrus juices (usually a mixture of lemon and lime) long enough for the acids to “cook” the seafood through. This can take two to four hours for more delicate fish, but up to 24 hours for firmer types of seafood such as shrimp. After the seafood has cured, it’s traditionally seasoned with chilis and fresh cilantro – and the variety of garnishing options is virtually endless.
TIRADITO
A relative newcomer on the raw food scene, tiradito was born from the influence of Japanese immigration to Peru in the late 20th century, so it should come as no surprise that it’s characterized by starting with very thin sashimi-style slices of seafood. Tiradito also benefits from an acidic mixture similar to ceviche, but unlike ceviche, the seafood used in a tiradito dish is only dressed with citrus immediately before serving in order to retain the flavor without fully curing the meat. In another nod toward ceviche, tiradito dishes often incorporate chilis, herbs and a number of other fresh garnishes.
