Scallop Ceviche with "Tiger's Milk"
A refreshing Peruvian-style ceviche featuring tender sea scallops marinated in citrusy tiger's milk (leche de tigre) with sweet potato, choclo, and red onion. The combination of lime juice, pisco, and ají amarillo creates a perfectly balanced dish with both heat and acidity.
Ingredients
- •1 cup diced (1/3-inch) peeled sweet potato
- •1 cup frozen choclo kernels (optional)
- •1 pound sea scallops, tough ligament removed from side and scallops halved horizontally
- •1 whole small red onion
- •½ cup fresh lime juice (preferably Key lime)
- •2 tablespoons pisco (preferably Peruvian)
- •2 tablespoons bottled ají amarillo or ají mirasol paste (sometimes labeled "crema")
- •3 tablespoons finely chopped red bell pepper
- •3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- •Equipment: an adjustable-blade slicer
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Steam sweet potato in a steamer rack, covered, over simmering water until just tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
10 min
- 2.
Meanwhile, cook choclo (if using) in a medium pot of well-salted boiling water, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl, reserving liquid in pot, and cool to room temperature.
3 min
- 3.
Return choclo-cooking water to a boil (or use 4 cups fresh water if not using choclo). Add scallops and poach at a bare simmer, stirring occasionally, until barely cooked through, about 1 minute. Drain well and cool to room temperature.
1 min
- 4.
Halve onion lengthwise, then very thinly slice using slicer. Soak in a bowl of cold water 5 minutes, then drain well and pat dry.
5 min
- 5.
Stir together lime juice, pisco, chile paste, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl, then gently stir in sweet potato, choclo, scallops, onion, bell pepper, cilantro, and salt to taste.
5 min
- 6.
Serve ceviche on small plates, drizzled with any remaining lime juice mixture from bowl.
2 min
- 7.
Concha y Toro Terrunyo Casablanca Valley Sauvignon Blanc '07