Marshalls Abroad

Antipasti Life Pesce Spring Tomatoes Winter

Northern Okinawa, Salmon Ceviche & Grilled Crostini

Back on New Years, Cam and I hiked up north and cooked dinner with good friends {hi Nick & Manda!} who had the great idea to make a bunch of different tapas, each of us creating one or two of them. Cam thinks he can’t cook {so not true!} but blew us all away with the best dishes of the night. It was a really fun way to all cook together and was absolutely delicious. Out of it came this salmon ceviche — loaded with fresh cilantro, tomatoes, avocado, red onion, and lemon + lime juice. The natural citric acid from the lemon and lime actually cooks the salmon while infusing it with flavor.

Getting to see and experience Okinawa’s healthy diet in person, you learn right away that there’s a lot of fish to it. Fresh, local fish, caught that day. We were laughing because even the cute family next to us at the top of Mt. Katsuu was snacking on sushi while we had our fruit and granola bars. If you’re adverse to raw fish, or aren’t able to get it fresh where you live, it’s also wonderful grilled with lemon & lime juice and topped with the same ingredients as the ceviche.

You can eat the ceviche in lettuce wraps, or my favorite — with warm, crispy, salty tortilla chips.

If you’re just not a fish fan though, this is another easy lunch, small plate or appetizer. I could live off of salads and crostini any day of the week and not get sick of it.

The sakura {cherry blossoms} are starting to bloom up north !!

Salmon Ceviche
{serves 2-4}

1 fresh salmon filet or about 1/2 lb, cut into bite size pieces
2 lemons
2 limes
1 C tomatoes, diced
1/4 red onion or 4 shallots, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 avocado, sliced
handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
1-2 Tb EVOO
good pinch of sea salt
1 hot pepper {optional}
1 bell pepper {optional}

Combine all of the ingredients together in a bowl and squeeze in the lemon and lime juice allowing any fallen pulp in the bowl as well. Taste and add in more salt as it needs. Depending on how long you allow the fish to marinate in the juice will determine how much the citric acid will cook the fish. I’ve read though that it may not rid the fish of all bacteria the way heat does, so you always want to start with the freshest fish possible. And if any of you lovely ladies are pregnant, you may want to hold out on this recipe until later. (:

Grilled Crostini
{makes about 10-15}

1 baguette, sliced in 1/2 inch pieces
1 C tomatoes, diced
1 handful of fresh basil, chopped
5 garlic cloves
sliced mozzarella, pecorino or your favorite cheese
1 apple, sliced
5-10 thin pieces of prosciutto
1 C cannellini beans, rinsed
fine sea salt for taste

Drizzle EVOO on each piece of bread. On a heated grill {you can also use a broiler or oven} grill the crostini, turning when needed, until just lightly browned. Remove from the heat, rub garlic cloves on the top pieces, place the cheese, prosciutto, beans, and tomatoes on top, creating combinations as you please, and put back on the heat just until the cheese melts. Sprinkle on a bit of sea salt on each one. Add the sliced apples atop the prosciutto, drizzle each with EVOO and basil. You can use whatever combinations you like! My favorites are mozarrella + prosciutto + cannellini beans/or apples and pecorino + tomatoes + basil. It’s an easy lunch or a great side with salads.


Comments

  1. Melanie Fontaine says

    I've never had raw fish and – not going to lie – I'm not sure whether I'll ever be brave enough to try it. Super fresh fish is hard to come by where I live, so it's not really a possibility anyway. I love crostinis, though, especially with fresh tomatoes and basil with a bit of balsamico and olive oil drizzled over.

    I love cooking with other people, but rarely have the opportunity to do so… I have a cooking date with a friend planned, though, and am so looking forward to that!

    xx Melanie

  8. Tim and Lanna Britt says

    I found the first ceviche I ever liked in Cartagena Colombia — but haven't tried it since. I don't know if I'm brave enough for the make-your-own raw experience but either way it looks really pretty 🙂
    I love the pic of you perched on the rock above the mountains!
    and your pretty table… I want to go to there…
    MISS YOU!
    love,
    lanneybear

  11. Mimi Finerty says

    what an amazing scenery and what fantastic food. Im so jealous you get to live in such an awesome part of the world and eat such incredible fresh food!

  13. Laura says

    Found your blog through Story of my Life and so glad I did!! Your photography is so beautiful!! Can't wait to read more!!

  15. Shane Prather says

    Okay just found my new FAVORITE blog! Your photos are stunning and I am bookmarking tons of your recipes to help me with my New Years cooking resolution! So exciting 🙂

    xo Shane

  16. Amanda @ Eloquent English says

    Yum Manda! It's 8am and now I'm hungry, thanks for that! JK I hope you are doing well! Sorry I haven't been by much lately, but once again I've been super swamped at work. =/ PS – I sent the husband your blog today. He loves to cook and thought he'd really enjoy all of your recipes and great photography. 😉 LOVE YA!

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