Spiralized Citrus Ceviche with Spiralized Cucumbers

Citrus Shrimp Ceviche with Spiralized Cucumbers + a honeymoon recap

U-S-A! U-S-A! We won, we won! We’re World Cup champs! How exciting was that game...

Spiralized Citrus Ceviche with Spiralized Cucumbers

U-S-A! U-S-A! We won, we won! We’re World Cup champs!

How exciting was that game last night? I couldn’t be prouder of our ladies! Gosh, I remember how it used to feel to win one simple in-season game of lacrosse in high school, I can’t even imagine how incredible it must feel to win The World Cup.

I should probably be sharing an American-themed recipe today to celebrate, but, due to poor planning, we’re going Mexican.

Spiralized Citrus Ceviche with Spiralized Cucumbers

Here’s the story behind this recipe: I tested the recipe as a ceviche (raw fish cured in citrus juices), but when I went to make it and photograph it, I didn’t plan well and thus, had to boil the shrimp to save on time.

Thus, the photographed recipe uses boiled shrimp. In case you don’t have the time to cure the fish in juice either, I’ve given you the recipe with boiled shrimp. If you’d like to make a tradition ceviche, just add the shrimp to a medium-sized bowl and add in enough lime juice to cover the shrimp. Let that sit in the refrigerator for about 4 hours or until the shrimp are opaque (I started checking after 3 hours.) It’s time consuming, but worth it – if you have the time.

Spiralized Citrus Ceviche with Spiralized Cucumbers

Both are delicious. Both are easy to make.

The inspiration from this recipe comes from something Lu and I ordered almost every day on our honeymoon when we were at the hotel. This was their “Citrus Ceviche” which had thinly sliced cucumbers, grapefruit slices, shrimp, octopus and cilantro.

Here it is:

A photo posted by Ali(ssandra) Maffucci (@inspiralized) on

Of course, their version was much more enjoyable, since you’re lying on a beach chair with sandy feet and sun-kissed cheeks, but heck, life’s back to normal and I’m bringing this dish to you all! Using spiralized cucumbers makes this dish heartier and gives the dressing something to cling to, so you’re not left with a bowl of juice and nothing to “dunk” it in. I love the flavors of this dressing – the pineapple juice gives it that Caribbean flavor and adds the perfect amount of sweetness.

Spiralized Citrus Ceviche with Spiralized Cucumbers

This is best served alongside guac and chips of course, but if you’re trying to be a bit more bikini friendly, opt for celery sticks and guac! It’s all about compromise, without giving up what you love most. Oh, and I didn’t skimp on the chips on the honeymoon 😉

Speaking of, the honeymoon was hands-down the most romantic and meaningful vacation I’ve ever been on. I really did feel special, like I was starting a life together with the man of my dreams, the future father of my children. It’s a hard feeling to explain, but every step we took together felt exciting – like life just began.

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I’ll save the corniness and do a mini-recap instead. We stayed at The Viceroy Riviera Maya in Mexico, which was about a 45 minute trip from Cancun Airport. Now, you may be thinking “wow, that’s a swanky, expensive hotel.”

Well, here’s our little secret: we booked our honeymoon on Cyber Monday and got 40% off each night. 40% off. So, we stayed at this luxurious and plush resort for almost half the price. We’ll definitely be booking future vacations on Cyber Mondays moving forward.

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Not only were the grounds incredible (you felt like you were walking through a Mayan jungle every time you went somewhere), the service was impeccable. Everyone went above and beyond for us and made our “luna de miel” the most special trip of our lives. From making sure we had the best cabana on the beach to bringing almond milk onto the premises for us, they were there.

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The food was the second best part – every meal we had was delicious, fresh and surprising. Even the chorizo bread basket was undeniable! My favorites were the Valencian paella, the tuna tartar stuffed chile peppers and the pork carnitas on “Mexican street food night.”

Every day, we woke up, ordered coffee (and/or breakfast) to the room and laid outside by our plunge pool, put on some Xavier Rudd, read our books or played rummy 500.

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A few days we took day trips or went out for dinners. We saw the ruins at Tulum and Chichen Itza, which were incredible.

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We went jumping and snorkeling in cenotes, saw a Cirque du Soleil show (called Joya) and spent a couple nights in Playa del Carmen, walking in and out of shops and stopping at a couple places for a glass of wine before settling into a restaurant for dinner.

The rest of the time we jumped in the ocean, paddleboarded, got massages and just relaxed by the pool or beach. One day, I even painted on the beach!

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I miss it every day. I mean, how can you not miss drinking out of a coconut, on the beach?

A photo posted by Ali(ssandra) Maffucci (@inspiralized) on

However, I have to say – I’m excited to be back in the kitchen, spiralizing.

Nutritional Information & Recipe

Weight Watchers SmartPoints*: 6 points

Inspiralized

Spiralized Citrus Ceviche with Spiralized Cucumbers

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • For the dressing:
  • 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
  • For the ceviche:
  • 1 pound high-quality medium raw shrimp peeled, deveined, tail removed
  • 1 medium seedless cucumber
  • 2/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 serrano chile pepper seeded and minced (or jalapeno)
  • 1 cup thinly sliced or cubed grapefruit
  • salt for seasoning
  • 1 avocado thinly sliced (for garnish)

Instructions

  • Bring a medium pot filled halfway with water to a boil. Once boiling, add in the shrimp and cook for 2 minutes or until shrimp are opaque and cooked through. Drain shrimp into a colander and add about 1 cup of ice on top and set in the refrigerator.
  • Meanwhile, spiralize the cucumbers with Blade A and then trim them and pat dry thoroughly.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, add in the ingredients for the dressing. Whisk together and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add in the cucumbers, cilantro, pepper, grapefruit slices and toss together. Add in the shrimp, dressing and mix well to incorporate. Season the ceviche with some salt. Portion into plates and garnish with avocado.
with love, Ali

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Recipe Rating




comments

  • I really don't know how you could be excited to be back in the kitchen spiralizing after all of that! What a perfectly blissful honeymoon in paradise! I guess you have to come back to Earth sometime, but why? But the recipe does look phenomenal - juicy, fresh and tropical!
  • Your vacation looked absolutely stunning! And despite it being summer here the weather has certainly left a lot to be desired so you cut out at the right time! Do you think you could use grapefruit juice in lieu of the orange juice to enforce the grapefruit flavor, or would it lack sweetness that the orange juice has more of? I prefer grapefruits over oranges for whatever reason so I was considering going that route. This months Food Network magazine had an insert on 50 zucchini recipes and I can't wait to turn many of them into spiralized recipes :-)
    • Wow! I may have to buy that issue of the magazine. I bet Ali will appreciate it, too. My zucchini are growing like weeds! I should have some fresh ones from my garden, soon. Thanks for posting, and letting us know that.
      • No problem :-)
  • Welcome back! Your honeymoon looks amazing and so do you! Definitely good inspiration for this post-holiday Monday morning.
  • Ali, your honeymoon looks like a dream! There is nothing I find more relaxing than spending time with the sun and sand. This dish looks like the perfect way to relive it too.
  • What an awesome honeymoon!! Your resort sounds fabulous! My husband and I went to Puerto Vallarta this year and had the best time! We definitely want to go back!
  • My husband can't have grapefruit ok to substitute oranges instead?
      • Thanks. The recipe sounds delicious and your pictures beautiful!!
  • Gorgeous honeymoon photos! Thanks for sharing! This recipe looks amazing too! I actually created something similar here - http://www.ambitiouslyhealthy.com/2015/04/spirlaized-cucumber-and-grilled-shrimp.html
  • So, poor planning means Mexican? I know you did not mean to say that, but with Mr. Trump remarks against Mexicans, it just hit me hard
    • I meant I should have shared something BBQ/American, to honor the US Women's National Team winning the World Cup!
  • As always the recipe looks delish - your photos are breathtaking and I couldn't agree more, I would want to be back there too on the beach. I do have a question about Cyber Monday, did you go to the resort site specifically or somewhere else? Because, you totally have me wanting to book a vacation on Cyber Monday.
  • Best of Luck for both of you in your married life. Everything looks just wonderful, especially both of you!
  • Hey there- Congrats on your published book, and wedding! this recipe looked so amazing. I made it tonight and it is so good. I didn't have grapefruit, but subbed an extra orange, or a pepper so added a bit of flakes, OMG! It is to die for. I live in Palm Beach, FL and this is a TRUE Floridian tasting recipe! Can't wait to share with my book club tonight!!
  • This citrus shrimp ceviche with spiralized cucumbers a honeymoon recap looks yummy and healthy. I found your post from Pinterest! I'm also gonna pin this post on my Pinterest board my followers will love it. Thanks for sharing!
  • This citrus shrimp ceviche with spiralized cucumbers recipe looks so amazing and yummy at the same time. Found your post so easy to follow along when preparing them yesterday. So mesmerized by this. Thanks for sharing!
    • Hi Zach! Glad you enjoyed! Let us know what you try next!
  • Just ran out of cilantro :( I will have to try this next time I go to the grocery store.. looks heavenly!
  • I'm ashamed to say that I've never had citrus shrimp ceviche! This recipe looks great though so hopefully that will change! Thanks for posting it!
    • Let us know if you give it a try!