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Aguachile

Aguachile is a traditional Mexican dish native to the Sinaloa region, mainly consisting of raw shrimp marinated in a blend of lime juice, and chiltepin chilies. Known for its fresh and spicy flavor, this dish is often served as a starter or a light meal. Variations can include additional ingredients such as avocado, red onion, cucumber, or sauces that can intensify the flavor of the dish. It can also be adapted into recipes consisting of other types of shellfish, seafood, or even vegan alternatives. Aguachile has grown in popularity in Mexican culture due to its simplistic use of local ingredients and unique combination of different flavor profiles.

Map of Sinaloa, Mexico

Aguachile Verde

History

The original cooking method began in pre-Hispanic Sinaloa by boiling meat and chiltepin chilies together, giving the dish its name Aguachile, which translates to "chili water" (SSC). Overtime, the recipe reached the coast of Sinaloa, where the technique of boiling meat was replaced with curing shrimp in lime juice (Ralat). The transition of such a recipe has become a staple in Mexican cuisine due to its simplicity and versatile variations that have been created throughout time.

Preparation

In order for a dish to be considered an Aguachile, it has to consist of a base of shrimp, water, chilies, preferably chile chiltepin, and seasonings like salt and pepper. (Garrido) While preparing this dish, the shrimp is cleaned and cut, usually using the butterflying technique in order to ensure that the meat is thin enough to get an even cure (Pizca de Sabor). For the curing marinade, lime juice and the chilies of preference are blended, then mixed with the shrimp to marinate for at least thirty minutes (Pizca de Sabor). Water is then added to distribute the flavors throughout the dish (Garrido), and it is served with a tostada (Pizca de Sabor).

Variations

There are multiple variations that have begun as the dish traveled throughout Mexico. The dish has been adapted to fit different flavor profiles and preferences.

Aguachile Rojo

In Aguachile Rojo, chili chiltepin is replaced with chile piquin, a red toned spicier chili. Other red toned chilies like chile de arbol, or serrano peppers can be added in order to add a depth of color and spicier flavor. Aguachile Rojo is known for its strong flavor, therefore Worcestershire sauce and white onion are added to the Aguachile base in order to contribute to that strong flavor profile (Garrido).

Aguachile de Pescado

Aguachile de Pescado

Aguachile de Pescado is considered one of the most exotic forms of Aguachile, and is served as more of a gourmet dish than the other variations. This dish consists of the Aguachile base but adds green tomato, avocado, and replaces the shrimp with fish. This version is dryer than the typical Aguachile (Garrido).

Aguachile Negro

Aguachile Negro is one of the spiciest and strongest versions of Aguachile due to its use of habanero peppers instead of chiltepin peppers. In order to ensure that the dish is not too sour due to its use of Worcestershire sauce, tomato purée, and pepper, the marination time is reduced (Garrido).

Aguachile Vegano

Although it is not a popular dish, Aguachile Vegano was developed as an alternative by substituting shrimp with mushrooms as veganism became popular. This dish consists of garlic, onion, Worcestershire sauce, avocado, salt and pepper. To ensure that the mushrooms do not become bitter, the marination time tends to be less than the typical Aguachile recipe (Garrido).

Aguachile Sinaloense

Aguachile Sinaloense is one of the most loved and simple Aguchile dishes in Mexican cuisine. This dish includes shrimp, cucumber, white and red onion, cilantro, chile serrano, lime juice, salt, and pepper. It is very similar to other Aguchile dishes, but the cooking technique is somewhat different. In this case, the shrimp is cooked in lime juice on the stove for five minutes, then the blend of chili, water and seasonings are added. The key of this cooking process is to allow everything to cool down and sit to ensure that the shrimp meat hardens and the flavor can come across evenly throughout each bite. It is often served with a side of avocado to tone down the spice and add another layer of flavor (Garrido).

Aguachile Verde

Aguachile Verde is the second most common version of Aguachile, also known as "mestizo", since the recipe was developed during colonial times. This version is very similar to Aguachile Sinaloense and consists of shrimp, cilantro, avocado, cucumber, red onion, and chile serrano (Garrido).

Aguachile Vs. Ceviche

Although Aguachile constantly gets compared to or mistaken with ceviche, they are fairly different.

Similarities

Both dishes cure their meats, whether it is fish or shrimp, with the acidity of the lime juice. In addition, both dishes mainly contain some sort of fish or shrimp (Santiago).

Aguachile

Differences

Ceviche

Both foods have different ingredients, especially when it comes to including a spicy component. Since it is unique to Mexico, Aguachile always contains some type of spice while Ceviche does not. Since there is no spicy component, Ceviche requires a longer marination time to ensure that the seafood is safe to eat (Santiago).