Italian Inspired Ceviche Recipes

ITALIAN RED-WINE BRAISED DUCK WITH OLIVE GREMOLATA

Steps:

• Trim duck legs of extraneous fat with a sharp knife, leaving a thin layer on top. (It is best to do this straight from the fridge, while fat is still firm.) Save duck fat for rendering. If you don't wish to render fat immediately, freeze for up to 2 months
• Season each leg generously with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with ground coriander and fennel. Massage seasoning into meat and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes, or wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Roast duck legs in a 400-degree oven for about 45 minutes, until nicely browned. Pour off fat accumulated in roasting pan and reserve for another purpose.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Pour olive oil into a wide heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and let them cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to color. Add carrot, celery, thyme, bay leaf and orange peel. Season with salt and pepper and continue cooking until the carrot and celery are softened. Add garlic and tomato paste and stir to coat. Add chopped tomato and red wine and bring to a brisk simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, until slightly thickened. Add chicken broth and return to a simmer. Taste sauce for salt and adjust seasoning, adding a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes if desired. Finally, add duck legs, put on the lid, reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook for about 45 minutes, until meat is tender when probed with a paring knife.
• Transfer the duck legs to a low baking dish, all in one layer. Skim any fat from surface of sauce. Ladle sauce over duck legs and bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes, until sauce is bubbling and legs have browned a bit on top. (Duck may be prepared up to 3 days in advance, then reheated.) Sprinkle olive gremolata evenly over dish. Serve with wide ribbons of buttered egg pasta or polenta, if desired.

FRESH TUNA CEVICHE

Steps:

• Cut tuna into 1/2 inch cubes, and place into a bowl. Stir in the onion, green onions, ginger, jalapeno, lemon juice, and soy sauce; mix to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours. Taste before serving and add more lemon juice or soy sauce as needed.

ITALIAN-INSPIRED CEVICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Scatter the clams and oysters on a baking sheet and roast in the oven just until they begin to open up, 5 to 7 minutes. This will make the shucking process easier.
• In a large bowl, combine the lemon juice and lime juice. Stir to combine.
• Shuck the oysters and clams, with their natural juices, into the bowl. Chop the shrimp and add to the bowl. Stir gently to combine the seafood with the citrus juice. Cover and allow to sit for 2 hours in the refrigerator.
• Add the cucumbers, red onions, cilantro, parsley, tomatoes and chile to the seafood and mix well. Add the olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Mix again and allow to sit in the refrigerator for an additional 1 1/2 hours before serving.
• Serve chilled, with corn tortilla chips.

TUNA CEVICHE

Steps:

• In a blender, puree until smooth the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and lime juice. Remove to a bowl and mix in the cilantro. Slice the tuna into thin, 1-inch long pieces.
• Place tuna on a serving platter and spoon soy sauce mixture over each slice. Dot each piece with each of the purees, aji amarillo, and rocoto pepper.