Daniela Varela's Aguachile

Recipes

Aguachile

By Daniela Ruby Varela

Aguachile (or “chile water”) relies on three things – raw seafood, fresh chile peppers and fresh lime juice. In some recipes the peppers, which are pulverized in a mortar and pestle (and/or a blender), are combined with a little water so the bits really reduce down. So you truly have chile water. The magical thing about aguachile – and its cousin, ceviche – is the fish “cooks” as it marinades in an acid – fresh lime juice. Ceviche – made by her father, “he was the master” – was what Varela grew up eating.

Ingredients

4-6 servings

2 cups of fresh lime juice

Fresh cracked pepper

3 dozen raw, deveined, peeled shrimp

4 serrano or jalapeno peppers (feel free to mix)

1 bunch of cilantro

2 cloves of garlic

1 small red onion

2 cucumbers

Salt to taste

Pepper

1 Avocado

Instructions

In a bowl, add one cup of fresh lime juice, fresh cracked pepper and shrimp together, cover then place in the fridge for 30 minutes. In a blender add, serrano pepper or jalapeno, a bunch of cilantro, 2 cloves of garlic and salt to taste. Slice red onion in thin half moons and set aside, peel and cut cucumber in half, remove seeds and slice in half moons. Bring shrimp out, add in the blended mixture and also the cucumber and red onion. Add slices of avocado on top and serve with tortilla chips or tostadas.

Pro Tip

1

How you squeeze the lime is significant, says Varela. Slice it in fours, removing the core. If you squeeze out the juice “once from each side, you don’t get the bitterness, especially in ceviche.”

Bio

Growing up there were always beautiful aromas coming from the kitchen thanks to Daniela Ruby Varela’s parents. Because of them, she learned early on how to use traditional ingredients from her Mexican culture. That was the portal she needed to experiment with other ingredients and techniques and appreciate them as much as her own. Fast-forward to her late 20s: Varela went from being a microbiology student to teaching herself how to make bagels and started Ruby's Bagels. Since then, she has been able to grow her team, host fundraisers, and is a 40 under 40 alumni from the Milwaukee Business Journal.

Daniela Ruby Varela

Ruby's Bagels

Daniela Ruby Varela

Ruby's Bagels

View More Recipes By Daniela Varela

Discover More!

Craving more delicious options to elevate your next gathering? Explore our curated selection of refreshing beverages and tantalizing appetizers that are sure to impress. Select from our Drinks & Starters below to discover new favorites and take your culinary experience to the next level.