Corviche de Pescado
Corviche is a popular Ecuadorian coastal appetizer, especially from Manabí. It's made from a dough of green plantains and ground peanuts, filled with seasoned fish (or sometimes shrimp or cheese), then deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. It's often served with a spicy aji sauce.
🧂 Ingredients
- 4 large Green plantains
- 1/2 pound Fish (corvina, albacore, or tuna)(cooked and flaked)
- 1 cup Toasted and ground peanuts
- 1/2 medium Onion(finely chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1/4 cup Bell pepper (green)(finely chopped)
- 1 medium Tomato(finely chopped)
- 2 tbsp Cilantro(chopped)
- 1 tbsp Annatto oil (achiote oil)
- to taste Salt
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- to taste Pepper
- for frying Vegetable oil
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the fish filling: In a skillet, heat the annatto oil. Sauté the chopped onion, garlic, bell pepper, and tomato until softened. Add the flaked fish, cilantro, salt, cumin, and pepper. Cook for a few minutes until well combined. Set aside half of this mixture for the dough.
- 2
Prepare the plantain dough: Peel and grate the green plantains. In a bowl, combine the grated plantain with the reserved sauté mixture, ground peanuts, and a pinch of salt. Knead until a cohesive dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add a tablespoon of water or oil.
- 3
Form the corviches: Take a portion of the dough and flatten it in your palm. Place about a tablespoon of the fish filling in the center. Carefully enclose the filling with the dough, shaping it into an oval or elongated ball. Ensure there are no cracks.
- 4
Fry the corviches: Heat enough vegetable oil in a deep pan or pot over medium-high heat. Carefully place the corviches in the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for about 3-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.
- 5
Drain and serve: Remove the corviches from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease. Serve hot with aji sauce or pickled onion (curtido).
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure the plantains are green for the correct dough texture.
- ✓If the dough is sticky, lightly oil your hands.
- ✓Fry in batches to maintain oil temperature and achieve crispiness.
🔄 Variations
- Use cooked shrimp or cheese as a filling instead of fish.
- Some recipes suggest adding a bit of cooked, mashed plantain to the dough for a softer texture.
- For a less traditional but delicious option, try baking the corviches instead of frying.