Leche de Tigre Sea Foam (Espuma de Mar)

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Leche de Tigre Sea Foam

Leche de Tigre Sea Foam

Leche de Tigre (Tiger’s Milk) n. the milky colored lime juice in a ceviche that is infused with the flavors of fish, salt, onions, and hot peppers

Leche de Tigre, or Tiger’s Milk, is the milky lime juice that is left in the bowl when you finish your ceviche. But you can also prepare leche de tigre in advance, drink it as a shot, or add it to your ceviche to enhance its flavor. Here, it’s made into a foam to pay homage to the sea. Presenting, leche de tigre sea foam.

The concept of foams has long been part of the molecular gastronomy repertoire, and applying that technique to leche de tigre creates a strong visual relationship with the sea. I recently prepared leche de tigre sea foam at a “Modern Peruvian” class at 18 Reasons, where modern techniques were used to transform traditional Peruvian dishes.

INGREDIENTS
  • 1/2 habanero pepper, seeds and veins removed, minced
  • 2 teaspoons minced celery
  • 2 teaspoons minced red onion
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed ginger
  • 1 oz. lime juice
  • 1/4 cup petrale sole cut in small pieces
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 5 cilantro leaves
  • 8 oz. water
  • 4 grams soy lecithin

In addition to the ingredients above, you’ll need an immersion blender, a deep bowl, and a shallow container with flat bottom.

PREPARATION
  1. prep all ingredients before cutting fish
  2. cut the fish in small pieces
  3. toss all the ingredients, minus the water, in a deep bowl for a few minutes or until the fish begins to turn opaque
  4. purée all the ingredients with 8 oz. water
  5. strain and transfer the liquid to a shallow container
  6. add the soy lethicin and incorporate air bubbles into the liquid using an immersion blender, tilted at 45 degrees, blending for 3-4 minutes
  7. Scoop the foam with a spoon and serve immediately
SERVINGS

12 servings.

NOTES

Soy lecithin is a natural emulsifier, allowing air bubbles to form in a liquid. Due to the liquid’s viscosity, the bubbles may only last a few minutes. After scooping the seam foam, you can continue to use the immersion blender on the remaining liquid to produce more bubbles.