There is no mistaking summer in the Sonoran Desert. It starts out hot and dry. Hot. And. Dry. Weeks of weather above 100°F/38°C — and often above 110°F/44°C — with almost no humidity at all. The earth dries and cracks; our skin follows suit.
And then, the rising column of intensely hot air pulls moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, bringing unimaginable cumulus clouds and the monsoons. Rains come to beat all rains. Thunder. Lightning. Flash flooding. We go outside and raise our faces to the sky and let the water soak into our skin. The relief is palpable; you can hear the earth sighing. The temperatures drop and the humidity goes up.
The desert turns green. Shriveled cacti plump up as if proud they survived. The branches of the palo verde seem brighter than ever. The Dr. Seuss-like ocotillos (above) finally produce leaves and look like green fireworks. The leucophylla burst into a riot of purple, blue, pink, and white. Life returns to the land.
Throughout, we seek lighter food. Chilled food. Salads become our friends, and rosé and white wine fill our glasses. One of our recent favorites is my Confetti Ceviche. I named it for the colors: bright red, green, and yellow. It is delicious and refreshing. And pretty darned healthy, too.
~ David
Our Garden in Monsoons.
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Laura Brown
August 14, 2021 at 6:44 amI love that you added the photo of your fabulous garden, a la monsoon. But it always looks fabulous, even without copious rains.
Will make ceviche when we get home. Have all the ingredients there. ♥️
Cocoa & Lavender
August 15, 2021 at 1:22 pmIt’s nice to have a Markipedia working in the garden! It does keep it looking good year round. I hope you like the ceviche… I got the halibut at the farmers market from Ian.
Chef Mimi
August 14, 2021 at 6:51 amConfetti indeed! This is gorgeous. I love that you included avocado as well. And your garden is spectacular! By the way, you should write a book.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 15, 2021 at 1:23 pmI know it’s not traditional, but I love avocado in my ceviche. Thanks for your kind comments about the garden! Maybe someday I’ll write a book, but I have no idea what it will be about!
2pots2cook
August 14, 2021 at 7:42 amHello from Mediterranean ! I can relate so much to your hot weather and let me officially invite Roman Empire to be back. The only things that stand this tremendous weather are aqueduct and roads they built. Everything else is melting. Bye and take care ! Grata Romanorum !
Cocoa & Lavender
August 15, 2021 at 1:24 pmI am forever grateful for the Romans! I can’t even tell you how much they’ve added to our lives… I hope your weather cools off soon, Davorka, and you remain safe and healthy.
John / Kitchen Riffs
August 14, 2021 at 8:23 amLove the lime garnish! And the recipe too — so nice, so simple, so pretty, so flavorful. So, so good. 🙂 Thanks!
Gerlinde
August 14, 2021 at 9:10 amI like the way you describe the desert climate. It’s a harsh one . Your ceviche is perfect for a hot summer evening.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 15, 2021 at 1:25 pmThe desert is harsh, but also incredibly beautiful. Until I moved here, I thought I was an “ocean person”; but, once I was here, I knew I was a desert rat.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 15, 2021 at 1:25 pmThanks, John. The colors in this dish really do make it stand out. End it is very tasty…
sippitysup
August 14, 2021 at 11:43 amWe get the monsoon effect in Los Angeles too but without all those beautiful Sonoran colors. I can say the same about your ceviche. It’s much more colorful than mine. GREG
Cocoa & Lavender
August 15, 2021 at 1:26 pmI hope you’ve been getting some good rain, Greg. We all need it! So glad you like all the colors in my ceviche.
carol kuo
August 14, 2021 at 2:02 pmYour photos are stunning and the descriptions sound almost biblical! I assume the fish is not cooked but just checking.
I could make this even in my very hot kitchen. One of there days we will get air conditioning but of course I say that every year. Thanks David.
Carol
Cocoa & Lavender
August 15, 2021 at 1:27 pmAs the climate changes, I really think you should get an air conditioner! It’s so much safer in times like these.
No, Carol, the fish is not officially “cooked.“ Marinating it in the citrus juice does, in effect, does cook the fish. This is very simple and so flavorful. I think you’ll like it.
Fran @ G'day Souffle
August 14, 2021 at 3:59 pmLovely garden and lovely recipe, too! It’s nice the way the lemon and lime juices do the ‘cooking’ for us- one less source of heat in the kitchen!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 15, 2021 at 1:28 pmI know, Fran. I don’t mind cooking in the summer heat because we have great air conditioning, but eating a chilled meal like this is quite healthy and full of flavor.
Eha
August 14, 2021 at 5:08 pmThank you for the vivid description of the desert year . . . being but 40 kms from the Pacific coastline weather matters are more moderate here . . . Am eagerly awaiting spring . . . thirty degree days would be delightful, the forties without air conditioning few of us have locally tend to rob one of energy ! Hate thunderstorms I am afraid . . . but, on the food side of one of my favourite dishes so much love your way of serving . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
August 15, 2021 at 1:29 pmThanks, Eha. The Sonoran desert is a very special place, and they were very few places like it in the world.
Eha
August 15, 2021 at 5:31 pmI feel lucky to see and learn about it thru; your posts . . . I have been to the States a number of times but always ‘overflown’ the centre ones . . . thank you for teaching me !
Marcelle
August 15, 2021 at 9:03 amDavid, wow that photo of the storm in the desert is amazing!! I enjoyed your beautifully written post too. We love ceviche, it’s truly so delicious and addictive. I typically use shrimp in mine when I make it at home, but we will have to change it up and use some fish next time. Fantastic recipe!!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 15, 2021 at 1:30 pmI’ve never made ceviche with shrimp, Marcelle, but have used scallops. I will have to give shrimp a try. I also like ceviche made with salmon.
Karen (Back Road Journal)
August 15, 2021 at 11:10 amSuch a different world from our hot and very humid summers in Florida. Your ceviche sounds like a perfect treat on a hot summer day. Love your photos, especially your garden.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 15, 2021 at 1:30 pmThanks so much, Karen. Right now it looks like a jungle, and it’s hard to believe that it’s actually in the desert.
Carolyne
August 15, 2021 at 2:17 pmWhat a perfect recipe for hot summer days and nights. Your photos of the desert and your garden are beautiful too.
Cocoa & Lavender
August 19, 2021 at 6:53 amThanks, Carolyne. Most people try to avoid the desert in the summer, but it could be quite stunning!
sherry
August 15, 2021 at 11:24 pmi love your photos david, and your garden looks amazing. we have very long and very hot and very humid summers here in queensland and if we’re lucky we get big afternoon storms. but they have become less frequent over the years due to climate change. LOVE that ceviche!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 19, 2021 at 6:55 amLast year, Sherry, we didn’t get a single monsoon storm. And the year before it was really low in rain, too, because of climate change. This year has been incredible! We’ve had the wettest July on record, and an entire years worth of rain in just a couple of weeks. So glad you like the ceviche recipe – it’s great for this kind of weather.
Jeff the Chef
August 17, 2021 at 5:59 amMmm! It’s sort of salsa=like. I like that. I can’t imagine living in the desert. I mean, in a way I can … I’ve visited several times. But that heat, day in day out, and that searing sun. I think a younger me would’ve enjoyed it, but the current me would want a lot of shade. On the other hand, winter must be so satisfying. And I do love a good thunderstorm!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 19, 2021 at 6:56 amI guess there is a trade off no matter where you live, Jeff. For us, the summer is much shorter and more pleasant than the long winters of New England. Early summer and late summer are very dry, so the mornings are beautiful and the evenings are perfect for dining out. And somehow, it turns out I am a desert rat and I had no idea!
Jeff the Chef
September 6, 2021 at 8:56 amI totally understand. As much as I love all four seasons, each year I kind of wish winter was something I visited rather than lived through.
Cocoa & Lavender
September 7, 2021 at 6:22 amAnd that is exactly why we live here, Jeff… I’m happy with an inch of snow every couple of years and happily enjoy our four seasons, though they are a bit different from yours.
Aarthi
August 17, 2021 at 12:03 pmI like the way you have presented it in cups, it is super easy to serve and eat. The addition of fish sounds delicious, and with the sides of chips is just way I will want to eat this, I will surely give it a try. Have an wonderful week ahead!
Cocoa & Lavender
August 19, 2021 at 6:58 amThanks, Aarthi — It was nice to be able to use those large cocktail glasses which very rarely get taken out of the cabinet (because we don’t drink martinis). What better way to use them for this Ceviche?
Raymund
August 17, 2021 at 4:14 pmCeviche is perfect for those hot days, it will be even more perfect with an ice cold Corona 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
August 19, 2021 at 6:58 amMarkipedia agrees with you 100%! He’s definitely a beer guy when it comes to Ceviche. Me? I stick to my white wine.
Priya Joshi
August 17, 2021 at 4:54 pmYou have a beautiful garden David 🙂 Summer is my favourite season… Few days left and I am trying to make most of it 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
August 19, 2021 at 6:59 amThe last of the summer days go so quickly, don’t they Priya? Enjoy them while you’ve got them!
Valentina
August 19, 2021 at 9:22 pmThe desert is truly so beautiful. The sky always amazes me — whether it’s the clouds and deep blue sky or the deeply colored sunsets.
The ceviche sounds refreshing and delicious, and as you said, perfect for the heat. And it’s so pretty. 🙂 ~Valentina
Jean | Delightful Repast
August 20, 2021 at 8:21 amDavid, the photo of your garden is breathtaking. I love the way you describe the harsh beauty of the desert. This recipe sounds so refreshing and is so attractive as well. I like the addition of avocado. Added bonus: a perfect way to use my seldom used martini glasses!
Cocoa & Lavender
September 12, 2021 at 9:59 amIf your martini glasses are used as often as ours, they only come out when they have ceviche in them! The ones we were given for our wedding are so huge that I would never serve a drink in them! Well, maybe one… But it would last a long time! The avocado really adds a nice additional texture to the ceviche. I hope you like it!
Inger @ Art of Natural Liivng
August 21, 2021 at 4:18 pmAlmost poetry David! I could just feel the relief. Ceviche seems a totally fitting celebration!
Cocoa & Lavender
September 12, 2021 at 9:59 amInger – Since you spent a reasonable amount of time in the desert here, you know what I mean! It’s quite something…
Frank
August 22, 2021 at 5:29 amThe ceviche looks lovely, so pretty and refreshing. But I have to say the thing that really caught my eye in this particular post was that spectacular desert garden. I do wish I had your green thumb. Complimenti!
Cocoa & Lavender
September 12, 2021 at 10:00 amThank you for the compliments, Frank, but the credit all goes to Markipedia ! Before we moved here, he bought every book he could find on Sonoran desert gardening, studied them, and then when we arrived, planted a garden! He’s pretty amazing!
John
August 28, 2021 at 3:15 pmI haven’t eaten ceviche since we were in Panama a few years ago, and this recipe takes me back. It’s such an easy and delicious meal and I can SO see myself sitting in your beautiful garden eating it. Your paragraph on the desert flora after the rains drew me in completely. I could almost smell the desert air with your vivid description. Thank you, David.
Cocoa & Lavender
September 12, 2021 at 10:01 amThanks, John. It was a fun post to write, and it seems to have caught the attention of quite a few people. I hope someday you’ll be able to visit us here and see the beauty in person! And, you should definitely make a Ceviche soon!