Hearty and delicious! Learn about the history and recipe of the delicious Jalea Mixta

Among the dishes based on marine ingredients, we have great classics of the Peruvian gastronomy, being Jalea Mixta (Peruvian Mixed Fried Seafood with lime-marinated salad) one of the favorites. Let's learn more about this Northern delicacy!

Jalea Mixta is one of the most beloved seafood dishes of the Peruvian food. with its fresh and crunchy ingredients, it charms adults and children who accompany their summer days with its delicious flavor. The lines below describe the history of this dish within the Peruvian gastronomy, and also reveal the classic recipe for you to taste it from the comfort of your home. 

The Story of Jalea Mixta

What would Peruvian food be without northern dishes? Piura and Lambayeque are the cradle of many delicious dishes that cannot be missed among the best of our gastronomy. Jalea Mixta was born in these regions, under the influence of the Mochica culture. It should be noted that according to its ingredients, the jalea can be "fish jalea", "seafood jalea" and "mixed jalea", which combines both fish and seafood. And currently, it is served with fried yucca, corn, and Peruvian style creole sauce (salsa criolla).

The word “jalea” comes from a mochica technique in which the fish was cut into long pieces, and then be dried in the sun. The next step is to cook these pieces of fish in coals and finally it is served with onion sauce, lemon juice and cooked yucca. The background of the jalea as we know it today dates back to the XIX century: this preparation was directly influenced by the ancestral one in which large pieces of fish were served cooked on the grill, together with a sauce of onion, chili, sweet potato, and corn, to which lemon juice or sour oranges could be added. The current recipe has as its most important variation that the pieces of fish are shorter and fried with a flour and egg preparation that makes it crispy. 

In the case of Jalea Mixta, this preparation is not only made for fish meat but also for seafood such as prawns, squid, and fish roe, resulting in a rich diversity of flavors.

Jalea Mixta Recipe

Here is how to prepare a Jalea Mixta to enjoy at home. It's so quick and easy!

Ingredients: 

• from 10 to 12 peeled prawns
• 4 clean squid, sliced
• 400 g fresh fish fillets cut into medium pieces
• 2 large fish roes cut into pieces
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 crushed garlic
• 1 lemon
• 1 beaten egg yolk
• flour
• potato flour (chuño)
• oil

Preparation:

1. First, season the peeled prawns, clean squid slices, and fresh fish fillet pieces along with the large roes. Add salt, pepper, ground garlic and lemon drops.
2. Then, you must pass the ingredients through the beaten egg and a mixture of unprepared flour with chuño.
3. Finally, fry over high heat to make it crispy.

Dare to prepare this delicious Jalea Mixta and enjoy the best of the northern cuisine.