Maui- Opihi Ceviche

Opihi is a sea creature like a snail, that has a shell, and it sucks itself on the rocks, in the ocean, near the shoreline.
Some might say oyster, others clams, well an opihi is really a Limpet... okay just call that sucker a snail. Our Limpets have a Chinaman's hat shaped shell, with grooves running down from the center down to the sides. To get these creatures, we put on tubbies, or rubber soled beach shoes that grips the slippery rocks, and we use butter knives, or screwdrivers to pry the creatures off of the rocks, then put them into a sack, fill it up and take it home clean it out in fresh water, and freeze it for later usage, usually for some party like a baby's first luau, an uncle's retirement, or junior's graduation. Or celebrating the obnoxious neighbor's prison sentence.


Here's a simple Opihi Ceviche recipe


1/2 lb. of shelled opihi and rinsed
1 large tomato diced
1 small round Maui Sweet onion diced
1/2 stalk celery minced
4 oz. of diced cucumber
1 tsbp. chopped cilantro
1 tsp. coriander
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 cup of fresh lime juice
1 lime sliced thin for garnish
1 cup diced pineapple for garnish


1. In a glass or nonreactive bowl, put all of the ingredients inside, except the garnishes.
2. Cover and refrigerate for about 3 hours.
3. When ready to serve divide into small dishes, and garnish with lime slices and pineapples, add more salt and pepper to taste.


Photo: www.flickr.com

Locals like to grill opihi right from the ocean and onto the hot grill, and eat it with chili pepper water, soy sauce, vinegar, Hawaiian salt, and whatever they can get their hands on. But a nice cold bottle of brew goes well with these chewy creatures.


If you are ever on Maui, find a local that makes good opihi, and try it out, you'll have to ask and search for it.