Salt Pepper Squid With Roast Chilli Dressing Recipes

CHILLI, SALT AND PEPPER SQUID

Steps:

• Rinse and dry the squid thoroughly.
• Slice each squid tube horizontally into 1/2in rings. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine both types of flour with the chili powder, sea salt and Szechuan pepper. Add the squid and toss to coat, shaking off any excess flour.
• Fill a wok with oil to about a third full (about 2 cups) and heat until the surface seems to shimmer slightly.
• Add half the squid and deep-fry it for between 45 seconds and 1 minute, or until it's just tender and beginning to colour. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain well on kitchen paper. Repeat the process with the remaining squid.
• Arrange the lettuce leaves on a platter and top with the squid. Serve with the lemon wedges.

SALT AND PEPPER SQUID WITH SWEET CHILLI SAUCE AND SAUTéED

Steps:

• Slice the squid into thick rings (or open out the squid tube and lightly score with a criss-cross pattern).
• Pat dry with kitchen paper and chill until ready to cook. Combine the salt, pepper, five spice powder and cornflour in a bowl and set aside.
• For the sweet chilli sauce, place the sugar in a small heavy-based saucepan with 3-4 tablespoons of water.
• Stir to dissolve the sugar, then bring to the boil for 5-8 minutes until reduced and thickened.
• In the meantime, place the garlic, ginger, red chillies, coriander leaves and lime juice in a food processor and whiz to a coarse paste.
• When the sugar syrup has reached a light golden caramel colour, carefully add the spice paste, standing back as the caramel will spit.
• Stir in the fish and soy sauces. Return to the boil and simmer for 1-2 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and leave to cool completely before spooning into small, individual dipping bowls.
• Heat a wok with 5cm of oil until a piece of bread dropped into the oil sizzles vigorously.
• Working in batches, coat the squid with the cornflour mixture, shake off the excess and add to the oil. Deep fry until lightly golden and crisp, making sure not to overcrowd the wok.
• Drain on kitchen paper and repeat with the rest of the squid. Keep the crispy squid warm in a low oven while you cook the bok choy.
• Pour off the oil from the wok and carefully give it a wipe with kitchen paper. Return to the heat with a light drizzle of vegetable oil.
• Add the garlic and fry until it turns golden at the sides. Tip in the bok choy stems and stir fry for a minute.
• Season with the oyster sauce and black pepper, a dash of sesame oil and the chilli flakes. Stir frequently and as soon as the leaves have wilted, transfer to warm plates.
• Serve with the squid and sweet chilli sauce.

SZECHUAN PEPPERED CALAMARI (SALT AND PEPPER SQUID)

Steps:

• If you got whole squid, clean them first: gently pull the head and tentacles away from the body, then pull out the backbone (quill, aka cuttlebone) from inside the body and discard it and the intestines and ink sac; cut the tentacles from the head just below the eyes and discard head; remove membrane/skin from body.
• (How you cut up the squid at this point is a matter of preference, but here's how I like it.).
• Cut the larger tentacles away from the smaller ones, so that you get some single tentacles in the mix.
• Pull or cut the wings away from the body.
• Cut the body down the center so that you can open the two sides up flat, then make strips that are between 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide and about 1 to 1 1/2 inch long; you can also cut the body into 1/4-inch wide tubes, if you like.
• Rinse all the cut pieces, tentacles, and wings well in a sieve, and let drain.
• In a dry skillet, roast the peppercorns over medium high heat until they begin to smoke; remove from heat, let cool, then use a mortar and pestle or other grinder (I use a coffee grinder) to make into a fine powder.
• In a bowl, mix together the flour, salt, cayenne, garlic powder, and powdered peppercorns.
• Add the drained squid pieces, and toss or stir well with your hand to coat them well, shaking off excess.
• Heat oil in a hot wok or deep heavy pan until very hot (the surface should seem to simmer slightly - you can test it with a single piece to see if it's not enough), then deep fry the squid in batches for 1 to 2 minutes until tender and beginning to turn golden. Do not overcook or your cooked squid will turn rubbery -- blech.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and let drain on paper towels.
• Serve immediately with dipping sauce - we like garlic chile sauce, but cocktail sauce or aioli is nice, too.