Squid

Black Pepper Squid

Squid taste nice with black pepper. I had cooked Grilled Squid with Black Pepper some time back. Grilled squid is tough with overcooked. The one is just nice - chewy but tender.

For this dish, I cut down the black pepper to 2 tablespoons and chilli was not added too. Oh, I also reduced the water to just 2 tablespoons as this doesn't need too much cooking to get the flavours in it. You can do the same if you are using Prawns.

In case you are wondering how I cut the squid, I sliced across the squid leaving about a centimeter from the edge. It looked like the squid had lots of rings attached. After which, I half it. When you fried it, it will curl and look like a flower, pretty.

Grilled Squid with Black Pepper

Ingredients:

• 2 Squid, skin (the thin purple one), and internals removed
• 1 tablespoon Chinese Cooking Wine
• 1/2 tablespoon Black Pepper
• 1 teaspoon Salt, preferably coarse salt

How to do it:

1. Slash the squid.
2. Marinate with wine, rub salt and pepper on it.
3. Set aside with the squid still with the above marinade for 1/2 hour.
4. Pierce squid with 2 skewers to prevent it from curling while grilling.
5. Grill squid for 7 - 10 minutes on both sides till cooked.
6. For extra flavours, add some fried/toasted basil leaves to be eaten with the squid.

Note:
Do not over cook the squid otherwise it will be tough.

Chrysanthemum Squid

Ingredients:

• Squid, clean and skin removed
• Baby corn, diced for garnishing
• Salt
• Butter

How to do it:

1. Cut squid into 4cm thick ring.
2. Slice thinly on 3cm of the ring.
3. In a pot of boiling water, add 1 teaspoon of salt.
4. Blanch the squid for about 5 minutes or till cook.
5. Drain and set aside.
6. In a pan, add a teaspoon of butter.
7. Sauté the baby corn and Squid (for flavouring).
8. Remove.
9. Place a piece of babycorn in each squid.
10. Serve.

Note:
You can add batter and fry the squid instead of blanching it. Because my son is eating, I prefer to blanch so it’s not tough.

Fried Fritters with Squid Paste in Salad Cream

Ingredients:

• 2 pair of fried fritters, cubed
• ½ bowl of squid paste

Salad Sauce:

• ½ bowl of salad cream
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

How to do it:

1. Mix all the ingredients of the salad sauce and set aside.
2. Spread some squid paste on 1 side of the fried fritters.
3. Deep fry the fried fritters with the squid paste till golden brown.
4. Pour the salad cream on the fried fritters and mix well.
5. Serve.

My hubby likes this but he compliant that the fried fritters are too big for him to chew properly. Man … why can’t he finish in 2 bites instead on 1? Okay lah. I will take note.

Note:
If you can’t get squid paste, you can make your own. Remove the skin, head and the soft bone from the squid. Leaving only the main part. Mince it and mix with some cornflour. There you have it. And it taste better then the ready made one.