Best Thai Dried Squid Calamari Recipes

SPICY THAI SQUID WITH CHILES AND CILANTRO

Steps:

• Rinse squid under cool running water. Drain and transfer them to a paper towel to dry completely. Cut bodies into 1/2-inch rings and halve tentacles.
• Place a large skillet over high heat. Let pan get very hot, heating it for a good 5 minutes. Move half the squid from the paper towels to a bowl, so they don't stick when you slide them into the pan. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet. Season squid with salt, slide them into the pan, and cook without moving for 1 minute. Flip squid and cook 30 seconds more. Repeat with remaining squid and oil. Don't overcrowd the pan; if your skillet doesn't fit the squid comfortably, cook them in smaller batches.
• In a medium bowl, combine cooked squid with lime juice and zest, fish sauce, shallot, jalapeño and cilantro. Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour (or refrigerate for up to 6 hours, then bring to room temperature before serving). Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve mounded onto cucumber rounds or scooped into shot glasses (and served with a fork), with peanuts sprinkled on top.

AUTHENTIC SPICY THAI SQUID SALAD RECIPE - YAM PLA-MUEK

Steps:

• Prepare the bell peppers and onions by slicing thinly. Add the bell peppers to an ice cold water bath while preparing other ingredients.
• Slice the pickled garlic cloves and set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the pickled garlic juice that was part of the jar.
• Chop up the chilies, pac peow, cilantro, and green onions. Set aside.
• Score both squids by making narrow slices through the squid lengthways, careful not to cut all the way through. Turn the squid and score again to make small diamond shapes. This will allow the strips to curl up with a beautiful presentation.
• Cut the scored squid into bite size pieces, about 1 inch in length.
• Next, you'll want to blanch the squid. Put the squid in a heat safe bowl. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Ladle in the hot water from the pot to the heat safe bowl, and allow the squid to be blanched for about 30 seconds. Drain the squid, and repeat this process 2-3 times until the squid is cooked through. This method allows you to not overcook the squid. Overcooking the squid will turn it rubbery.
• Once the squid is cooked, add in the palm sugar, toasted rice powder, fish sauce, reserved pickled garlic juice, and lime juice. Stir it up.
• Add in the drained bell peppers, onion, and the rest of the herbs along with the crushed peanuts.
• For presentation, you can place the salad on a dish and surround with lots of green vegetables and herbs, adding the Thai chiles on top for a beautiful presentation of the dish.

EASY THAI STYLE FRIED CALAMARI

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Place semolina flour in a shallow bowl or spread over a plate. Stir in the salt and spices. Set aside.
• Place squid tubes horizontally in front of you on a cutting board . Using a sharp knife and cutting toward you, make slices about 1/2-inch wide. This will create nice-size rings.
• Open up the calamari rings and roll them one by one in the flour and salt mixture until they are covered. Place floured rings on a clean plate next to the stove.
• Pour oil into a small- or medium-sized frying pan. The oil should be at least 1-inch deep.
• Turn heat to high- or medium-high, until the oil begins to bubble or "move" from the bottom of the pan. To test if oil is hot enough: using a pair of tongs, dip one of the calamari rings into the oil. If it sizzles and begins to cook, the oil is ready.
• Place as many rings into the oil as can comfortably fit at one time. Fry about 1 minute, then turn the rings over to cook on the other side.
• Turn heat down to medium to prevent oil splattering. The calamari should turn a light golden brown. Avoid over-cooking, or squid will turn rubbery.
• When rings are done frying, remove from oil and place on a clean kitchen towel or paper towel to drain.
• Serve immediately while still hot. Serve with Thai sweet chili sauce.

THAI DRIED SQUID (CALAMARI)

Steps:

• Cut squid into desired serving pieces leaving as rings - see below.
• Mix soy sauce, sugar, salt & pepper together in a flat dish and marinate overnight, turning occasionally.
• Drain the squid and pat dry with paper towel.
• Carefully thread squid rings over skewers leaving a bit of space in between and place over the top of oven racks so the squid is hanging down between the racks.
• Set oven to 50C / 120F and dry for 4 hours with something in place to keep the door open an inch or so. If you want to keep the rings round you'll need to periodically turn as the squid starts to dry.
• Before serving grill or broil on high heat for around 3 minutes.