Squid Salad

The squid salad is one of the famous Vietnamese dishes. It is also healthy and quick to make. All the ingredients are very simple to find and most of them can be purchased at Asian markets or in an American supermarket. The boiled squid takes about 5 minutes, and the vegetables that come with the salad are up to each individual. Squid salad is indeed a delightful and healthy Vietnamese dish that's both quick and easy to prepare. Here's a simple recipe along with two flavorful dipping sauces to enhance your boiled squid.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 medium-sized tube squid (1 lb.)
• 1 medium white onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1 cup shredded white cabbage

Other Ingredients:

• 1 piece of fresh ginger
• 2 kaffir lime leaves
• 1 lemongrass stalk

Seasonings:

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Sugar
• Chicken powder

Dipping Sauce 1 ingredients:

• Equal parts fish sauce, lemon juice, and sugar
• Minced garlic, ginger, and hot chili

Dipping Sauce 2 ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp minced lemongrass
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 3 tbsp coconut milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

 

Directions:

1.    Preparing the Squid:

·         Wash and clean the squid.

·         Slice into 1/2 inch thick rounds.

2.    Boiling the Squid:

·         In a pot, add 2 cups of water, sliced ginger, kaffir lime leaves, and smashed lemongrass.

·         Season the water with salt, sugar, chicken powder, and black pepper.

·         Bring to a boil for 5 minutes, then add the squid.

·         Cook the squid for another 5 minutes, then remove and set aside.

3.    Preparing Dipping Sauce 1:

·         Combine fish sauce, lemon juice, sugar, minced garlic, ginger, and hot chili.

·         Mix well and adjust to your taste.

4.    Preparing Dipping Sauce 2:

·         In a small saucepan, heat olive oil.

·         Add minced lemongrass and cook until fragrant and slightly browned.

·         Add hoisin sauce and coconut milk, stirring and cooking for another 2 minutes.

·         Adjust the taste with salt and add chili powder, if desired.

5.    Serving the Salad:

·         On a serving plate, arrange the shredded cabbage, sliced white onion, and cucumber.

·         Top with the boiled squid.

·         Serve the dipping sauces on the side or pour them over the salad as desired.