Best Thai Squid With Chilies And Basil 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.

CRISPY SQUID WITH GARLIC, CHILE, AND BASIL

Steps:

• The lightly beaten eggs should be in one medium bowl and the bread crumbs in another. Season both the eggs and the bread crumbs with salt and pepper. Take the squid rings and tentacles and coat them with the egg. Remove and allow any excess egg to drip off, and then roll the pieces in the bread crumbs. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and refrigerate.
• In a medium-size saute pan, heat the chile oil lightly. Add the garlic and season with salt and pepper. Take care not to brown the garlic but instead sweat it so that the liquid emerges and it becomes translucent. Add the sliced celery and stir to coat everything evenly. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the lemon slices and set aside to cool.
• Pour the oil into a heavy-bottomed pot (or alternatively, a deep fryer). Heat the oil slowly to 375 degrees F. Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature. Line a baking sheet with a kitchen towel to drain the squid once they are cooked.
• When ready to serve, drop the squid, in small batches, into the oil. Fry until crispy, turning on both sides with a slotted metal spoon, about 3 to 5 minutes. Drain them on the lined baking sheet. Season immediately with salt and toss with the basil leaves. Serve the garlic sauce on the side or drizzle over top. Serve immediately.

STIR-FRIED SQUID WITH BASIL AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Dry the squid well with cloth or paper towels. Cut vertically through the group of tentacles if it is large; otherwise, leave whole. Cut the squid bodies into rectangles, diamonds, or squares, with no dimension greater than 1 inch. The pieces should be fairly uniform in size. Have everything else ready and at hand before you begin to cook.
• Put a large nonstick skillet over high heat; add the oil and, when it shimmers, add the garlic, chiles, and coriander. Cook, stirring almost constantly, for 15 seconds. Raise the heat to high, add the squid, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes, just until it loses its raw look.
• Lower the heat to medium and stir in the sugar, nam pla, lime leaf if you have it, and basil. Cook, stirring, for another few seconds, just until the basil wilts. Taste, add salt or more chile or nam pla if necessary, and serve.
• Same technique, different ingredients: In step 3, stir in 1/4 cup water, 1 tablespoon go chu jang (page 591) or 1 tablespoon miso mixed with a pinch of cayenne, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (page 596), and 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil. Instead of basil, garnish with minced scallion.

THAI SQUID WITH CHILIES AND BASIL

Steps:

• Pound of grind the red and green chilies, the garlic, the cilantro, and salt to a paste.
• Heat the oil in a wok or skillet and fry the paste over high heat for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant. Add the squid and banana peppers and stir-fry for about 3 minutes until squid is cooked.
• Add fish sauce, sugar, lime leaves and basil. The mixture should taste hot, salty and sweet, so adjust seasonings if necessary.