Thai Chili Squid Recipe

This thai chili squid recipe is super-yummy, healthy, and easy to make. And if you serve it with glass or rice noodles (as in this recipe), it makes a one-pot meal complete with plenty of nutritious vegetables. The squid is stir-fried briefly, so it is very tender and never rubbery. You can also simply serve the stir-fried squid with plain rice. Makes a terrific seafood dish for any occasion, even in the winter (frozen squid works just as well as fresh!). Includes gluten-free instructions.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 6 minutes

Total Time: 26 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2-3 frozen or fresh prepared squid "tubes" (the kind you would use for calamari)
• STIR-FRY SAUCE:
• 1 heaping Tbsp. ground bean sauce (ground soy beans, available by the jar at Asian stores)
• 2 tsp. brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. fish sauce
• 1 Tbsp. soy sauce or wheat-free tamari
• 1-2 tsp. chili sauce, OR 1-2 fresh red or green chilies, minced, OR 1-2 tsp. dried chili flakes
• VEGETABLES:
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 1/2 to 1 cup green beans, cut into 2-inch lengths
• other vegetables of your choice, such as a handful of shiitake mushrooms, or 1 small eggplant, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
• handful of fresh coriander leaves (optional)
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 thumb-size piece galangal or ginger, sliced into matchstick-like pieces
• oil for stir-frying
• NOODLES:
• 1/2 package glass or "cellophane" noodles, OR 1/2 package rice noodles (rice and glass noodles are gluten-free)
• 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock
• 2 Tbsp. oyster sauce, OR for gluten-free diets: 2 Tbsp. wheat-free soy sauce
• 1 tsp. sesame oil

Preparation:

1. Place noodles in a bowl or pot, and cover them with warm water. Allow them to soften while you prepare the squid.
2. If squid is frozen, quickly thaw by dunking squid in a bowl of warm water.
3. Place squid on a cutting board. Slide your knife along one side of the squid to open each tube. Lay the pieces of squid flat.
4. Optional: score the squid with diagonal slices. Score first one way, then the other to create diamond-shaped cuts. Tip: When scoring, try to cut through half the thickness (If your scores are too superficial, they won't be apparent when cooked.) These cuts will "open up" while cooking and give the squid extra visual interest and texture.
5. Slice the [scored or unscored]squid into smaller, bite-size pieces (e.g. triangular and rectangular pieces). Reserve
6. In a pot or bowl, mix stock with oyster sauce (or wheat-free soy sauce) plus sesame oil. Heat to near-boiling. Remove from the burner and add the drained noodles. Stir well. Cover and set aside. (Noodles with absorb this sauce and still be warm when you're ready to serve them).
7. Place 1-2 Tbsp. oil in a wok or frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, carrots, beans, mushrooms and eggplant (or other vegetables of your choice). Stir-fry 2-3 minutes, or until vegetables are soft. Stir-frying Tip: Add a little water to the wok/pan when it becomes too dry instead of more oil.
8. Now add the squid plus the stir-fry sauce. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes, or until squid curls up and the meat is tender. Do not over-cook, or squid will become rubbery (3 minutes maximum).
9. Do a taste test for salt, adding 1-2 more Tbsp. fish sauce if not salty enough. If too sour for your taste, add a little more brown sugar. If not spicy enough, add a little more chilli.
10. To serve, slide noodles onto a serving platter. Top with the stir-fried squid and vegetables. Add sprinklings of fresh basil and coriander, and enjoy!