Authentic Spicy Thai Squid Salad Recipe - Yam Pla-Muek

Ingredients

• 2 squids
• 1/2 yellow bell pepper, sliced and chilled
• 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced and chilled
• 1 sweet white onion, sliced
• 3 pickled garlic bulbs, sliced
• 3 Thai chilies, chopped
• 1/3 cup of pac peow, chopped
• 1/3 cup of cilantro, chopped
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon of palm sugar
• 1 tablespoon of toasted rice powder
• 2 tablespoons of fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons of lime juice
• 2 tablespoons of reserved pickled garlic juice
• 2 tablespoon of roasted peanuts, crushed

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the bell peppers and onions by slicing...: Prepare the bell peppers and onions by slicing thinly. Add the bell peppers to an ice cold water bath while preparing other ingredients.

2. 2

   Slice the pickled garlic cloves and set aside....: Slice the pickled garlic cloves and set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the pickled garlic juice that was part of the jar.

3. 3

   Chop up the chilies, pac peow, cilantro, and...: Chop up the chilies, pac peow, cilantro, and green onions. Set aside.

4. 4

   Score both squids by making narrow slices through...: 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.

5. 5

   Cut the scored squid into bite size pieces,...: Cut the scored squid into bite size pieces, about 1 inch in length.

6. 6

   Next, you'll want to blanch the squid. Put...: 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.

7. 7

   Once the squid is cooked, add in the...: 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.

8. 8

   Add in the drained bell peppers, onion, and...: Add in the drained bell peppers, onion, and the rest of the herbs along with the crushed peanuts.

9. 9

   For presentation, you can place the salad on...: 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.