Delicious and Attractive Mekong Delta Style Squid Salad Recipe

Mekong Delta style squid salad is a rustic dish that is incredibly appealing with its harmonious sweet and sour flavor, combined with the crunchy texture of squid and fresh vegetables. This dish is not only perfect for a family meal change but also a great choice for gatherings with friends. Let’s explore how to make Mekong Delta style squid salad through the following article!

Mekong Delta style squid salad

Ingredients Needed

To make Mekong Delta style squid salad, you will need the following ingredients:

• Squid: 1kg
• Pork belly: 200g
• Green papaya: 1 fruit
• Green mango: 1 fruit
• Carrot: 1 root
• Onion: 1 bulb
• Shallot: 50g
• Lemongrass: 2 stalks
• Ginger: 1 small root
• Roasted peanuts: 50g
• Roasted sesame seeds: 5g
• Rice paper with sesame seeds or prawn crackers: as needed
• Herbs: Vietnamese coriander, fish mint, celery, cilantro
• Seasonings: fish sauce, sugar, chili, garlic, lime, vinegar

Ingredients for squid salad

Steps to Follow

Preparing the Squid and Other Ingredients

Step 1: Clean the squid by soaking it in diluted saltwater for about 30 minutes to remove impurities. Then rinse and boil it in a pot with a few crushed ginger slices, 1 teaspoon of salt, and crushed lemongrass. Boil for about 7-10 minutes from when the water starts boiling. Once the squid is cooked, remove it and immediately soak it in cold water to maintain its crunchiness.

Step 2: Remove the squid meat, rinse, and slice into bite-sized pieces.

Step 3: Rinse the pork belly, boil until cooked, then slice into thin strips.

Step 4: Peel the green papaya, green mango, and carrot, rinse, and slice into thin strips. Soak these vegetables in ice water to keep them crunchy.

Step 5: Peel the onion, slice thinly. Rinse the herbs (Vietnamese coriander, fish mint, celery, and cilantro), and chop finely.

Step 6: Peel the shallot, slice thinly, and fry until golden with cooking oil, then drain the oil. Lightly crush the roasted peanuts for a coarse texture.

Boiling squid with ginger and lemongrass effectively removes any fishy smell

Making the Salad Dressing

In a pot, mix 5 tablespoons of fish sauce and 1 tablespoon of sugar, stir well, and bring to a gentle boil. Then turn off the heat, let it cool, and add 1 tablespoon of lime juice, 2 tablespoons of vinegar, chopped chili, and minced garlic. Mix well and adjust the seasoning to achieve a balanced sweet and sour taste.

Making the salad dressing

Mixing the Salad

Combine all the ingredients including squid, boiled pork belly, green papaya, green mango, carrot, onion, and herbs in a large bowl. Gradually pour the salad dressing over the mixture, and mix well with your hands to ensure all ingredients are well-coated.

Mixing the squid salad

Finishing and Enjoying

Sprinkle roasted peanuts, roasted sesame seeds, and fried shallots over the salad, and mix gently once more. Then arrange the salad on a plate, garnish attractively, and enjoy with rice paper with sesame seeds or fried prawn crackers.

Finished squid salad

Tips and Notes

• Do not overcook the squid as it will shrink and lose its natural sweetness.
• To check if the squid is cooked, use a skewer to pierce the thickest part of the squid. If it goes through easily, the squid is cooked.
• If you cannot find rice paper with sesame seeds, you can buy regular rice paper at the supermarket and deep-fry it as a substitute.
• To make the salad more flavorful, you can adjust the amount of fish sauce, sugar, and lime to suit your taste.

Conclusion

Making Mekong Delta style squid salad is not complicated at all. With the right ingredients and following the steps provided, you can easily prepare this delicious and attractive dish. The combination of the crunchy texture of squid, the tender fat of pork belly, and the distinctive sweet and sour flavor of the dressing will surely satisfy every guest. Try it out to bring a unique culinary experience to your family and friends!

Good luck with this recipe! Don’t forget to follow Sổ Tay Món Ăn for more delicious and appealing recipes!