Sour and spicy squid

iwanttogoback

copied from the recipe of the day thread

Sour and spicy squid

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have cooked this the last two weekends and last night served it to friends. it went down really well (although i would suggest not using whole baby octopus, they looked a little disturbing!) tastes even better after a day or two.

3 tblspn oil
2 medium onions, cut into half rings
garlic to taste
1 tin of tomatoes, chopped
2 tblspns Rechad spicy paste (recipe follows)
450g cleaned squid, octopus - cut into manageable strips
2 tblspn lemon juice (or 1 tblsp tamarind paste if you can get it)
salt to taste
450ml water

heat the oil and fry the onions until golden.
add the garlic and fry until onion just begins to brown.
add tomato and cook until they are soft.
add rechad spicy paste and cook for one minute.
add the water, bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer. simmer until sauce is reduced by half.
add the squid and lemon juice or tamarind paste.
stir and cook a few minutes until squid has turned white.

i served it with black pepper rice and ginger cabbage with peas. yum, yum.

rechad spicy paste

30gm dried red chillies
1-2 tsp cumin seeds
2.5 cm cinnamon stick
1 tsp cardamom pods
1 tsp cloves
1 tblspn black peppercorns
2 tblsp red paprika
1 tblspn oil
1 onion, peeled and roughly cut
1/2 head garlick, peeled and roughly cut
2 5cm pieces of fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 tsp salt
100 ml cider vinegar

put chillies, cumin seeds, cinnamon, cardamom pods, cloves and peppercorns into a grinder and grind to powder.
put into the container of an electric blender and add paprika.
heat the oil over medium-high heat.
when hot add onion, garlic and ginger. cook, stirring until onion is soft.
empty into blender, add salt and vinegar and blend thoroughly.

much thanks to madhur jaffrey