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Squid in Tamarind Brown Butter with Green Mango
© Cedric Angeles

Squid in Tamarind Brown Butter with Green Mango

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  • ACTIVE: 25 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 1 HR
  • SERVINGS: 6

Zak Pelaccio uses local squid and tamarind to make this at Fatty Crab St. John, but the flavors are primarily Asian. Yuzu kosho, a spicy Japanese condiment made from yuzu zest and chile peppers, adds fragrant citrus notes and heat, while the Indonesian soy sauce known as kecap manis gives the sauce a touch of saltiness and sweetness.

  1. 2 pounds whole cleaned squid
  2. Salt
  3. 2 teaspoons yuzu kosho paste (see Note)
  4. 1 1/2 tablespoons orange-infused olive oil
  5. 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  6. 1 small garlic clove, minced
  7. 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  8. 1/4 cup tamarind puree (see Note)
  9. 1 tablespoon kecap manis (see Note)
  10. 1 tablespoon water
  11. Freshly ground pepper
  12. 1 large unripe mango, peeled and cut into julienne strips
  13. 4 scallions, thinly sliced on a wide diagonal
  1. In a large saucepan, cover the squid with water. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and simmer over low heat until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain. Score each squid body in a crosshatch pattern.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the yuzu kosho paste with the olive oil, lime juice and minced garlic.
  3. In a large skillet, melt the butter over moderately high heat, about 1 minute. Add the squid and sear over high heat until browned, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tamarind puree, kecap manis and water and remove from the heat. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a platter.
  4. In a medium bowl, mix the julienned mango and sliced scallions with the yuzu kosho dressing. Toss the salad with the squid and serve.
Make Ahead

The boiled squid can be tossed lightly in vegetable oil and refrigerated overnight.

Notes

Yuzu kosho, tamarind puree and kecap manis are available at specialty food stores and online at amazon.com.

Suggested Pairing

Rich, ripe Chardonnay from Australia.