Stir fried squid and He and tofu soup

Stir Fried squid

I used to be petrified of eating squid or octopus when I was little - especially the tentacles. I used to think that they would come alive in my throat and try to climb back out. Now as an adult, I can appreciate their taste. However, I found out that Korean's have a delicacy which is based on my own food nightmare. They chop up the squid while it is still alive and pop it in their mouth while it is still squirming. Charming eh?


The ingredients in this dish are interchangeable so change the protein or combos of veggies.

INGREDIENTS:
Garlic
Onion
Squid
Celery
Sour mang (bamboo leaves)
Oil
Oyster sauce
Sesame oil

Chop the garlic finely. Cut the onion into medium chunks. Prepare the squid by deboning and cleaning. Then chop into 1 inch pieces, leave the tentacles whole. Chop the celery and mang into 1/2 inch pieces. Heat up oil in a pan and add the garlic then onions. Brown slightly then add the celery and stir till softened. Add the squid until cooked, add the mang and then season to taste. Serve with black pepper on top.

He and Tofu Soup

He is a type of green which looks like a really long blade of grass. You can buy with or without the flowers. This soup can be sweet to the taste if the he is fresh, but can be chewy if dry or old. The ones with the flower tend to be sweeter. You can use seaweed that is dried, just soak before using. You can also use seaweed that you wrap sushi in, but place in the bottom of the bowl and pour the soup on top instead of cooking it with the broth. This better made just before eating rather than in advance as the he can overcook.

INGREDIENTS:
Prawns
He
Nguoc mam
Salt
Seaweed
Water
Soft tofu

Mush the prawns and marianade in salt, pepper and a little nguoc mam. Cut the tofu in small rectangles. Cut the he into thirds separating the flowers from the blades/stems. Heat about4-5 cups of water in a pan and bring to the boil. Add the prawns and leave till they are just cooked. Add the stems of the he and leave for about a minute. Add the flowers and the tofu. Season to taste and then add the dried seaweed (sushi seaweed see above). Serve immediately.