Yum Pla Muk
Yum Pla Muk is a delicious Thai dish featuring squid (Pla Muk) as the main ingredient. It's a refreshing and spicy salad that's perfect for seafood lovers. Here's an authentic recipe for Yum Pla Muk based on a dish I enjoyed in a Koh Samui night market
Equipment
- 1 pot of water
- 1 small bowl
- 1 large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 300 g baby squid (remove eyes)
- 1 whole shallot (thinly sliced)
- 1 whole tomato (cut into wedges)
- ½ whole onion (thinly sliced
- 3 spring onions (chopped)
- 1 carrot (Julienned)
- 1 small mooli radish (Julienned)
- 3 stalks coriander (chopped)
- 4 red chilies (sliced)
- 2 tbsp roasted peanuts roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp palm sugar or brown sugar
- 1 tbsp roasted chili flakes
- fresh lettuce leaves
- cucumber slices for garnish
- ¼ white cabbage (grated)
Instructions
Prepare the Squid
- If using whole squid, clean them thoroughly by removing the head, beak, and internal organs. Peel off the skin and rinse well.
- Slice the squid into rings or tubes, depending on your preference.
Blanch the Squid
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Drop the squid into the boiling water and blanch for about 1-2 minutes until they turn opaque.
- Quickly remove the squid from the boiling water and drain. Set aside to cool.
Make the Dressing
- In a small bowl, mix together fish sauce, lime juice, and palm sugar until the sugar dissolves. Taste and adjust the flavors according to your preference. You should have a balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy.
Assemble the Salad
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the blanched squid, sliced shallot, tomato wedges, sliced onion, chopped spring onions, Julienned carrot and mooli raddish, chopped coriander, and sliced red chillies.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine, ensuring all ingredients are coated with the dressing.
Serve
- Arrange fresh lettuce leaves and grated cabbage on a serving plate.
- Transfer the squid salad onto the lettuce leaves.
- Garnish with chopped roasted peanuts and roasted chili flakes.
- Add cucumber slices for additional freshness.
- Serve the Yum Pla Muk immediately as a refreshing appetiser or as part of a Thai meal.
Notes
This dish offers a delightful combination of flavors and textures, with the tangy dressing complementing the tender squid perfectly. Adjust the spice level according to your taste preferences, and enjoy the authentic taste of Thai cuisine!