Friday, April 12, 2013

Kerabu Sotong Kering - Kelantan Dish - Dish 5


Like I mentioned previously I have never been to Kelantan but I am very curious about the state and I have been asking my sisters and friends about the state and its food. A friend of mine visited it in mid 1990’s and she was not impressed with it as it wasn’t as well developed as the other states in Malaysia. My family has a housing project there now and my sisters have been flying there once a week. They told me Kelantan is no longer that sorry state. In fact, it has grown so much over the short years that one could hardly recognize certain areas as there was so much development.

My friend Shereen’s been there too and she don’t exactly remember much about the place but the one thing that she can't forget was the delicious lingering smell of smoked squid all over the city. It seemed every street had a hawker fanning charcoal in a makeshift barbeque pit smoking dried squid beside the road. She said once you had the first taste, you’ll be hooked.


I saw this recipe on Betty Saw’s cookbook and I since have some shredded Chinese style dry squid I thought I give this recipe a go. Being so far away from home, I make do with what I can find here but if you are in Malaysia, you can easily find the prepared shredded cuttlefish sold in packets all over Kelantan and Terengganu state. In fact, I am pretty sure that you can even find it in your local supermarket nowadays. I also did not use green mango as I can't find any at the Asian grocery. I've used not quite ripe Mexico mango and I think that it tastes even better from the sweetish and not too sour flesh. Feel free to adapt the recipe to your liking. There is no right or wrong in replicating a recipe as long as you follow the basic.


Ingredients:
Adapted from : Betty Saw’s The Complete Malaysian Cookbook

90 gm dried cuttlefish shreds
1 small green mango, peeled, seeded and cut into strips
1/2 cucumber, remove seeds then shredded
2 fresh red chilies, finely sliced
6 bird's eye chilies / cili padi, finely sliced
7 shallots, peeled and finely sliced
3 - 4 limes / limau nipis or to taste, juiced
2 tbsp sugar or to taste


1. Wash and drain cuttlefish flakes. Then, dry them in the sun or in an oven preheated to 150 C / 300 F (I dried mine in the oven and forgot all about it after 10 minutes. I ended up with very crunchy and a bit on the dark side cuttlefish)
2. Meanwhile, combine all remaining ingredients, in a bowl. When well mixed, transfer to a colander and leave to drain for 1 hour. 3. Just before serving, toss squid crisps with other ingredients to combine. Serve immediately.

I am submitting this post to Malaysian Food Fest, Kelantan Month hosted by My Kitchen Snippets

10 comments:

cikmanggis said...

sungguh kreatif sekali hidangan ini.Cm tak pernah makan kerabu sotong kering .Selalunya my mom masak kerabu sotong basah.Terima kasih.Nanti nak cuba jugak.Semua resipi Kelantan I nak cuba akibatnya..hmmm..psttt timbangan naik lorrr

Aziela said...

I've never tried this dish eventhough I'll be in kelantan at least once a month. I should try to make it at home. Better, find the sotong kering itself fresh from Kota Bharu, maybe...hehehehhee. Owh, is it ok if I sprinkle some fried peanuts in the salad?

PH said...

Gertrude, I also saw this recipe in Betty Saw's book but I haven't found the dried squid. I am sure it is a very appetizing dish.

Shereen said...

This is my favourite kerabu and I ate so much of it while I was in kelantan that the inside of my mouth all pecah.. Lol! I want to do this dish when I can get hold some dry shredded squid. Thanks for sharing:))

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

I saw a lot of stall selling BBQ squid but we have no chance to try out since we had too many foods to try out..and did not notice this type of kerabu too , sound so good!

Lisa Ho said...

Haven't been to Kelate too :(

Lovely kerabu :D

MamaFaMi said...

I have been to Kelantan a few times and can see the difference in every trip. Developing.

One thing about Kelantan food, there must be a sweet taste to the cooking. :)

My Little Space said...

Gosh, I can finish it all by myself. Remember, don't invite me to your house if you're planning to make this dish. haha....
Have a great week ahead dear.
Kristy

Elin Chia said...

Well done Gertrude ! I can have the whole plate all to myself :) Can you imagine eating this in front of the tv and watching korean dramas ! yea heaven on earth :)

ICook4Fun said...

Cikmanggis, tell me about it. From bulan depan kena diet balik ha ha..

Azuela, Make sure you try it out the next time you go there. I memang hantu sotong kering. he he..Well, why not. If I have peanuts in hand I pun akan taruk :)

Phong Hong, yes it is. Do try to make this. Real appetizing and I know you like salad :)

Shereen, ha ha you didn't tell me this part of your story :)

Sonia, I got this recipe from Betty Saw cookbook and not sure how she got it :)

Lisa, me either :(

Mama, yes that was what my sister told me. They go there every week.

Kristy, don't worry, I just have to make more. You are more than welcome to visit us :)

Elin, thank you. ha ha you are still with your Korean drama? I stop watching them because of work :(