Calamari salad

Calamari or squid salads are really light and take only 15 minutes to make. It is important not to overcook squid or it can become rubbery and not very appetizing. A quick turnin a hot pan is all it really needs and toped off with the really great thai style dressing will make this salad a firm favorite. (serves 4)

What you need

4 calamari steaks or about 400g of calamari rings
1 mango, sliced
4 spring onions
Mixed greens ( 1 packet of mixed salad leaves)
1 large red chili chopped (optional)

Dressing

3 teaspoons brown sugar
60 ml lemon or lime juice (4 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon fish sauce

The process

With a sharp knife lightly score the calamari steaks diagonally in both directions to create diamond shapes on the surface. Be careful not to cut through the steak.

Heat a frying pan to hot and add a little oil for frying. Quickly fry the calamri pieces tossing them until they curl up and are lightly browned. This should take no longer than 1 or 2 minutes. remove from the pan and cut into strips.

Place all of the dressing ingredients into a bowl and whisk furiously for a minute or so.

Place all of the salad ingredients including the mango, along with the sliced calamari into a large bowl. Pour over the dressing and toss around ensuring that the leaves and calamari are coated with the dressing.

Depending on your taste you can make double the amount of dressing and drizzle some over the top when served.

Add tomatoes, finely sliced cucumber or whatever takes your fancy.