Seafood Pasta Salad with Refreshing Fish Sauce Dressing
Seafood Pasta Salad with Refreshing Fish Sauce Dressing
A vibrant seafood pasta salad elevated by a clean and savory fish sauce dressing. This recipe combines fresh seafood and crisp vegetables for a delightful dish that’s perfect as a main course, a light lunch, or an impressive addition to your next home party.
Salad Ingredients- 1 cup pasta (approx. 100g)
- 1 medium squid
- 10 medium shrimp
- 1/2 cucumber
- 1/2 tomato (or 1/2 medium tomato)
- 1/4 red onion
- 1 lemon slice (for boiling seafood)
Refreshing Fish Sauce Dressing- 1.5 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 red chili pepper
- 1/2 Korean green chili pepper (cheongyang chili)
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1.5 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 red chili pepper
- 1/2 Korean green chili pepper (cheongyang chili)
- 1 tsp minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the squid by removing the skin and making shallow cross-hatch scores. Cut it into bite-sized pieces (about 2-3 cm). Also, cut the squid tentacles into 5cm sections.
Step 2
Bring a generous amount of water to a boil in a large pot. Add the pasta and cook for about 8 minutes, or 1 minute less than the package instructions suggest for al dente. Drain the pasta, rinse it under cold water, and toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
Step 3
When boiling the squid and peeled shrimp, add a slice of lemon to the boiling water. The lemon’s aroma helps to neutralize any fishy odor, resulting in a cleaner taste. Add the squid and shrimp and cook for about 1-2 minutes, just until they change color and are cooked through. Be careful not to overcook, as they can become tough. Drain and set aside.
Step 4
Wash the cucumber and cut it lengthwise into four pieces. Scoop out the seeds from the center to avoid excess moisture, then chop into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the red onion. Slice the tomato thinly lengthwise (or halve cherry tomatoes). Prepare all vegetables.
Step 5
To add a spicy kick to the dressing, remove the stems and seeds from the red chili pepper and the Korean green chili pepper, then finely mince them. Finely mincing ensures they incorporate well into the dressing and are pleasant to eat.
Step 6
Now, let’s make the delicious fish sauce dressing! In a small bowl, combine 1.5 Tbsp fish sauce, 1 tsp sugar, and 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Add the minced red chili pepper, green chili pepper, and 1 tsp minced garlic from step 4. Whisk everything together until the sugar is dissolved. This creates a refreshing and savory dressing.
Step 7
In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, lightly cooked seafood (squid and shrimp), and prepared vegetables (cucumber, tomato, red onion). Drizzle the fish sauce dressing made in step 5 evenly over the ingredients.
Step 8
Gently toss all the ingredients together to ensure the dressing coats everything evenly, being careful not to mash the vegetables or seafood. Mix until the flavors meld beautifully. Serve immediately and enjoy this delightful seafood pasta salad!
