This dish encompasses the perfect combination of numbing, spicy, fresh, and aromatic flavors. Each ingredient is thoughtfully chosen and prepared, harmonizing together to create a distinctive taste and aroma. Every mouthful is an unforgettable experience, reminiscent of savoring the essence of life while embracing the vibrant energy of the city.
Ingredients for Spicy Friend Circle：
| Freshwater shrimp | 200g |
| Squid | 200g |
| Lotus root | 150g |
| Okra | 100g |
| Green pepper | 50g |
| Red pepper | 50g |
| Green onion | 20g |
| Ginger | 10g |
| Garlic | 8g |
| Cooking wine | 5g |
| Chicken powder | 1g |
| Sugar | 5g |
| Cumin | 3g |
| Light soy sauce | 5g |
| Sesame | 6g |
| Coriander | 3g |
| Bean paste | 10g |
| Chili paste | 20g |
| Lao Gan Ma | 5g |
| Dried chilli | 20g |
| Green pricklyash | 20g |
Step:
1.Before cooking this delicious dish, we need to prepare the ingredients. You will need 200 grams of fresh and lively prawns. First, we need to trim off the prawn’s whiskers, rostrum, and legs to make them look neat. Next, we need to carefully pick out the prawn’s digestive tract using a toothpick. This is a black line inside the prawn’s body that needs to be completely removed to ensure the texture and taste of the prawns are not affected. Finally, rinse the prawns thoroughly in clean water to ensure both the surface and interior of the prawns are free from dirt and impurities.
2.To handle squid, you will first need to prepare a fresh squid without any damage or defects. Then, a series of meticulous steps are required to remove the squid’s innards, eyes, and teeth to ensure the desired texture and taste. Firstly, remove the eyes of the squid. The eyes are located at the top of the squid’s head and are semi-transparent. Carefully peel them off to avoid leaving any residue. Next, handle the squid’s teeth. The teeth are triangular and located on the inner side of its tentacles. Use your hands to gently pull out each tooth, making sure all teeth are fully removed without any traces. Afterward, remove the squid’s innards. They are located in the central part of the squid’s body and are black or brown in color. Use your hands to peel the innards away and ensure they are completely cleared without any remnants. Once the innards are removed, you also need to peel off the membrane of the squid. The membrane is white or semi-transparent and is located between the squid’s internal and external body. Tear off the membrane with your hands to ensure the squid’s body is clean without any membranes. Next, cut the squid tentacles into even small sections. Squid tentacles are curved and are often used for grilling or stewing. Use a knife to cut the tentacles into equal-sized small sections, ensuring each section is uniform in size. Finally, slice the squid body into rings. The squid body is cone-shaped or cylindrical and is commonly used for stewing or stir-frying. Use a knife to cut the squid body into even small rings, making sure each ring is of the same size. After completing the cutting of sections and rings, rinse the squid in clean water. This will help remove any dirt or impurities from the squid’s body and ensure it is clean and safe for cooking.
3.Before handling lotus root, you first need to prepare a fresh piece of lotus root. The lotus root has a light brown outer skin, sometimes with a pale green part. To ensure the texture and hygiene of the lotus root, the outer skin needs to be peeled. Use a knife or a peeler to gently remove the outer skin until the white flesh inside is exposed. After peeling, slice the lotus root into thin slices. Thin slices refer to cutting the lotus root into very thin pieces, which helps shorten the cooking time and make the lotus root easier to cook through. Place the lotus root on a cutting board and use a knife to cut it into evenly thin slices. For convenience, you can first cut the lotus root into several sections and then slice them individually into thin slices. The sliced lotus root should appear translucent, allowing the patterns inside to be visible. If the slices are too thick, the lotus root may not cook through easily. Conversely, if they are too thin, they may become mushy. Therefore, it’s important to master the thickness.
4.For preparing okra, start by selecting a small handful of fresh okra. Okra is a very healthy vegetable, rich in nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Choose fresh okra with vibrant colors and no spots to ensure its texture and quality. Next, cut the okra into rounds using a diagonal knife technique. Diagonal cutting is a method that creates different shapes and textures for ingredients. Place the okra on a cutting board and tilt the knife at a 45-degree angle to cut it into round shapes. Be cautious not to cut the rounds too thin to prevent them from becoming mushy.
5.To prepare fresh green and red bell peppers, carefully select ones that are vibrant in color, smooth in appearance, and free from any blemishes. This ensures better taste and helps preserve their nutritional value and texture. Next, cut the green and red bell peppers into rings. Place each pepper on a cutting board, hold the center with your hand, and use a knife to cut them into round shapes following their natural contours. Be cautious not to cut them too thinly to prevent overcooking. Also, make sure to avoid cutting through the seeds and central parts, as it can affect the texture of the rings.
6.Next, we need to prepare some additional ingredients. These include a segment of scallion (white part), a small piece of ginger, a few cloves of garlic, a handful of dried chili peppers, 10 grams of doubanjiang (broad bean paste), 5 grams of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce, and 20 grams of chili sauce. These ingredients will add various flavors and textures to the dish. Start by slicing the scallion into pieces. The white part of scallion has a strong aroma and a crisp texture. Cutting it into thin slices enhances the dish’s freshness. Then, slice the ginger into diamond-shaped slices. Diamond shape is a common geometric shape that adds visual appeal and texture to the dish. Be careful not to slice the ginger too thinly to prevent it from becoming overly soft during cooking. Next, slice the garlic cloves. Garlic is a popular seasoning known for its aromatic and spicy taste. Slicing it into thin pieces adds a flavorful kick to the dish. Finally, add a handful of dried chili peppers. Dried chili peppers are commonly used to add spiciness to dishes. Adjust the quantity based on personal preference for spice level. Lastly, add 10 grams of doubanjiang, 5 grams of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce, and 20 grams of chili sauce. These condiments are crucial for the dish, providing rich aroma and spiciness.
7.Once all the ingredients are prepared, we can move on to the next steps. Firstly, heat oil in a pan or wok until it reaches around 50% of its heating capacity. Then, add the lotus root slices to the hot oil. Fry them over medium heat for about 20 seconds, ensuring they are evenly heated and gradually turn golden brown. Next, add the okra, green bell pepper rings, and red bell pepper rings to the pan, and continue frying for another 20 seconds. During this process, remember to stir and flip the ingredients to ensure even heat distribution and prevent burning. Once fried, remove all the ingredients from the oil and drain off excess oil. This step helps reduce surface oil and enhances the dish’s crispiness. After draining, place the ingredients on a plate, ready for the next cooking step.
8.Next, add the prawns to the pan and immerse them in the hot oil for about 20 seconds. The prawns will turn golden brown and develop a crispy exterior with an enticing aroma. Immersing them briefly in hot oil makes the prawns tender and crispy. Then, add the squid to the pan and fry for another 10 seconds. The squid will quickly curl up, turn golden brown on the surface, and emit a barbecue-like aroma. Once the squid is fried, pour it out of the pan to drain off excess oil. Draining helps reduce excess oil on the surface, resulting in a lighter texture and avoiding excessive greasiness.
9.After the previous steps are completed, we have some remaining oil in the pan. Heat the oil and add a handful of Sichuan peppercorns to release their fragrance. If you prefer a more numbing sensation, you can add more Sichuan peppercorns. Then, add the sauce quickly and stir-fry to disperse and enhance its flavors. Once the sauce turns red and the oil separates, add the previously prepared additional ingredients and stir-fry to bring out the numbing and spicy flavors. During the stir-frying process, control the heat at medium to prevent burning the ingredients. Continuously stir-fry to ensure even heating and full integration of the numbing and spicy flavors.
10.After all the preparations are completed, pour the prepared ingredients into the pan and quickly stir-fry to give the dish color. Use medium heat during this process to preserve the texture and color of the ingredients. Then, pour 5 grams of cooking wine from the edge of the pan to remove any fishy odor. Stir well, and then season the dish. Add 1 gram of chicken powder, a small amount of white sugar, 3 grams of cumin, and 5 grams of light soy sauce to the pan. Quickly stir-fry over medium heat to dissolve and blend the seasonings, allowing the ingredients to fully absorb their flavors. Note that if the seasoning already has enough saltiness, there is no need to add additional salt. Additionally, drizzle a bit of chili oil to enhance the dish’s color and add extra spiciness.
11.After thoroughly stirring, we can remove the delicious dish from the pan and plate it. Transfer the dish to a serving plate and sprinkle sesame seeds and cilantro on top to make it visually appealing and more enticing. The aroma of sesame seeds and the freshness of cilantro perfectly complement the numbing and spicy flavors of this dish, leaving an unforgettable taste. This dish is not only delicious but also rich in nutrients, making it a well-rounded culinary delight.
Tips:
1.Deep-frying in advance allows the ingredients to cook quickly and uniformly.
2.Squid should not be fried for too long as it can easily become overcooked.
Spicy Friend Circle is not just a dish, but also a way of life. It brings together a variety of ingredients and flavors, allowing people to experience the diversity and richness of life while indulging in delicious food. Every bite is a surprise, and each tasting is a new discovery. Spicy Friend Circle enables you to not only enjoy good food but also embrace the infinite possibilities of life.