Adobong Pusit sa Gata Recipe

“Ginataan” or coconut milk based dishes are varied in Filipino cooking. There are lots of Filipino recipes that includes coconut milk from viands to desserts, pork, chicken, beef, fish or shellfish. This simple recipe of ginataang pusit only requires few ingredients and will take just a few minutes to cook.

Although squid is an easy ingredient to prepare, it can also prove a bit tricky. It cooks in a flash and can considerably toughen even with a few extra minutes in the pan. A good pot of ginataang pusit is kinda like a balancing act. You want that delicious stage where the coconut milk has reduced enough to render fat but without overcooking the squid. To achieve a thick sauce while maintaining the tenderness of the squid, I apply a two-part cooking process. I briefly simmer the squid adobo-style in vinegar and I then cook off the coconut-based sauce before returning the squid back to the pan to soak up all the creamy goodness. Try it for dinner tonight and please let me know what you think.

Adobong Pusit sa Gata

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 4 Servings

Ingredients

• 2 pounds squid
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 onion, peeled and sliced thinly
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 1 thumb-sized ginger, peeled and julienned
• 1 to 2 Thai chili peppers, stemmed and minced
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Holding the squid firmly, pull the head from the body including internal parts and tentacles. Pull out the clear cartilage inside the tube and discard. With a knife, cut the head and the ink sack from the tentacles. Set aside the tentacles. Peel the spotted outer membrane from the squid and discard.
2. Under cold running water, wash the tentacles and the tubes inside and outside to remove any remaining tissue or debris. Drain well and pat dry. Cut the body into rings by slicing vertically.
3. In a pot over medium heat, combine squid, 2 cloves of the garlic, bay leaf, pepper corns and vinegar. Bring to a boil for about 3 to 5 minutes or until squid changes color. Remove from heat and drain, reserving about 1 cup of the liquid.
4. In a pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add onions, ginger, chili peppers and the remaining 1/2 of the garlic. Cook until limp and aromatic. Add tomatoes and cook, mashing with back of spoon, until softened. Add fish sauce and cook for about 1 to 2 minutes.
5. Add coconut milk and the reserved liquid. Bring to a simmer. Continue to cook until liquid is reduced and begins to render fat. Add squid and cook for about 5 minutes or until cooked through. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.