Cuttlefish with papaya salad

Method

1. For the cuttlefish: mix the cuttlefish and green papaya together in a bowl and set aside (the papaya will tenderize the cuttlefish).

2. For the dressing: in a pestle and mortar pound all the dressing ingredients, apart from the lime juice, into a thick paste. Mix in the lime juice and set aside.

3. For the salad: use a vegetable peeler to shave the papaya flesh into thin slices then shred these slices into thin strips.

4. In a bowl, mix together the sliced green papaya, toasted peanuts and green beans and tear over the basil. Set aside.

5. To cook the cuttlefish, heat the oil in a pan over a high heat until smoking then tip in the cuttlefish and its papaya marinade. Cook for 1 minute or until tinged with golden brown at the edges but still very tender in the middle - take care not to overcook the cuttlefish or it will become tough and rubbery.

6. Tip the cuttlefish and papaya into the cold green papaya salad, pour over the dressing and mix together. Taste and adjust the flavours if necessary by adding more lime juice, Thai fish sauce or palm sugar. Serve straight away.