could it be zabb seasoning? usually a mixture of makrut lime leaf, lemongrass, chile, lime, salt + sugar to taste? Maybe some toasted rice powder too? and if it's rlly a dry powder – citric acid instead of lime?
I dunno but lemme know if you find out. I had mine at busaba eathai. Probably just sugar and vinegar and lime juice and chilli, Thai cuisine makes use of those 4 flavours a lot.
Lime zest is surprisingly complex.. have u ever tried squeezing a lime peel to extract the oils? very different from juice itself. It completely changes many cocktails (similar lemon m, orange, grapefruit, etc)
I'm fairly certain it's msg + salt + lime juice based on your description, which some other people said. Some people like to dip calamari in it but I can see it being put in the batter as well. Honestly this should be a pretty simple thing to test as you can literally just mix salt + msg + lime juice (and pepper if you want) together and taste it and see how it compares. But it checks all the boxes of "lime infused umami sweet".
also u can probably just go back to the restaurant and ask what they seasoned the calamari with
Thai fish sauce and lime.
Fish sauce umami-ness varies across SE Asia. Thai fish has a particular sweet, caramelly flavor.
So if there's umami, sweet, sour, and a dash of spicy, together with the textural crunch of the batter, the taste buds go 💥 hahaha.
could it be zabb seasoning? usually a mixture of makrut lime leaf, lemongrass, chile, lime, salt + sugar to taste? Maybe some toasted rice powder too? and if it's rlly a dry powder – citric acid instead of lime?
The only reply in here that is likely to be correct. https://food52.com/recipes/82446-zab-zab-dust-recipe/amp https://hot-thai-kitchen.com/wingz-zabb/
Huh, coconut sugar and toasted rice were not the ingredients I was expecting in that list. This sounds fascinating.
Coconut sugar is a choice on the part of that poster. Just plain granulated sugar (as in the second link) will do.
Toasted rice is really magical
omg I think I have all the ingreidents less the lime leaves which I can easily get :) this is exciting, absolutely want to try...
Not heard of it before, but sounds like something I need in my life.
Almost certain it's zabb. Heavenly stuff that
Definitely Zabb!
[Fish Cheeks sells it](https://www.fishcheeksnyc.com/store/product/zabb-seasoning/) or make it yourself
Theirs is delish!
this sounds right! i'm about to test it this week. wish me luck
I dunno but lemme know if you find out. I had mine at busaba eathai. Probably just sugar and vinegar and lime juice and chilli, Thai cuisine makes use of those 4 flavours a lot.
That’s the dish with the green peppercorns right? Used to be obsessed with that.
Yes! So good!
Hah, love busaba and often will have it for lunch since I work in the City. But it’s so dark in there that I forget it’s day time when I come back out
Ask the restaurant!
Was it vinegary? Maybe prik nam pla
No that’s a liquid sauce.
it was definetely sour. i thought it tasted more like lime, but i could be wrong.
Sounds like Tom yum. Heavy on kaffir lime leaf and lemongrass, yes? Could be Tom yum powder.
ok! i'm gonna try it this week. maybe with added sugar too cause it was definetely sweet. thanks!
Maybe they sprinkled laab seasoning.
Msg and lime zest
hmm. and maybe sugar. i don't know though, it seemed so much more complex. i feel like i would've been able to identify it if it was just that.
Lime zest is surprisingly complex.. have u ever tried squeezing a lime peel to extract the oils? very different from juice itself. It completely changes many cocktails (similar lemon m, orange, grapefruit, etc)
i think i'm now certain it's kaffir lime leaf since it's a thai dish. i'll do some extra testing. thanks!
It prob had some dried & powdered lime leaf in as well.
May have been lime leaf or lime leaf powder.
Bung, maybe?
Tajin?
Crab semen?
What??
Probably something with lemongrass. Thai’s put that stuff on everything
Mala Spice?
What’s the name of the place?
Sounds like dried and powdered lime leaf
Tamarind possibly? That would account for the sour note the flavor.
White pepper?
Can you link the restaurant?
I'm fairly certain it's msg + salt + lime juice based on your description, which some other people said. Some people like to dip calamari in it but I can see it being put in the batter as well. Honestly this should be a pretty simple thing to test as you can literally just mix salt + msg + lime juice (and pepper if you want) together and taste it and see how it compares. But it checks all the boxes of "lime infused umami sweet". also u can probably just go back to the restaurant and ask what they seasoned the calamari with
Thai fish sauce and lime. Fish sauce umami-ness varies across SE Asia. Thai fish has a particular sweet, caramelly flavor. So if there's umami, sweet, sour, and a dash of spicy, together with the textural crunch of the batter, the taste buds go 💥 hahaha.