Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Squid Recipe
Delicious Stir-fried Squid with Vegetables
Introducing a recipe for stir-fried squid featuring tender squid, crisp vegetables, and a perfectly balanced spicy-sweet sauce. We’ll show you a special scoring technique to make your squid extra appealing. This dish is a true rice-lover’s delight!
Main Ingredients- 2 squids (approx. 500g, cleaned)
- 100g carrot
- 100g cabbage
- 1 stalk green onion
- 100g onion
- 1 red chili pepper
- 2 Korean green chili peppers (for heat)
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
Spicy-Sweet Sauce Ingredients- 4 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru oil (recommended ‘seasoned chili oil’, refer to @7029554 recipe for details)
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 green onion (white part, finely minced)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1 Tbsp plum extract
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 pinches salt
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of ginger powder (optional, for aroma)
- Pinch of black pepper
- 4 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru oil (recommended ‘seasoned chili oil’, refer to @7029554 recipe for details)
- 2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 green onion (white part, finely minced)
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1 Tbsp plum extract
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 pinches salt
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- Pinch of ginger powder (optional, for aroma)
- Pinch of black pepper
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the squid by scoring the inside diagonally, then score in the opposite direction. This creates a beautiful criss-cross pattern when cooked, making it more visually appealing and tender. Cut the body into 1cm wide pieces and the tentacles to a similar length.
Step 2
Next, prepare the vegetables. Slice the carrot thinly into matchsticks or rounds. Cut the green onion in half lengthwise. Shred the cabbage and onion into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the red and green chilies diagonally for color and heat. (Remove seeds from green chilies if you prefer less spice).
Step 3
Now, let’s make the amazing sauce that brings this dish to life! In a small bowl, combine the finely minced white part of the green onion, gochugaru, gochugaru oil, minced garlic, soy sauce, cooking wine, plum extract, sugar, salt, sesame seeds, ginger powder, and black pepper. Mix everything thoroughly with a spoon. Using seasoned chili oil (refer to @7029554 for how to make it) will add a deeper flavor, but regular chili oil works too. Making the sauce in advance allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Step 4
Heat a large skillet or wok over medium heat and add 1-2 tablespoons of cooking oil. Start by stir-frying the firmer vegetables: add the carrots and cook briefly, then add the onions and cabbage. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until the vegetables are slightly softened but still retain some crispness. This step ensures the vegetables stay delightfully crunchy.
Step 5
Push the stir-fried vegetables to one side of the pan. Add the prepared squid and the sauce to the empty space. Turn the heat up to high. As soon as the squid turns opaque and starts to cook, quickly toss everything together with the vegetables. Be careful not to overcook the squid, as it can become tough.
Step 6
Now, add the sliced red and green chilies, along with the cut green onion, for color and an extra kick. Stir-fry for another 30 seconds to 1 minute, just until everything is well combined and the sauce has slightly thickened. The goal is for the ingredients to be coated and the sauce to be luscious.
Step 7
Just before turning off the heat, drizzle 1 tablespoon of sesame oil around the edges of the pan. This final touch adds a wonderful nutty aroma and a beautiful sheen to the dish.
Step 8
Finally, for the perfect finishing touch! Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds over the stir-fry. Your delicious, spicy, sweet, and chewy stir-fried squid is ready! Serve it over hot rice for a fantastic squid bowl, or enjoy it as a wrap with fresh lettuce and other greens.
