Spicy and Tangy Soft and Chewy Stir-Fried Squid
Easy and Delicious Stir-Fried Squid Recipe for Beginners
Enjoy this delightful stir-fried squid dish when you’re craving something flavorful! The chewy squid combined with crisp vegetables, all tossed in a spicy and tangy sauce, is absolutely delicious whether mixed with noodles or rice, and makes for a fantastic appetizer or drinking snack. The key to a great stir-fried squid dish lies in how you blanch the squid to make it tender, not rubbery. By scoring the squid and blanching it briefly, you can achieve a wonderfully soft yet chewy texture, even if you leave the skin on. Packed with your favorite vegetables and seasoned to be delightfully spicy, this dish is not overly high in calories. Plus, squid is low in fat and high in protein, making it a healthier choice than meat. Let’s get started on making this spicy, tangy, and utterly addictive stir-fried squid!
Main Ingredients- 2 prepared squids
- 2 handfuls of cabbage (about 1/4 head)
- 1/2 cucumber
- 20 perilla leaves
- 1 small onion
For Blanching Squid- A pinch of ginger powder
Seasoning for Stir-Fried Squid- 2 Tbsp heaping gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 3 Tbsp corn syrup or rice syrup
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce (anchovy or sand lance)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- A pinch of ginger powder
Seasoning for Stir-Fried Squid- 2 Tbsp heaping gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 3 Tbsp corn syrup or rice syrup
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce (anchovy or sand lance)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the secret weapon for our delicious stir-fried squid: the sauce! Let it sit to develop its flavors. In a bowl, combine all the seasoning ingredients: gochujang, sugar, corn syrup, fish sauce, gochugaru, minced garlic, and toasted sesame seeds. Mixing the sauce in advance allows the flavors to meld beautifully, resulting in a richer taste.
Step 2
Using pre-cleaned squid from the market makes preparation incredibly simple. Just rinse it under running water, and it’s ready to cook! If you prefer not to have the squid skin, you can remove it at this stage.
Step 3
I chose to keep the skin on to preserve the squid’s nutrients and texture. For squid with skin, make diagonal scores across the body. This scoring will help the squid cook more evenly, become tender, and look more appealing when blanched. Cut the tentacles into bite-sized pieces as well.
Step 4
Now it’s time to blanch the squid. In a pot, bring plenty of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, add a pinch of ginger powder to eliminate any fishy odors. Add the prepared squid. Gently stir the squid with a spatula to ensure even cooking. The blanching time depends on the amount of squid; for one squid, blanch for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. If you’re cooking more than one, extend the time slightly, up to about 1 minute 30 seconds. Overcooking will make the squid tough.
Step 5
Immediately after blanching, rinse the squid under cold running water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Rinsing in cold water helps retain the squid’s natural juices, keeping it firm and chewy. Drain the squid well in a colander.
Step 6
Let’s prepare the vegetables for our stir-fried squid. Thinly slice the cabbage. Wash the perilla leaves and cut them into 2-3 pieces. Slice the cucumber diagonally, and thinly slice the onion. (You can also add thinly sliced carrots cut into half-moon shapes if you like.)
Step 7
In a large mixing bowl, combine the prepared cabbage, perilla leaves, cucumber, onion, and the drained blanched squid.
Step 8
Pour the delicious pre-made sauce generously over the vegetables and squid. Doesn’t the sauce look incredibly appetizing?
Step 9
Now, gently toss everything together with your hands, ensuring the sauce is evenly distributed and coats all the ingredients. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the vegetables mushy. Your spicy, tangy, and wonderfully flavorful stir-fried squid is ready to be enjoyed!
