Crispy & Delicious Stir-Fried Squid with Cauliflower Recipe: Addictive and Irresistible

If you want to refresh your daily menu with a dish that is both light and nutritious, you can choose stir-fried squid with cauliflower. The natural sweetness of the squid blends with the crisp, fresh green of the cauliflower to create a stir-fry that is both delicious and eye-catching. In this article, let’s join Ola Squid to discover the detailed steps for preparing this savory stir-fried cauliflower with squid!

1. Introduction to stir-fried squid with cauliflower

Stir-fried squid with cauliflower is a simple yet nutritious dish that combines sweet, chewy fresh squid with cool, crisp broccoli/cauliflower, creating a balance in both flavor and nutrition. This dish is not only eye-catching and attractive but also retains the full natural sweetness of the squid along with the crisp, refreshing texture of the cauliflower. It is a perfect choice for family meals or a light dinner, being easy to prepare, delicious, and ensuring the provision of protein, vitamins, and essential minerals for health.

2. Ingredients for stir-fried squid with cauliflower

• 500g fresh squid
• 400g cauliflower
• 2 stalks of green onions, 3 shallots
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil, ½ tablespoon chili powder
• Seasoning: salt, sugar, pepper, MSG, seasoning powder

How to choose fresh ingredients

To make the stir-fried squid with cauliflower more delicious and nutritious, you can refer to the following criteria for choosing ingredients:

• Choose fresh squid:
  • Prioritize those with bright, shiny colors, where the squid body reflects light and the dark brown part contrasts clearly with the milky white color.
  • The squid body should be firm and elastic when lightly pressed, not soft or mushy.
  • The eyes should be clear, the pupils distinct, and the tentacles and body firmly attached.
  • Avoid dull-colored, mushy squid, where the tentacles and body are easily separated, or those with cloudy eyes or leaking fluid.

• Choose fresh cauliflower:
  • Fresh green or white broccoli/cauliflower should have tiny florets that are closed and not yet in bloom.
  • The stalks should be hard and firm, not soft or flexible.
  • The florets should be packed closely together, raised high, without creating gaps.
  • Avoid cauliflower that is yellowing, withered, crushed, diseased, or deformed.

Preparation

Carefully preparing the ingredients helps the dish be clean, safe, and maintain its natural fresh flavor.

• Cut off the eyes of the fresh squid, remove the internal organs, hard shell, ink sac, and teeth. Then, wash the squid thoroughly with diluted salt water, white wine, or water mixed with vinegar, and rinse under the tap to eliminate the fishy smell and completely remove dirt.
• Cut the cauliflower (broccoli) into bite-sized slices and soak for about 10 minutes in diluted salt water to remove dirt and bacteria, then rinse and drain.
• Trim the roots of the green onions, remove damaged leaves, wash, and chop them ready for the stir-frying step.

3. Detailed steps to make delicious stir-fried squid with cauliflower

• Step 1 – Marinate the squid: Place the prepared squid in a bowl, add sliced shallots and seasonings including 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon MSG, 1 teaspoon seasoning powder, and ½ teaspoon ground pepper. Mix well and marinate for about 15 minutes to allow the squid to absorb the seasonings.
• Step 2 – Stir-fry the cauliflower and squid:
  • Place a pan on the stove, add cooking oil and heat it up, then add the cauliflower and stir-fry briefly for about 5 minutes over low heat. If it looks dry, you can add a little water to maintain moisture and help the cauliflower cook evenly without burning.
  • When the cauliflower begins to soften but remains crisp, add the marinated squid. Stir quickly over medium heat, adjusting the seasoning to taste.
  • Stir-fry until the squid turns a beautiful pink color and the cauliflower is cooked, then turn off the stove. Finally, sprinkle with green onions and a little chili powder if you like a spicy taste.
• Step 3 – Finished Product: The stir-fried squid with cauliflower dish is completed with a gentle aroma, sweet chewy squid blending with crisp, vibrant green cauliflower. This is a simple yet nutritious stir-fry that makes the family meal complete and attractive.

Read more: How to prepare dried squid and top 15 attractive dishes from dried squid

4. Secrets to making perfect stir-fried squid with cauliflower

Here are some secrets to ensuring your stir-fried squid with cauliflower dish reaches a more rounded level of deliciousness:

• Squid should be carefully prepared and de-scented with lemon, vinegar, or wine to make it aromatic and maintain its natural sweetness.
• Marinate the squid with moderate seasoning to absorb flavor without making the squid release water or lose its fresh crispness.
• Choose fresh green cauliflower with firm florets so that when stir-fried, it maintains its crispness and beautiful color.
• Stir-fry the cauliflower over high heat; you should stir quickly and only cook it until just done, avoiding cooking it too long which makes the cauliflower soft and lose its crunch.
• When stir-frying squid, avoid stirring too long so the squid does not become tough.
• Combine the squid and cauliflower at the final stage, stir quickly so the flavors blend without releasing too much water.

5. What to eat with stir-fried squid with cauliflower?

The stir-fried squid with cauliflower dish is refreshing and nutrient-rich, making it easy to combine with many dishes in a family meal. You can enjoy it with hot white rice to fully feel the sweetness of the squid and the crunch of the cauliflower. If you want a more diverse meal, you can serve it with sour soup, vegetable soup, or a savory braised dish like braised fish or braised pork. Additionally, stir-fried squid with cauliflower also goes very well with garlic chili fish sauce or a bowl of mild chili sauce, helping the dish become more flavorful and stimulating the taste buds.

6. Unique variations of stir-fried squid with cauliflower

Not stopping at the familiar combination of squid and cauliflower, this dish can be varied in many ways to bring new and more attractive flavor experiences. Here are a few interesting suggestions you can try right at home:

Stir-fried squid with broccoli and carrots

The combination of green crisp broccoli with carrots creates a colorful and nutritious stir-fry. Carrots bring a light sweetness, which when stir-fried with squid helps the flavor become more harmonious while increasing the crunch and nutritional value. The dish is not only eye-catching but also very suitable for family meals that need freshness and lightness.

Stir-fried squid with cauliflower and bell peppers

If you love fragrant and vibrant stir-fry dishes, stir-fried squid with cauliflower and bell peppers is a choice not to be missed. Red, yellow, or green bell peppers bring a mild sweetness and light crunch combined with the characteristic aroma of squid, helping the dish become more well-rounded. This coordination both makes the stir-fry more attractive and supplements a large amount of vitamin C good for health.

Stir-fried squid with cauliflower in tomato sauce

Stir-fried squid with cauliflower in tomato sauce brings a new flavor thanks to the harmonious sweet and sour tomato sauce. The squid is stir-fried until firm, then lightly braised in tomato sauce to absorb the flavor, creating a pleasant aroma. When blended with fresh crisp cauliflower, the dish becomes savory and unique, very suitable for those who like a balanced sweet and sour taste.

Read more:

• How to make delicious crisp stir-fried squid with vegetables that everyone loves
• Recipe for making crisp, sweet, and fragrant stir-fried squid with green beans
• Recipe for making crisp, sweet, and quick stir-fried squid with kohlrabi at home
• Instructions for making simple yet irresistibly delicious mixed stir-fried squid

Hopefully, with the detailed instructions on how to make stir-fried squid with cauliflower above, you can create a dish that is both beautiful and appealing, making everyone in the family praise its deliciousness. If you love dishes made from squid and want to explore more recipes, useful tips, and interesting information, don’t hesitate to visit Ola Squid’s shop to find premium ingredients for your kitchen!