Dried squid porridge is a rustic dish with a unique appeal, thanks to its signature aroma, rich sweetness, and the pleasant, comforting warmth it provides when enjoyed. You don’t need fancy ingredients or complex techniques; you can still cook a delicious, authentic pot of dried squid porridge at home by knowing how to properly prepare and season it. Follow this article from Ola Squid to learn how to cook delicious dried squid porridge!

Summary of content

The origin and appeal of dried squid porridge

Not only a familiar dish in many Vietnamese families, dried squid porridge is also considered one of the famous dishes at the Pho Duc Chinh market area in Saigon. Bowls of hot porridge with the fragrant scent of squid have been a staple late-night meal for many diners for years.

The special point of dried squid porridge lies in its natural rich sweetness and the distinct aroma that fresh squid rarely possesses. When cooked with porridge, dried squid releases a delicate sweetness that makes the porridge base richer and more attractive, yet still light and easy to eat.

Ingredients to prepare

To make the porridge delicious and authentic, preparing fresh, balanced ingredients is very important. You can prepare the following basic ingredients:

150-200g dried squid
150g white rice
50g bean sprouts (picked and washed)
300-400g pork bones, 100g pork blood pudding (can be added or omitted as desired)
1 small piece of fresh ginger (peeled and julienned)
2-3 shallots (peeled and minced)
20g green onions, 20g cilantro (washed and chopped)
1-2 tablespoons white wine, 2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 tablespoon fish sauce
10g seasoning powder, 10g salt, 5g pepper, 10g MSG
About 1.5-2 liters of broth

Ingredients needed to cook dried squid porridge

How to prepare dried squid before cooking porridge

After buying dried squid, you should rinse it briefly to clean off dust, then soak it in cold water mixed with a little white wine for about 30-45 minutes to soften it quickly and reduce the fishy smell. Once the squid has softened, wash it again with clean water, then use scissors to cut it into strips or bite-sized pieces so it absorbs the flavor easily when cooking porridge.

>>>See more: Summary of ways to soak dried squid until soft while maintaining its chewy deliciousness

If you prefer a richer sweetness for the porridge, you can keep the squid tentacles to simmer with the broth.

Simple way to cook dried squid porridge

After preparing the main ingredient, the dried squid, you can start cooking this delicious, sweet, and extremely nutritious dried squid porridge right at home. With just a few simple steps, you will have a hot bowl of porridge with the familiar restaurant flavor:

Step 1 – Roast the rice over low heat until golden and fragrant: Wash the rice and let it drain. Place a pan on the stove, roast the rice over low heat until the grains are dry, firm, and turn a light golden color. This step helps the porridge become more fragrant, the grains bloom beautifully, and they won’t become mushy when cooked.
Step 2 – Cook the porridge: Wash the pork bones, blanch them briefly in boiling water, then simmer for about 30-45 minutes to get a natural sweet broth. Then, add the roasted rice into the broth pot, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer until the porridge is soft and slightly thick.
Step 3 – Sauté the dried squid with shallots and ginger: Next, sauté the minced shallots with a little cooking oil until fragrant, add the julienned ginger, stir well, then add the prepared dried squid and stir-fry quickly for about 1-2 minutes. Do not sauté too long, or the squid will easily become tough and lose its natural sweetness.
Step 4 – Add the squid into the porridge pot: When the porridge is soft, add the sautéed squid to the pot and continue simmering over low heat for about 10 minutes to allow the squid to release its sweetness into the porridge. While cooking, you should stir gently to prevent the porridge from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Step 5 – Season to taste: Season with fish sauce, seasoning powder, pepper, and a little MSG to suit your taste. If using pork blood, you can add it at this step and cook for a few more minutes until evenly heated.
Step 6 – Turn off the heat, sprinkle with green onions and cilantro: Finally, ladle the porridge into a bowl, add chopped green onions and cilantro, and sprinkle with a little ground pepper to make the dish more fragrant and attractive. Dried squid porridge is best enjoyed hot with raw bean sprouts or deep-fried dough sticks (quay) for a much richer and more delicious taste.

How to cook nutritious and easy-to-make dried squid porridge

>>> Reference: How to cook delicious, rich, authentic squid porridge at home

Nutritional value of dried squid porridge

Dried squid porridge is not only a delicious, easy-to-eat dish but also provides many necessary nutrients for the body. Thanks to the combination of protein-rich dried squid and soft, easy-to-digest porridge, this dish is especially suitable for young children, the elderly, and those needing health recovery.

Dried squid contains a fairly high protein content, helping to supplement energy, support muscle development, and maintain body functions. In addition, squid also provides many important minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, and phosphorus, contributing to strengthening resistance, supporting bones, and the blood formation process.

Besides, the well-cooked porridge helps the body absorb nutrients more easily, creating a feeling of lightness but still keeping you full. When combined with ginger, onions, and herbs, the porridge also helps warm the body, stimulate the palate, and support effective digestion.

When should you eat dried squid porridge?

Dried squid porridge is a suitable dish for breakfast, dinner, or light late-night snacks due to its sweet, delicate flavor, easy digestibility, and nutritional value. This hot bowl of porridge is especially delicious on chilly, rainy days or when the body feels tired and needs warming and energy supplementation.

You can eat dried squid porridge for breakfast, dinner, or on chilly days,..

Thanks to containing many proteins and minerals from dried squid, the porridge is also suitable for people who have just recovered from illness, the elderly, or anyone needing to nourish their health. The characteristic aroma of squid blended with the smooth porridge makes the dish easy to eat, creating a pleasant and appetizing feeling.

Secrets to cooking “restaurant-style” delicious dried squid porridge

To cook a delicious, rich, and attractive bowl of dried squid porridge like at a restaurant, besides fresh ingredients, the preparation and seasoning methods also play a very important role. A few small tips below will help the porridge have a natural sweetness, not be fishy, and retain the delicious softness of the squid.

Tips for choosing rice for porridge

You should use fragrant white rice or combine it with a little glutinous rice so that the porridge has a slight thickness and is more fragrant. Before cooking, roasting the rice over low heat until the grains are light golden will help the porridge release an attractive aroma, bloom beautifully, and not become mushy.

Secret to preventing fishy smell

Dried squid should be soaked in cold water mixed with a little white wine or ginger for about 30-45 minutes to effectively remove the fishy smell. When cooking, you can add a few strands of ginger while sautéing the squid to make the porridge more fragrant and mask the seafood smell.

You should prepare dried squid properly so that the porridge does not have a fishy smell

Secret to keeping squid from being tough

You should not sauté or cook the squid for too long because high temperatures over a long period will cause the squid to become dry and tough. Just sauté briefly for about 1-2 minutes and then add it to the porridge to simmer so that the squid still retains its natural soft sweetness.

Secret to clear and naturally sweet porridge base

If using pork bones to make the broth, blanch the bones before simmering and regularly skim off the foam to make the porridge base clearer. Cooking porridge over low heat and limiting heavy stirring also helps the porridge retain its natural delicate sweetness without becoming cloudy or breaking the rice grains.

To make the dried squid porridge achieve the perfect delicious flavor, choosing quality ingredients is an extremely important factor. If you are looking to buy delicious dried squid, thick, naturally fragrant, and guaranteed quality, don’t forget to contact Ola Squid immediately to select products with authentic sea flavor, suitable for every attractive dish at home.

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