How to Make Crispy and Delicious Stir-Fried Squid with Turmeric at Home

Stir-fried squid with turmeric is a rustic dish loved by many for its crispy, sweet squid combined with the fragrant aroma of turmeric and an eye-catching golden color. However, you need to pay attention to the preparation method and stir-frying time so that the squid retains its firm crispiness, without being fishy or releasing too much water. In the article below, Ola Squid will guide you through the recipe for stir-fried squid with turmeric that is delicious, flavorful, and easy to make at home.

Ingredients for Stir-fried Squid with Turmeric

For a serving of 3 – 4 people, prepare the following ingredients:

How to Choose Fresh, Delicious Squid for Stir-frying

To make stir-fried squid with turmeric delicious, crispy, sweet, and not fishy, you should prioritize highly fresh squid. When choosing squid, pay attention to:

• Color: The squid body is naturally clear white or ivory white, the skin is still tightly attached, not bruised or abnormally discolored.
• Elasticity: The squid meat is firm with good elasticity, and does not become mushy or watery when lightly pressed.
• Odor: It has the characteristic aroma of fresh seafood, without any abnormal pungent, sour, or foul odors.
• Squid eyes: The eyes are clear and bright, not cloudy or deeply sunken.

See more: Experience in choosing fresh and delicious squid from foodies

Steps to Make Stir-fried Squid with Turmeric

To ensure stir-fried squid with turmeric retains its crispy sweetness, absorbs flavor, and has a beautiful golden color, you should perform prep, marination, and high-heat stir-frying in sequence. The specific steps are as follows:

Step 1 – Preparing the squid

Clean the fresh squid, remove the ink sac, eyes, teeth, and cartilage in the body, then rinse several times with clean water. Rub a little salt gently on the squid body to remove the fishy smell, then rinse again, drain completely, and cut into bite-sized pieces. Peel fresh turmeric, wash, slice thinly or crush; clean and chop or mince shallots, garlic, lemongrass, and chili as desired. Discard any withered parts of the coriander, wash, and drain.

If you want the squid to be firmer, you can blanch it in boiling water for about 30-45 seconds, then remove and drain before marinating. Do not blanch for too long because the squid may be thoroughly cooked beforehand, easily losing its crispiness when stir-fried further.

Step 2 – Marinating squid

Put the prepared and drained squid into a bowl, add 1/2 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1/2 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning powder, and 1/3 teaspoon of ground black pepper. Mix well to coat each piece of squid with the seasonings, then marinate for about 10-15 minutes to absorb the flavors.

You should not add too much seasoning or turmeric during the marination step as it may make the dish overly salty and the turmeric color uneven. Squid should be stir-fried immediately after marinating to limit water release.

Step 3 – Stir-frying squid

Heat the pan, add 1.5 tablespoons of cooking oil, then sauté the shallots, garlic, and lemongrass until fragrant. Next, add the fresh turmeric and stir quickly so the turmeric releases its yellow color and fragrant aroma. When the pan is hot, add the marinated squid and stir-fry over high heat for about 2-3 minutes, stirring continuously until the squid just turns opaque white and firms up.

Finally, add chili and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, toss quickly for about 20-30 seconds, and turn off the heat. Do not cover with a lid during stir-frying and do not prolong the cooking time because the squid might release a lot of water, become chewy, and make the dish less appetizing.

Step 4 – Finished dish and enjoyment

The finished stir-fried squid with turmeric has an attractive shiny golden color, firm and crispy squid meat, natural sweetness, and evenly absorbed spices. The fragrant aroma of turmeric combined with the rich taste of fish sauce, oyster sauce, and a slight spiciness from the chili creates an appealing dish.

You can sprinkle some coriander and a bit of ground black pepper on top, then enjoy immediately while it is still hot. Stir-fried squid with turmeric is perfect for eating with steamed white rice, making the family meal more flavorful without requiring elaborate preparation.

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Tips to Prevent Stir-fried Squid from Being Chewy and Watery

To ensure stir-fried squid with turmeric retains its crispy sweetness, doesn’t become chewy, and minimizes water release during preparation, you should keep in mind:

• Drain the squid completely: After preparation, pat dry or let the squid drain completely before marinating and stir-frying to avoid excess water diluting the dish.
• Preheat the pan: Only add the squid when the pan and oil are already hot to quickly sear the outer layer of the squid, minimizing water release.
• Stir-fry over high heat: Stirring the squid quickly over high heat helps it cook evenly without needing too much cooking time, thereby preserving its crispiness.
• Control stir-frying time: Only stir-fry until the squid is just cooked through, about 2–3 minutes, then turn off the heat to prevent the squid from becoming chewy.
• Do not cover the pan: Covering the pan with a lid causes steam to build up, making the squid easily watery and lose its firm crispiness.

Frequently Asked Questions When Making Stir-fried Squid with Turmeric

Should fresh turmeric or turmeric powder be used to stir-fry squid?

Fresh turmeric is more suitable if you want the stir-fried squid to have a natural aroma, mild turmeric flavor, and beautiful yellow color. Fresh turmeric can be sliced, crushed, or minced before stir-frying to release its color better. Turmeric powder can still be used when fresh turmeric is unavailable, but you should only add a moderate amount to prevent the dish from being overpowering or overly dark in color.

Which type of squid is best for stir-frying with turmeric?

You can choose squid (loligo squid) or fresh bigfin reef squid to make stir-fried squid with turmeric. Squid (loligo squid) has crispy, sweet meat that is easy to cut into rings, while bigfin reef squid has a thick body, firm meat, and retains crispiness well when stir-fried. Whichever you choose, prioritize fresh squid with a firm body, clear eyes, and no abnormal odors.

Who is stir-fried squid with turmeric suitable for?

Stir-fried squid with turmeric is suitable for those who love rich, fragrant, and slightly spicy dishes. If preparing it for young children or people who cannot eat spicy food, you can reduce or omit the chili to make the dish easier to enjoy. People allergic to seafood should avoid consuming this dish.

What is best to eat with stir-fried squid with turmeric?

Stir-fried squid with turmeric is best served hot with steamed white rice; the rich flavor of squid and the fragrant aroma of turmeric make the meal more appealing. You can also pair it with cucumber, raw vegetables, or a light soup to balance the flavor.

How to remove turmeric stains from hands, cutting boards, and pans after cooking?

For fresh turmeric stains on hands or utensils, you should wash them immediately with dish soap or soap and warm water, then scrub gently and rinse again. For cutting boards and pans, you can soak them in warm water and an appropriate detergent before cleaning. If the yellow color persists, you should expose the utensils to sunlight for a short time, as turmeric pigments can fade over time.

Hopefully, with the above recipe for stir-fried squid with turmeric, you can easily prepare a crispy, sweet, fragrant, and rich squid dish for your family meal. If you want to change your palate with dishes made from dried squid, you can check out dried squid Ola Squid with many options in size and thickness, perfect for enjoying or preparing at home.