What to Make with Baby Squid? Recipes & Price Guide

Small Squid, especially small-sized squid, has long been a favorite ingredient in many Vietnamese family dishes. Not only for its freshness and characteristic crisp, sweet meat, but small squid is also easy to prepare, suitable for all ages from adults to children. So, what delicious dishes can be made with small squid? How much does it cost and how to prepare it correctly? Let’s explore all the detailed information in the article below!

What is Small Squid?

Small squid is the common name for small-sized squid, usually smaller than adult squid, averaging 20-30 pieces per kg. They have a long, slender body, skin with light pink spots, a rhombic tail fin, and large, clear, bright eyes.

Compared to other types of squid, small squid stands out with its crisp, sweet, moderately chewy meat and its ability to quickly absorb flavors, making it ideal for simple dishes like frying, stir-frying, braising, steaming, or making soup. Thanks to its ease of cooking and ability to retain its natural sweetness, small squid is not only suitable for daily meals but also popular for light parties, snacks, or baby food.

Current Price of Small Squid

The price of small squid on the market is quite diverse, varying by size (pieces per kg), preservation method (fresh, cleaned, frozen), and origin. Reference prices are as follows:

• Whole small squid (20-30 pieces/kg): about 160,000 – 240,000 VND/kg
• Cleaned, frozen squid: ranging from 180,000 – 285,000 VND/kg
• Larger size squid (16-22 pieces/kg): prices can go up to 280,000 – 300,000 VND/kg

Prices also change with the season. During squid season (usually from March to June and September to November lunar calendar), prices are often lower due to abundant supply. Conversely, during stormy seas or scarcity, prices may increase slightly.

How to Choose Fresh and Delicious Small Squid

To make delicious squid dishes, choosing fresh ingredients is crucial. Here are some tips to help you identify quality small squid:

• Observe color and shine: Fresh squid has a slightly shiny body, color from brown to translucent white (not cloudy), and the skin is not peeling.
• Check elasticity: Gently press the squid’s body with your finger. If the squid is fresh, the pressed area will quickly spring back and not leave an indentation.
• Check eyes and tentacles: Eyes are clear and distinct, not cloudy; tentacles are firmly attached to the head. Spoiled squid often has cloudy eyes or detached tentacles.

• Smell: Fresh squid has a mild sea scent, not fishy or strong.
• When to buy: In the early morning when fishing boats have just docked, and the squid is brought ashore, is the best time to choose fresh and delicious squid.
• Buy from reputable sources: You should prioritize buying from large seafood wholesale markets, reputable frozen food stores, or specialized fresh seafood suppliers to ensure stable quality and reasonable prices.

How to Prepare Small Squid

Proper preparation is a crucial step to ensure squid dishes are not fishy, do not break apart, and retain their crispness when cooked. Here are the steps to prepare small squid:

• Step 1 – Rinse briefly with cold water: For small squid, do not soak for too long, just rinse quickly to remove external dirt.
• Step 2 – Remove head and innards: Pull off the head, remove the guts, discard the ink sac (inner black membrane), keeping the body and tentacles.
• Step 3 – Score the body lightly (if needed): Use a sharp knife to make shallow diagonal cuts about 0.3-0.5 cm apart so the squid cooks evenly and absorbs flavors better.
• Step 4 – Deodorize: If you want to reduce the fishy smell, you can mix a little salt with white wine or lemon, rub it lightly on the squid’s body, and then rinse.
• Step 5 – Drain or pat dry: Use paper towels or place the squid in a colander to drain all the water before marinating or cooking.

Delicious Dishes from Small Squid

With their moderate size, small squid can be prepared into many delicious and visually appealing dishes that don’t take much time. Here are some ideal suggestions for your family meals:

Small Squid Stuffed with Meat

Small squid stuffed with meat is a delicious and flavorful dish, very suitable for family meals or parties. The small squid is cleaned, then stuffed with a filling made from minced pork (can be combined with shrimp, wood ear mushrooms, vermicelli, green onions), seasoned to taste, and carefully stuffed into the cleaned squid bodies. The squid is then fried or pan-seared until the outer layer is golden brown and slightly crispy, and the filling inside is cooked soft and fragrant.

Small Squid Steamed with Ginger and Lemongrass

Small squid steamed with ginger and lemongrass is a light and easy-to-make dish, especially suitable for those who love natural flavors with less oil. After preparation, the squid is arranged on a steamer and steamed with ginger slices, bruised lemongrass, and some green peppercorns for about 5-7 minutes. Ginger and lemongrass not only effectively remove the fishy smell but also impart a delicate aroma, helping the squid retain its tenderness, firmness, and characteristic sweet flavor.

Stir-fried Small Squid

Small squid is an ideal ingredient for stir-fries due to its crisp, sweet meat that doesn’t become chewy when cooked quickly. You can flexibly combine it with various ingredients such as pineapple, onions, celery, tomatoes, chili, satay, or garlic butter, etc., to create rich and colorful dishes. Depending on your taste, you can make dishes like sweet and sour stir-fried squid with vegetables, spicy satay stir-fried squid, or flavorful stir-fried squid with onions and scallions.

Braised Small Squid in Salty-Sweet Sauce

Braised small squid in salty-sweet sauce is a familiar dish but always has its own charm on the family’s dining table. Small squid, after being stir-fried until firm, is braised with fish sauce, sugar, garlic, pepper, and chili until the sauce thickens slightly and coats each piece of squid. The salty flavor mixed with a hint of sweetness and a slight spicy kick makes the dish rich and perfectly seasoned. This dish is best enjoyed hot with white rice and a few slices of cucumber.

Small Squid Stewed in Coconut Water and Lotus Seeds

Small squid stewed in coconut water and lotus seeds is a refreshing and nutritious dish, very suitable for the elderly or for light, easily digestible meals. The squid is cooked with fresh coconut water and pre-cooked lotus seeds, simmered over low heat for about 15-20 minutes until the ingredients absorb the flavors. The dish is a harmonious blend of the squid’s natural sweetness, the light richness of coconut water, and the creamy lotus seeds, creating a nutritious and easy-to-eat whole.

Crispy Fried Small Squid

Crispy fried small squid is a simple dish loved by all ages. After light marination, the squid is coated in a pre-made crispy frying flour or a mixture of wheat flour, cornstarch, and cold water, then fried over medium heat until the outer layer is crispy and the inside remains tender and sweet.

This dish can be served with chili sauce, mayonnaise, or salt and pepper with lime, depending on your preference. For added appeal, you can fry it with betel leaves, perilla leaves, or herbs to enhance the flavor and color.

Suggestions for Baby Food from Small Squid

Small squid is not only nutritious but also easy to prepare into many delicious baby foods, providing essential protein, omega-3, and minerals for the healthy development of young children. Here are some attractive baby food suggestions suitable for babies aged 9 months and older, easy to make:

• Squid and Egg Soup: Minced squid is cooked with chicken broth, then add beaten egg and pureed vegetables (such as carrots, pumpkin). The soup has a smooth texture, natural sweetness, and is very easy to eat and digest.
• Shrimp and Squid Congee: Minced shrimp and squid are mixed with a little cornstarch and finely chopped green onions. Roll them into long sticks or small balls, steam or lightly pan-fry them. This dish is not only delicious but also helps babies practice their grasping skills during self-feeding.

• Squid and Vegetable Patties: Squid is combined with finely chopped vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and zucchini, mixed well, then rolled into balls or flattened into small patties, steamed or pan-fried until golden. These patties are soft, naturally sweet, stimulate the appetite, and provide a variety of nutrients.
• Squid and Taro Cakes: Steamed taro is mashed and mixed with minced squid and a little tapioca starch for binding. Roll them into small cakes, then steam or bake. This is an unusual baby food, suitable as a snack for babies.

We hope that the detailed information above has helped you understand more about small squid and provided you with more ideas for dishes to prepare for your family meals. And don’t forget to visit olasquid.com – the place to find quality dried squid products and share many other interesting and engaging pieces of information.