If you love seafood and want to try a unique dish, steamed Sim squid will surely surprise you. With simple ingredients and an easy preparation method, you will immediately have a hot plate of steamed Sim squid, crunchy and irresistible for the whole family. Let’s explore how to make beer-steamed Sim squid in the detailed article below!

1. What is Sim squid?

Sim squid is one of the smallest squid species in the squid family, and when mature, they are usually only as big as two fingers. Although small, this type of squid is loved by many people thanks to its naturally sweet meat and flexibility in preparation.

Learn about Sim squid
Learn about Sim squid

The reason it is named Sim squid is because of its round shape, shiny body, and small size, which resemble forest Sim berries. When steamed, Sim squid turns a light purple color, looking like a basket of ripe Sim berries spreading the fragrance of the ocean.

Sim squid is best from early summer until the end of June. At this time, the squid meat is thick, naturally sweet, and the price is very affordable. Therefore, this is the right time to enjoy and prepare delicious dishes from Sim squid, especially the fragrant steamed Sim squid.

2. How to choose fresh Sim squid

To have a delicious and sweet steamed Sim squid dish, you need to start with careful ingredient selection. Here are the signs to help you identify the freshest Sim squid:

  • Fresh squid eyes are always clear, with the pupils clearly visible. If the eyes are cloudy or have a white film, it is a sign that the squid has been kept for a long time and is no longer fresh.
  • Fresh Sim squid has dark purple skin with a greenish tint, looking smooth and sparkling when the light angle changes. Avoid choosing those with peeling skin, loss of color, or missing scales.
  • When touching the body, fresh squid feels firm and elastic. If the body is mushy or leaves a dent when pressed, that squid is no longer fresh.
  • Fresh squid only has a characteristic mild seafood scent. If there is a strong fishy, foul, or strange ammonia smell, absolutely do not buy it.
Experience in choosing fresh Sim squid
Experience in choosing fresh Sim squid

3. How to prepare and deodorize Sim squid

Despite its small size, Sim squid still needs to be carefully prepared to completely remove the fishy smell and maintain its natural sweetness when cooking. The steps are very simple:

  • First, wash the squid under cold water then soak it in diluted salt water to clean off the slime and dirt attached to the outside.
  • Depending on the dish, you can leave it whole or remove the ink sac, organs, and eyes. For steamed Sim squid, you should keep the ink sac for a richer and more buttery flavor.
  • After washing, soak the squid in a mixture of white wine and crushed ginger for about 5-10 minutes. This method is very effective in deodorizing the squid.
  • Finally, remove the squid and let it drain completely. Note, do not soak the squid for too long because it will make the meat lose its crunchiness and natural sweetness.

See more: How to make attractive Binh Dinh glazed squid that everyone loves

4. Detailed instructions on how to make beer-steamed Sim squid

4.1. Ingredients to prepare

To make the beer-steamed Sim squid dish delicious, full of ocean flavor, and easy to make at home, you only need to prepare the following familiar ingredients:

  • 300g Sim squid
  • 1 can of beer
  • A bit of lemongrass, ginger, and lime leaves
  • Dipping sauce ingredients: 2 green chilies, ginger, sugar, pepper, and lime juice.
  • Side vegetables: You can choose pineapple, cucumber, bean sprouts, basil, coriander, or change according to your family’s preferences.

4.2. Ingredient preparation

Before starting to cook, you need to prepare and process the ingredients carefully so that the beer-steamed Sim squid dish reaches its best flavor:

  • Preparing Sim squid: After buying Sim squid, wash it with diluted salt water to remove sand and a slight fishy smell. No need to remove the squid belly because the eggs and ink sac help the dish become more buttery and attractive. Let the squid drain then marinate with finely chopped lemongrass, ginger, and lime leaves for about 15 minutes.
Fresh Sim squid bought should be washed clean with salt water
Fresh Sim squid bought should be washed clean with salt water
  • Preparing other ingredients: Smash the lemongrass and cut into short segments, while the ginger is thinly sliced, and the lime leaves are washed and then torn or cut small. Side vegetables like sour starfruit, pineapple, basil, coriander, and bean sprouts are washed thoroughly and soaked in diluted salt water for cleanliness.

4.3. Steps to cook beer-steamed Sim squid

After having prepared and fully processed the ingredients, you can start making the beer-steamed Sim squid dish following the detailed instructions below:

  • Step 1: First, pour a can of beer into the steamer. Line the bottom of the pot with a layer of smashed lemongrass, sliced ginger, and lime leaves to enhance the flavor.
  • Step 2: When the beer in the pot begins to boil, place the marinated squid into the steaming basket; you can scatter a few more slices of ginger, lemongrass, and fresh chili on top. Steam for about 5-7 minutes until the squid is just cooked, the meat retains its crunchiness and natural sweetness. Note not to steam for too long because the squid will become dry and tough.
  • Step 3: Then, you mix the dipping sauce with the ratio of 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of lime juice. Add crushed green chili and ginger then sprinkle with ground pepper, stir the mixture well to combine.

4.4. Enjoying and serving tips

When the squid is cooked, put it on a plate, sprinkle a few strands of lime leaves or chili slices for garnish. The beer-steamed Sim squid dish is best eaten hot, dipped with the prepared sour and spicy fish sauce and enjoyed with side vegetables to reduce the spiciness. You can make this dish for a family meal, a drinking party, or a weekend picnic.

The fragrant and crunchy beer-steamed Sim squid dish
The fragrant and crunchy beer-steamed Sim squid dish

Similar delicious dish: How to make coconut water steamed dried squid, soft and tasty

5. Suggestions for other delicious steamed Sim squid methods

In addition to making beer-steamed squid, Sim squid can also be prepared in many different steaming ways, both delicious and unique, such as:

5.1. Sim squid steamed with ginger and onion

The ginger and onion steamed squid dish has the pungent aroma of green onions and ginger combined with the natural sweetness of the squid. The method for this dish is similar to beer-steamed Sim squid; you just need to replace the beer with filtered water, add more green onions and sliced ginger to make the dish extremely fragrant.

5.2. Sim squid steamed with wild betel leaves

The wild betel leaf steamed squid dish brings the characteristic flavor of wild betel leaves, a pungent and slightly spicy taste, making the dish both unique and easy to eat. When steamed, the wild betel leaves release essential oils that help the squid become more fragrant and completely mask the fishy smell. This is a favorite drinking snack for many people.

See more: Instructions for making delicious and attractive guava leaf steamed squid

The steamed Sim squid dish is always the choice for those who love the soft-sweet, crunchy characteristic flavor of fresh seafood. Above is the detailed guide on how to make simple, attractive, and nutritious steamed Sim squid. Good luck with your cooking and to discover more recipes for fresh squid, delicious dried squid, or tips for choosing fresh squid, don’t forget to visit olasquid.com!

Try a new dish now – Super spicy squid heads (Super spicy Zapmuk) from Ola Squid that makes young people crazy!

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