How to Make Simple, Crunchy Steamed Squid with Beer in Just 10 Minutes

Steamed squid with beer is a simple yet delicious dish, highlighted by sweet, crispy squid meat and the gentle aroma of beer, ginger, and lemongrass. However, to steam the squid just right, without any fishiness or toughness, selecting the squid and the steaming time play a very important role. In this article, Ola Squid will share how to make steamed squid with beer with authentic flavor, from choosing fresh squid and deodorizing to the steaming formula and making dipping sauce, helping you easily prepare this attractive dish right at home. 

Ingredients to prepare

To help the steamed squid with beer retain its natural sweetness, firm, crispy, and aromatic meat, you should choose fresh squid and prepare an adequate amount of beer to create steam. For a serving size of about 2-3 people, the ingredients include:

How to choose fresh, delicious squid for steaming with beer

Steamed squid with beer is most delicious when the ingredients are fresh, as fresh squid will retain its crispiness, natural sweetness, and won’t be fishy after steaming. When buying, you should check the color, elasticity, eyes, and smell of the squid at the same time instead of just looking at the size.

• Color: Fresh squid has a shiny body, opaque white or natural light pink color, tight skin, and is not dull.
• Elasticity: The squid meat is firm; when pressed gently, it has good elasticity and quickly returns to its original shape.
• Squid eyes: The eyes are clear, bright, with clearly visible pupils, not cloudy, deeply sunken, or leaking fluid.
• Smell: The squid has a characteristic mild fishy smell of seafood, with no sour, foul, or unusually strong fishy odors.

Unfresh squid usually has a mushy body, dull skin, cloudy eyes, tentacles that easily fall off, and a slimy feel when touched. If the squid has a foul or strange odor, you should avoid buying it even if its external appearance still looks quite good.

See now: How to choose fresh, delicious squid that not everyone knows 

How to make delicious steamed squid with beer at home

After choosing fresh squid, the preparation and correct steaming time will determine the crispiness and sweetness of the dish. You only need to perform the 3 steps below to have a plate of steamed squid with beer that is fragrant, perfectly cooked, and not tough.

Step 1: Prep the squid and ingredients

Clean the squid, remove the ink sac, viscera, eyes, and beak, then rinse with water. To deodorize and remove the fishy smell, massage the squid with salt, ginger, or ginger wine, then rinse thoroughly and drain. Crush the lemongrass, slice the ginger, and chop the green onions and chilies to prepare for steaming with the squid.

Step 2: Steaming squid with beer

Pour 1 can of beer into the bottom of the pot, add the crushed lemongrass and ginger, and bring to a boil. Place the steamer basket on top, arrange the squid in the basket or on a heat-resistant plate, close the lid tightly, and steam for about 7 – 10 minutes depending on the size of the squid. 

Step 3: Finished product and enjoy

Perfectly cooked steamed squid with beer has an opaque white color, firm, crispy, and juicy meat with the fragrant aroma of ginger and lemongrass. Cut the squid into bite-sized rings, sprinkle with green onions and chilies, and serve hot with ginger-chili-lime fish sauce or green chili salt.

>> Similar delicious dishes you might be interested in:

• 5 super easy ways to steam squid to retain its natural sweetness
• Instructions on how to make irresistibly fragrant steamed squid with coconut water
• How to make delicious, authentic steamed squid with lemongrass without fishiness
• 3 simple ways to make steamed squid with ginger that everyone will love
• How to make irresistibly delicious sweet and sour Thai-style steamed squid
• How to make delicious, simple steamed shrimp with beer at home 

Secrets to make steamed squid with beer crispy, sweet, and not fishy

To keep steamed squid with beer crispy, sweet, and not fishy, you need to pay attention to everything from preparation to temperature and steaming time. 

• Ideal steaming time according to squid size: do not steam squid for too long because prolonged high temperatures will cause the meat to lose water, becoming tough and less sweet.
  • Small squid: Steam for about 5-7 minutes after the beer has boiled.
  • Medium-sized squid: Steam for about 7-10 minutes to be perfectly cooked.
  • Large squid with thick body: Can be steamed for about 10-12 minutes, depending on the actual size.

See more: How long to boil squid so that it is cooked, crispy, and plump?

Tips for keeping squid crispy and not tough: You should choose very fresh squid, clean it, and let it drain before steaming. Bring the beer to a boil before putting the squid in to help it cook quickly and limit exposure to heat. When the squid body has just turned opaque white and firmed up, turn off the heat immediately; also limit opening the lid multiple times to prevent heat loss.

How to make dipping sauce for steamed squid with beer with authentic flavor

Steamed squid with beer has a natural sweetness, so it pairs very well with dipping sauces that have sour, spicy, and rich flavors. You can choose ginger-chili-lime fish sauce if you prefer the traditional taste or green chili salt to enhance the spicy aroma and light richness. 

Ginger-chili-lime fish sauce

Ingredients to make ginger-chili-lime fish sauce include: 

How to make: Dissolve sugar in fish sauce, add lime juice, and then mix in minced ginger, garlic, and chili. This dipping sauce is suitable for those who love a harmonious sweet and sour taste, helping to enhance the rich flavor of the squid meat. 

Green chili salt

Ingredients to prepare:

How to make: Blend green chilies with lime leaves, salt, and sugar, then add lime juice and mix well until the mixture reaches a slightly thick consistency. The characteristic pungent taste of green chili salt goes perfectly with steamed squid with beer during casual gatherings with friends. 

See more: Top 6 delicious dipping sauces for steamed squid, made in 5 minutes with authentic flavor 

Variations of the popular steamed squid with beer recipe

If you are already familiar with the traditional steamed squid with beer method, you can combine it with some herbs and vegetables to give the dish a novel flavor. The two variations below are both easy to make while still preserving the natural sweetness and crispiness of the squid.

Steamed squid with beer and wild betel leaves

Wild betel leaves have a characteristic aroma; when steamed with beer and squid, they create a rich, attractive flavor. You only need to place wild betel leaves along with lemongrass and ginger at the bottom of the pot, place the squid on top, and steam with beer until the squid is just cooked. This dish is best served hot with green chili salt or ginger fish sauce.

Steamed squid with beer and onions 

Steamed squid with beer and onions brings a subtle sweet taste, a mild aroma, and makes the squid dish more eye-catching. You can cut the onions into bite-sized wedges and arrange them alternately with the squid before steaming. When perfectly cooked, the vegetables still retain a slight crispiness, combining with the sweet squid meat to create a harmonious and easy-to-enjoy dish. 

Hopefully, with the shares above, you have grasped how to make steamed squid with beer that is crispy, sweet, delicious, and easy to prepare right at home. If you want to change your taste with dried squid, you can refer to the products from Ola Squid with various sizes, suitable for grilling, simmering, or processing into many attractive dishes at home.