Top 3 Unbeatable Squid Ink Recipes You Must Try

If you are looking for a delicious dish to serve with rice, rich in flavor, fragrant, nutritious, and versatile in terms of preparation, then there is no better choice than braised squid. However, to braise squid perfectly, ensuring it’s well-seasoned while maintaining its natural crispness and sweetness, you definitely need to understand the proper squid braising techniques according to culinary expertise. Each braising style has its own secrets: braising with pepper for a spicy aroma, braising with pineapple for a harmonious sweet and sour taste, or braising with shrimp and pork for added nutrition.

In this article, Ola Squid will provide a comprehensive, in-depth, and detailed guide to help you master each step: from selecting the squid, preparing it correctly, seasoning it accurately, controlling the heat appropriately, to the technique of braising without excess liquid.

How to choose fresh squid for braising

No matter which squid braising method you apply, the quality of the dish depends 70% on the freshness of the squid. A good squid must meet the following criteria:

• The squid must have a shiny body, with the iridescent membrane not peeling off excessively.
• The natural color of the squid, whether it’s squid, tube squid, or cuttlefish, must be clear, with no dark or faded areas.
• When you gently press on the body with your hand, the squid meat should be firm and spring back quickly. This is a sign that the squid is fresh and hasn’t been refrigerated for too long.
• Especially, the squid’s eyes must be clear, not cloudy. This is the most important criterion for distinguishing between fresh and spoiled squid.
• Regarding the smell, fresh squid should only have a slight sea scent, not a strong fishy odor or any strange smell.
• If choosing frozen squid, prioritize IQF quick-frozen squid to maintain the meat structure, helping the braised dish retain its characteristic crispness.

Another important point is to choose the right type of squid for each braised dish.

• Squid mantle is suitable for braising with pepper or pineapple because of its thick body, which retains water well.
• Tube squid is ideal for braising with shrimp and pork due to its high sweetness and ability to absorb flavors easily.
• Cuttlefish can be braised, but you need to use low heat to prevent the eggs from breaking.

Instructions for cleaning squid properly

Even if you know how to braise squid, improper preparation can result in a fishy taste or excessive liquid during braising. Therefore, this step must be performed meticulously.

First, you need to remove the head from the body, gently remove the black ink sac and the internal organs inside. The squid eyes must be carefully removed as they are the part most likely to cause a fishy smell. The transparent backbone running along the squid’s body also needs to be removed to avoid a tough texture when eating.

Next, you need to clean the squid’s belly, squeezing out all the slime inside so that the squid remains crisp and doesn’t become mushy when braised for a long time. The iridescent membrane on the outside of the squid body can be kept or removed depending on your preference. If kept, the braised dish will have a slightly pink, beautiful color. If you want the squid to be bright white, you can remove this skin.

The most important step in preparation is removing the fishy smell. You can rub the squid with coarse salt, or combine it with ginger alcohol to completely eliminate the seafood odor. Rinse the squid under cold water and drain thoroughly before marinating. Squid with water will make the braised dish dilute and lose its richness.

How to braise squid with pepper

Ingredients for pepper braised squid

A portion of pepper braised squid for 3-4 people needs:

• 400g squid mantle or tube squid.
• 1 tablespoon of crushed black pepper, you can also add green pepper to enhance the aroma.
• 1 finely chopped shallot.
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed.
• Spices: sugar, fish sauce, salt, cooking oil, seasoning powder.
• A little chili pepper if you like it spicy.

Pepper is the ingredient that creates the soul of this dish, giving it a warm, deep flavor and stimulating the taste buds.

Detailed steps for braising pepper squid

Braising pepper squid is one of the squid braising methods that requires accuracy in spice ratios and braising time.

• Step 1: The first step is to marinate the prepared squid with black pepper, good fish sauce, chopped shallots, and a little sugar. Marinating helps the squid absorb the basic flavor, but don’t marinate it too strongly to preserve its natural sweetness.
• Step 2: Heat the pot with a small amount of oil, sautéing the garlic until fragrant. Add the marinated squid, stirring well over high heat to make the squid firm and prevent it from releasing too much water. This step determines the crispness of the squid.
• Step 3: When the squid is firm, pour in water to just cover the squid, add crushed black pepper or green pepper, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer gently to allow the flavors to blend. During this stage, the aroma of pepper rises, mixing with the squid smell to create a very distinctive fragrance.

Braise until the water thickens and turns a beautiful golden brown. At this point, you can sprinkle with a little ground pepper to make the dish more fragrant.

Small tip to make pepper braised squid more appealing:

A pepper braised squid dish must meet the criteria: crispy but tender squid, slightly thickened braising liquid, just the right amount of rich flavor, and a fragrant spicy aroma. To achieve this, you should:

• Use crushed pepper, not finely ground pepper, to retain the aroma longer.
• Don’t braise for too long because the squid will become tough.
• Prioritize using high-protein fish sauce to create depth of flavor.

These seemingly simple tips make the difference between an everyday dish and a restaurant-quality dish.

How to make sweet and sour pineapple braised squid

Pineapple braised squid is a wonderful dish to serve with rice thanks to the balance between sour, sweet, and the natural crispness of the squid. This is one of the squid braising methods chosen by many families to change the flavor of their meals.

Ingredients for pineapple braised squid

• 400g tube squid or squid mantle.
• ½ ripe pineapple, cut into pieces.
• Tomatoes, shallots, garlic.
• Spices: sugar, salt, fish sauce, seasoning powder.
• A little chili pepper for a slight spicy kick.

Detailed steps for braising pineapple squid

• First, sauté the garlic and shallots in a clay pot or pot with a thick bottom.
• Add the tomatoes and sauté until soft to create color and thickness.
• Then, add the marinated squid and stir quickly over high heat.
• When the squid is firm, add the pineapple and stir-fry briefly. Pour in water to cover the squid and pineapple, add sugar, fish sauce, and a little salt to create a harmonious sweet and sour flavor. At this point, reduce the heat to low to allow the flavors to blend.

As the pineapple braises, it will release a natural sweet and sour flavor, combining with the fish sauce to create a unique depth of flavor. When the braising liquid has thickened, adjust the seasoning to your liking and turn off the heat.

See more: 3 suggestions for delicious, flavorful stir-fried squid with pineapple at home

How to make nutritious squid braised with shrimp and pork

Squid braised with shrimp and pork is an ideal dish for those who want a nutritious meal, combining seafood protein and animal protein, creating a unique blend.

Ingredients for squid braised with shrimp and pork

• 300g tube squid or squid mantle.
• 150g fresh shrimp.
• 150g pork belly or lean shoulder.
• Garlic, shallots, chili peppers.
• Basic spices: fish sauce, sugar, pepper, cooking oil.

Detailed steps for braising squid with shrimp and pork

First, sauté the garlic and shallots until fragrant, then add the pork and stir-fry until it’s firm. When the pork releases fat and turns a light golden color, add the shrimp and stir-fry quickly. When the shrimp is almost cooked, add the squid and stir-fry together.

Pour in fish sauce and a little sugar, stirring well to create a braising mixture. Add enough water, reduce the heat to low, and braise until the water thickens. At this point, the aroma of shrimp and pork blends with the squid to create a special fragrance.

The dish is ready when the pork is tender, the shrimp is firm, the squid is sweet, and the braising liquid is golden and glossy.

See more: Instructions for making crispy fried stuffed squid that is irresistibly delicious

What to eat with braised squid?

A delicious braised dish doesn’t need to be elaborate, but when combined correctly, it becomes complete. Pepper braised squid, pineapple braised squid, or squid braised with shrimp and pork all go well with:

• Hot white rice.
• Plain congee.
• Fresh vermicelli noodles.
• Fresh vegetables or cucumber as a side dish.

Depending on the type of braised dish, you can prepare a small bowl of dipping sauce with fish sauce, lemon, and garlic chili.

How to store braised squid properly

If you have cooked a lot or want to save some for later, proper storage is very important.

• The braised squid needs to cool completely before being put into a container.
• Store in the refrigerator for about 1-2 days.
• When reheating, use a stove instead of a microwave to maintain the crispness of the squid.
• Do not store for too long as the squid may become tough and lose its characteristic aroma.

We hope this article on squid braising methods in 3 styles: braising with pepper, pineapple, and shrimp and pork has provided you with comprehensive, in-depth, and easy-to-apply knowledge at home. With small but important tips in selecting squid, preparing, marinating, controlling the heat, and seasoning, you will be able to create delicious, authentic, and appealing squid braised dishes for the whole family.

If you are looking for high-quality dried squid to make delicious dishes from squid, you can refer to Ola Squid, which specializes in providing quality dried squid at reasonable prices.