Dried squid
Flattened dried squid
Seasoned Shredded Squid
Dried squid snack
Tiếng Việt
ไทยBraised squid is a familiar dish in Vietnamese family meals, featuring tender yet chewy squid meat that is rich in flavor and never gets tiring. To make a truly delicious braised squid dish, you need to pay attention to every step, from selecting the squid and preparing it to seasoning and adjusting the simmering time. In this article, Ola Squid will share 3 delicious ways to braise squid that are simple, flavorful, and easy to make right at home, so let’s follow along!
How to choose fresh and delicious squid for braising
Fresh squid is the deciding factor for the natural sweetness, firm yet tender texture, and overall flavor of the braised dish. When purchasing, you should prioritize the following characteristics:
- Natural color: The squid should have a natural dark brown color with opaque white flesh that is not transparent.
- Firm squid body: When pressed gently, the meat has good elasticity and quickly returns to its original shape.
- Clear squid eyes: The eyes are clear with visible black pupils, neither cloudy nor dry.
- Tightly attached tentacles: The tentacles remain firmly attached to the body, free from sliminess and not easily falling off.
- Choosing the right type of squid: You can use squid tube or broad squid depending on your preference. Squid tubes make the braised pieces look beautiful, while broad squid has thicker and crunchier meat.
View details: How to choose fresh and delicious squid that not everyone knows
3 foolproof ways to braise squid deliciously
From spicy and fragrant pepper-braised squid, flavorful pork and shrimp braised squid, to sweet and sour pineapple braised squid, each recipe brings its own unique flavor while remaining easy to prepare.
How to make flavorful pepper-braised squid
Pepper-braised squid is a recipe loved by many families thanks to its mild spiciness and the characteristic aroma of pepper. This dish is uncomplicated yet requires you to control the heat at the right time so the squid does not become chewy.
Ingredients for pepper-braised squid:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
| Fresh squid | 500 g |
| Ground pepper | 2 tablespoons |
| Minced garlic | 1 tablespoon |
| Minced shallot | 1 tablespoon |
| Sliced chili | 1 fruit |
| White wine | A little |
| Fish sauce | 3 teaspoons |
| Caramel sauce | 1 teaspoon |
| Seasoning powder | 1 teaspoon |
| Cooking oil | 3 tablespoons |
| Sugar | 1/2 tablespoon |
Detailed steps for making pepper-braised squid:
Step 1 – Preparing the squid: Pull out the squid head, remove the internal organs and backbone, then wash thoroughly. Next, use a little white wine to eliminate the fishy odor, rinse again with clean water, and let drain.
Step 2 – Blanching the squid briefly: Boil a pot of water and quickly blanch the squid. When the squid just firms up, take it out and let it drain, avoiding blanching for too long which makes the squid meat tough.
Step 3 – Sautéing aromatics: Heat a pan with cooking oil, add minced shallots and garlic and sauté until fragrant. Next, add the chili and a portion of the ground pepper to create the distinctive spicy aroma.
Step 4 – Braising the squid: Add the squid and stir quickly, then add fish sauce, caramel sauce, sugar, and seasoning powder. Lower the heat and simmer until the sauce thickens and the spices cling evenly around each piece of squid.
Step 5 – Finished dish: When the squid is firm and glossy, the braising sauce is thick and rich, and the pepper aroma rises, turn off the stove and sprinkle with extra ground pepper. The dish tastes best when served hot with white rice.
See more: How to make rich sticky dried squid braise that consumes lots of rice
How to make nutritious squid braised with shrimp and pork
Squid braised with shrimp and pork combines the sweetness of fresh squid and shrimp with the savory richness of pork belly and pork cracklings. The flavorful braising sauce helps the ingredients blend together, creating an enticing dish for family meals.
Ingredients for squid braised with shrimp and pork:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
| Fresh squid | 400 g |
| Fresh shrimp | 200 g |
| Dried shrimp | 50 g |
| Pork | 150 g |
| Pork fat | 200 g |
| Chili | 2 fruits |
| Scallion | 3 stalks |
| Shallot | 3 bulbs |
| Garlic | 5 cloves |
| Fish sauce | 4 tablespoons |
| White wine | A little |
| Sugar | 3 tablespoons |
| Monosodium glutamate | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Ground pepper | 1 teaspoon |
Detailed steps for braising squid with shrimp and pork
Step 1 – Preparing ingredients: Clean the squid, soak it in a little white wine to eliminate fishiness, wash again, and cut into bite-sized pieces. Soak dried shrimp in water for 15-20 minutes, wash and pound lightly. Soak pork and pork fat in diluted saltwater, wash, and slice; peel fresh shrimp, devein, and drain.
Step 2 – Rendering pork cracklings: Put the pork fat in a pan, render over medium heat until the fat renders out and the cracklings turn golden and crispy. Take out the cracklings and set aside, keeping the oil to sauté aromatics.
Step 3 – Making the sauce: Put 3 tablespoons of sugar, ½ teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1 teaspoon of pepper, 4 tablespoons of fish sauce, and ½ cup of water into a bowl, stirring well until the spices dissolve.
Step 4 – Braising the squid with shrimp and pork: Use the oil rendered from the pork fat to sauté shallots, garlic, and chili until fragrant. Then, add the shrimp, pork, and squid and stir evenly for about 3 minutes. Next, pour in the sauce, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for another 10-15 minutes.
Step 5 – Finished dish: When the braising sauce thickens, add the pork cracklings and stir gently, then add scallions and ground pepper. The dish has a rich, savory, creamy flavor and is wonderful served hot with rice.
View details: How to braise meat with dried squid richly and the secret to making the braising liquid deep in color
How to make sweet and sour pineapple braised squid
Pineapple braised squid offers a harmonious combination of the chewy sweetness of squid and the natural sweet-and-sour taste of pineapple. The lightly thickened, gently fragrant sauce gives the dish a lighter yet still savory flavor, which goes very well with hot rice.
Ingredients for pineapple braised squid
| Ingredient | Quantity |
| Squid tube or broad squid | 500 g |
| Ripe pineapple | 1/2 fruit (about 200 g) |
| Dried shallot | 2 bulbs |
| Scallion | 2 stalks |
| Large chili | 1-2 fruits |
| Cooking oil | 2 tablespoons |
| Fish sauce | 3 tablespoons |
| Caramel syrup | 1 teaspoon |
| Sugar | 1 tablespoon |
| Ground pepper | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Soup powder | To taste |
| Monosodium glutamate | To taste |
| Seasoning powder | To taste |
Detailed steps for pineapple braised squid:
Step 1 – Preparing ingredients: Clean the squid, remove the internal organs and backbone, wash, and let drain. Peel the pineapple, remove the eyes, and cut into bite-sized pieces; finely mince the dried shallot, cut scallions into segments, and slice the large chili.
Step 2 – Marinating the squid: Place the squid in a bowl, add a portion of fish sauce, sugar, seasoning powder, and ground pepper, and mix gently. Marinate for about 10-15 minutes for the squid to absorb the flavors before cooking.
Step 3 – Sautéing aromatics: Heat a pan with cooking oil, add dried shallot and sauté until fragrant, then add the large chili. Next, add the pineapple and stir gently to let the pineapple release its sweetness and develop a fragrant aroma.
Step 4 – Quick-stir-frying the squid: Add the marinated squid to the pan and stir quickly over medium heat until the squid firms up. Avoid stir-frying for too long because prolonged high heat can make the squid meat tough.
Step 5 – Braising the squid with pineapple: Add fish sauce, caramel syrup, sugar, and the remaining spices, then lower the heat. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes for the squid to absorb the flavors, the sauce to thicken, and the pineapple to blend into the braising liquid.
Step 6 – Finished dish: When the squid is cooked and firm, the braising sauce has a beautiful brownish-yellow color and a fragrant aroma, add scallions, stir quickly, and turn off the heat. Pineapple braised squid should be served hot to fully experience the chewy sweetness of the squid and the sweet-and-sour taste of the pineapple.
See more: How to make sweet and sour stir-fried squid with pineapple, crispy to the bite at home
Tips for braising squid without making it tough or releasing too much water
To keep braised squid tender and chewy while maintaining a rich braising sauce, you just need to pay attention to these two important steps:
- Blanch briefly before braising: Quickly blanch the squid through boiling water, then take it out and let it drain. This method helps the squid firm up and limits excessive liquid release during braising.
- Simmer on low heat, do not stir too much: When the braising sauce boils, lower the heat so the spices gradually penetrate the squid. During the braising process, only stir gently when necessary to prevent the squid from breaking apart and to preserve its tender, delicious texture.
Above are 3 ways to braise squid that are flavorful, easy to make, and suitable for family meals. If you want to change your palate with dishes made from dried squid, you can explore more quality dried squid products at Ola Squid. Contact us right away for consultation and to choose the products that best suit your needs!
