How to Cook Tender and Sweet Dried Squid Porridge Without Fishy Smell

Dried squid porridge is a dish with a rich, sweet flavor, a distinct aroma of squid, and is easy to make at home. However, if improperly prepped or cooked for too long, the squid can become fishy, chewy, and cause the porridge to lose its natural sweetness. With the dried squid porridge recipe shared by Ola Squid below, you can utilize quality dried squid to cook a delicious, smooth, and tender pot of porridge without too many complicated steps. 

Ingredients for Dried Squid Porridge

To ensure the porridge has a natural sweetness and the squid maintains its tenderness, you should choose fresh, high-quality ingredients right from the start. The recipe below is suitable for about 3–4 servings. The amount of seasoning can be adjusted according to your family’s taste. 

Ingredient Table and Portions 

Tips for Choosing Good Dried Squid and Rice for Porridge

Delicious dried squid has a natural ivory-white color, a back covered with a moderate layer of white powder, a thick and firm body, and no strange odors. When held, the squid feels dry yet not overly hard. You should prioritize squid that has been properly prepped and stored so that it retains its characteristic sweetness when cooked.

For the rice, you can combine plain rice with a small amount of glutinous rice. Plain rice gives the porridge a moderate softness, while glutinous rice creates thickness and makes the porridge broth richer. You should not add too much glutinous rice because the porridge can easily become too thick, losing its light and delicate texture.

How to Cook Delicious Dried Squid Porridge at Home (Step-by-Step)

The method for cooking dried squid porridge requires attention to two main stages: prepping the squid and controlling the cooking time. The squid should be cooked just enough to retain its tenderness, avoiding overcooking which makes the meat chewy. 

Step 1: Soaking and Prepping the Dried Squid

Rinse the dried squid under running water to remove surface dirt. Then, place the squid in warm water and soak for about 15–30 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of the squid.

Once the squid has softened, take it out to drain, remove the hard backbone, eyes, and any unusable parts. You can use paper towels or a clean cloth to pat it dry before slicing. Slice the squid into small strips or bite-sized pieces so that it blends easily with the porridge.

You should not soak the squid in water for too long as it can dilute the natural sweetness. Do not use the squid soaking water for cooking porridge because it may contain sediment or the distinct odor of squid.

See more: Summary of 9 ways to soak dried squid to keep it tender and chewy

Step 2: Roasting/Cooking Plain Porridge

Gently rinse the plain rice and glutinous rice, then let them drain. If you have time, you can roast the rice in a pan over low heat for a few minutes until the grains turn slightly golden and release an aroma. 

Put the rice into a pot along with about 1.5–2 liters of water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for about 30–40 minutes until the rice grains begin to burst open and the porridge broth achieves a moderate consistency. During cooking, stir occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Step 3: Stir-frying or Grilling the Dried Squid to Release Aroma

After prepping, the squid can be quickly grilled over low heat or pan-seared before cooking. If grilling, just heat it until the squid releases a fragrant aroma and firms up slightly; do not grill for too long because the squid will easily dry out and become chewy.

You can also sauté shallots with a little cooking oil until fragrant, then add the squid and stir-fry quickly. Toss evenly for about 1–2 minutes so the squid absorbs a light seasoning and releases its aroma.

Step 4: Combining and Seasoning

When the rice grains begin to burst open and the porridge broth has a moderate consistency, add the stir-fried or grilled squid into the pot. Stir gently and continue cooking on low heat for about 3–5 minutes so the squid cooks through and its sweetness blends into the porridge broth.

Next, season with salt, seasoning powder, fish sauce, and a touch of sugar to taste. You should add the fish sauce near the end of the cooking process to preserve its signature aroma.

Step 5: Finishing and Plating

Turn off the heat when the squid is just cooked and the porridge reaches the desired consistency. Ladle the porridge into a bowl, garnish with scallions, coriander, ground black pepper, and fried shallots if desired.

Dried squid porridge should be enjoyed while hot. The soft, smooth porridge combined with fragrant, moderately chewy squid pieces creates a rich dish. You can add a little fresh chili or pepper to enhance the spicy and aromatic flavor.

Secrets to Cooking Delicious Dried Squid Porridge Without Fishiness or Toughness

To achieve a great dried squid porridge recipe, besides the basic formula, you should pay attention to how the squid is handled and the cooking time. A few small tips below will help make the porridge more aromatic, the squid softer, and the broth naturally sweet. 

Secrets to Keeping the Porridge Free from Fishy Odors

The fishy smell of dried squid porridge stems from inadequate preparation or overcooking the squid. When preparing it, you can apply some simple methods:

• Soak the squid in warm water: Soaking the squid for about 15–30 minutes softens it while removing surface dirt and pungent odors.
• Clean thoroughly before processing: Remove the backbone, eyes, and unused parts, then rinse quickly with clean water and let drain.
• Use ginger and shallots: Add a few slices of ginger to the porridge or use minced ginger and shallots to stir-fry with the squid to make the dish more aromatic and reduce its characteristic fishy smell.
• Stir-fry or grill the squid first: Heating the squid before adding it to the porridge helps it release its aroma and reduces the fishy sensation.
• Choose high-quality squid: Dried squid should have a distinct aroma, with no sour, rancid smells or signs of mold and abnormality.

Secrets to Keeping the Squid Tender and Not Chewy

Dried squid is tougher than fresh squid, so cooking time and temperature greatly affect the softness of the finished product. To keep the squid slightly chewy without being hard, you should:

• Soak the squid just enough to soften: Do not soak too long, as it will dilute the squid and cause it to lose its natural sweetness.
• Slice the squid into small pieces: Cutting the squid into bite-sized strips or thin slices helps it cook faster and makes it easier to chew.
• Stir-fry or grill quickly: Just heat the squid until it firms up and releases its aroma; avoid grilling or stir-frying for too long because prolonged high heat can make the squid dry and chewy.
• Add the squid to the porridge near the end: When the porridge is almost done, add the squid and cook for another 3–5 minutes so it cooks through and absorbs the flavor.
• Avoid overcooking the squid so that it doesn’t turn hard.

Secrets to Making the Porridge Broth Smooth, Fragrant, and Naturally Sweet

A delicious porridge broth depends not only on the amount of water but also on how you choose the rice and control the heat during cooking. To give the porridge a moderate consistency, fragrance, and natural sweetness from the squid, you can refer to the following tips:

• Combine plain and glutinous rice: Plain rice provides softness, while a small amount of glutinous rice makes the porridge smoother without becoming overly thick.
• Roast the rice before cooking: Lightly roasting the rice in a pan over low heat until the grains turn slightly golden and fragrant will make the cooked porridge much more aromatic.
• Cook the porridge on low heat: After the water boils, lower the heat and simmer slowly so the rice grains expand evenly, preventing the porridge from burning or thickening unevenly.
• Stir the porridge: Stirring gently during cooking prevents the rice from settling at the bottom of the pot and creates a natural thickness.
• Season moderately: Dried squid has a natural sweet and salty taste, so season with salt, fish sauce, and seasoning powder in just enough amounts not to overpower the squid flavor.
• Add fish sauce at the end: Adding a touch of fish sauce when the porridge is nearly finished enhances the dish’s aroma without needing excessive seasonings.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dried Squid Porridge

Does dried squid need to be soaked before cooking?

Yes. Soaking dried squid before cooking helps the squid meat absorb water, become softer, and be easier to cut into bite-sized pieces. The soaking time is about 15–30 minutes in warm water, depending on the thickness and size of the squid. You should not soak it for too long because the squid may lose its flavor and part of its natural sweetness. After soaking, you should rinse, clean, and let it drain before processing.

How long should dried squid be cooked so it is not chewy?

After the squid has been softened by soaking and lightly stir-fried or grilled, add it to the porridge and cook for about 3–5 minutes, which is enough for the squid to cook through. If using large-sized squid or slicing thick pieces, you can adjust the time but avoid prolonged cooking over high heat.

How long can dried squid porridge be stored?

Dried squid porridge tastes best when consumed immediately after cooking. If there are leftovers, let the porridge cool down a bit, put it in an airtight container, and store it in the refrigerator’s chiller compartment. It is best consumed within 1 day to ensure quality and flavor.

When reheating, make sure to warm it thoroughly. If the porridge becomes too thick after storage, you can add a little water and stir well while reheating. Do not leave the porridge at room temperature for a long time.

Can small dried squid be used to cook porridge? 

Yes. Small dried squid can be used to cook porridge, which is especially suitable if you want to chop the squid finely so it distributes evenly across each serving. However, you should choose good-quality squid with a dry body, no strange odors, and proper storage.

With simple ingredients and an uncomplicated preparation method, cooking dried squid porridge is an attractive choice for breakfast or a light meal at home. The key secret lies in choosing quality squid, soaking it properly, prepping the squid quickly, and adding it to the porridge only in the final stage to limit fishiness and toughness.

If you are looking for dried squid to prepare dishes at home, you can check out the carefully selected dried squid products from Ola Squid to choose ingredients that suit your needs for cooking porridge as well as other squid dishes.