Fried dried squid with fish sauce and onion is an irresistible dish that captivates many people with its rich aroma, well-balanced salty-sweet flavor, and incredibly appetizing chewy-tender squid strips. The combination of fragrant grilled dried squid, bold garlic-chili fish sauce, and crispy-sweet onion not only creates a perfect rice companion but is also ideal for enjoying during family and friend gatherings.

If you’re looking for an authentic recipe to bring variety to your family meals, let’s explore the recipe for fried dried squid with fish sauce and onion — a flavorful, restaurant-quality dish shared by Ola Squid right below!

Summary of content

Ingredients Needed (Serves 2–4)

To achieve the perfect flavor in fried dried squid with fish sauce, choosing and preparing all the ingredients is extremely important. Below is the list of ingredients you need to prepare for 2–4 servings:

Ingredient	Quantity	Notes / Selection Tips
Medium-sized dried squid	2 pieces (200–250g)	Choose squid with a straight body and thick flesh so it doesn’t dry out when fried.
Onion	1 bulb (150g)	Helps balance the richness and adds a crispy-sweet texture.
Garlic	4 cloves	Mince finely for sautéing until fragrant.
Fresh chili	1–2 pieces	Adjust according to your spice tolerance.
Good fish sauce	3 tablespoons	Creates a rich, bold flavor for the sauce.
Sugar	2 tablespoons	Balances the saltiness of the fish sauce.
Chili sauce	1 tablespoon	Gives the sauce a beautiful color and glossy, thick consistency.
Unsalted butter	1 tablespoon	Creates a distinctive rich, buttery aroma.
Green onion	2–3 stalks	Enhances the color and fragrance of the dish.
Ground pepper	1/2 teaspoon	Adds a peppery, aromatic depth to the flavor.
Cooking oil	200–300ml	Used for frying the dried squid.
Water	2 tablespoons	Dilutes the sauce while simmering to prevent it from burning or thickening too quickly.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Fried Dried Squid with Fish Sauce and Onion

Fried dried squid with fish sauce and onion is simple yet requires careful attention at each step, especially when timing the frying of the squid. To make this dish the right way, you can follow the detailed instructions below:

Step 1 – Prepare the Dried Squid

Soak the dried squid in warm water for about 10–15 minutes until it softens slightly, then rinse with clean water and pat dry with a clean cloth. Remove the hard quill and cut the squid into bite-sized pieces.

Helpful tip: If you have time, sun-dry the cut squid pieces for about 1–2 hours to help them firm up. This technique in making fried dried squid with fish sauce helps the pieces stay crispy on the outside while remaining tender and sweet on the inside.

See more: A complete guide on how to soak dried squid to soften it while keeping its chewy texture

Step 2 – Prepare the Onion and Other Ingredients

Peel the onion, rinse it clean, then cut into even wedge-shaped pieces. Cutting into wedges helps the onion retain its crispiness and prevents it from falling apart when tossed in the pan over high heat.

For the garlic and fresh chili, mince them finely so they release their full aroma when sautéed. Rinse the green onions, then cut them into 2–3cm segments and set aside on a plate.

Step 3 – Mix the Fish Sauce and Sugar Glaze

The highlight of fried dried squid with fish sauce and onion is the rich, glossy sauce. Prepare a small bowl and combine 3 tablespoons of fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of chili sauce, and 2 tablespoons of water. Stir with a spoon until the sugar is completely dissolved. Taste and adjust until the flavor reaches a well-balanced, mildly salty, and pleasantly sweet profile.

Step 4 – Fry the Squid

Heat a pan over the stove and pour in 200–300ml of cooking oil. Wait until the oil is very hot before carefully adding the squid and frying quickly. Avoid frying too long as this will make the squid tough and cause it to lose its natural sweetness. Once the squid pieces turn a light golden color and release a fragrant aroma, remove them and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.

Frying dried squid quickly in very hot oil

Step 5 – Glaze the Squid with Sauce and Onion

After frying the squid, pour off most of the oil from the pan, leaving just a little, then add 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter and melt it. Add the minced garlic and chili and sauté until wonderfully fragrant. Once the garlic turns golden, pour the entire sauce mixture prepared in Step 3 into the pan and cook over medium heat until the sauce begins to bubble gently and slightly thickens.

At this point, add all the fried dried squid into the pan and toss quickly so the sauce evenly coats every piece. Finally, add the onion wedges and stir-fry briefly for about 30–45 seconds, just until the onion is cooked through but still retains its crunch.

Step 6 – Finish and Plate

Once the onion is just cooked and has absorbed the sauce, turn off the heat, sprinkle some ground pepper and chopped green onion on top to enhance the flavor, then transfer to a wide serving plate. For the best experience, enjoy immediately while still hot alongside steamed white rice or serve as a savory snack.

Fried dried squid with fish sauce tastes better served with hot rice

See more: What dishes can dried squid make? Easy and delicious preparation methods

Tips for Making the Perfect Fried Dried Squid with Fish Sauce and Onion

To get the authentic flavor right in fried dried squid with fish sauce and onion, keep the following tips in mind:

Sauce ratio: A ratio of approximately 1.5:1 (fish sauce to sugar) creates a well-balanced salty-sweet flavor without being overly spicy or cloyingly sweet.
Frying technique: Fry the squid quickly for about 30 seconds to 1 minute in very hot oil. Frying too long will make the fried dried squid tough and difficult to chew.
Timing for the onion: Just like the squid, onion cooks very quickly. Add the onion in the final step and toss briefly to preserve its characteristic crispy-sweet texture.
Enjoy at the right moment: This dish is at its absolute best when enjoyed immediately after cooking. If left out for too long, the squid will absorb moisture and become chewier, and the onion will soften and release water, diminishing the richness of the sauce.

Sun-drying the cut squid pieces for 1–2 hours helps them firm up

Explore more delicious dried squid recipes:

How to Choose Good Dried Squid for Frying with Fish Sauce

Ingredients determine 80% of a dish’s quality. High-quality dried squid delivers a naturally rich sweetness and an enticing aroma. Here’s how to select the best squid:

Natural color: Good dried squid has a naturally light pink back, an evenly white belly, and faint black specks characteristic of squid skin.
Moisture and thickness: When touched, the squid body should feel dry and not sticky, with thick flesh and no signs of moisture or mold.
Aroma: Good squid will have a mild, natural oceanic smell — no strange odors or chemical scents.

Good dried squid has a naturally light pink back

See now: How to choose good dried squid based on seasoned fishermen’s experience

A tip for you: Looking for outstanding hand-line-caught dried squid, hand-caught and sun-dried right at sea to prepare this dish? Check out Ola Squid’s premium whole dried squid products — guaranteed to be authentically chewy and sweet, naturally sun-dried, preservative-free, and bringing the true taste of the ocean straight to your kitchen!

How to Store Fried Dried Squid with Fish Sauce and Onion

If you don’t finish the dish in one sitting, you can store the fried dried squid with fish sauce and onion for later by following these tips:

Storage: Let the dish cool completely, then transfer to a glass or plastic container with a tightly sealed lid and place in the refrigerator.
Shelf life: Consume within 1–2 days to ensure food safety and maintain the best flavor.
Reheating while keeping crispiness:

Method 1: Place the dish in a pan and toss quickly over medium heat for about 1–2 minutes to reheat.

Method 2: Place in an air fryer, set the temperature to 150°C, and heat for about 3–5 minutes. This method will restore the dish’s warmth and crispiness, making it taste as freshly made as before.

Storing fried dried squid with fish sauce and onion in the refrigerator

See more: How to properly store dried squid for long-lasting freshness

We hope that with these tips and instructions, you’ll be able to successfully prepare a richly flavorful fried dried squid with fish sauce and onion dish, making every meal more enticing and satisfying. To achieve an authentically delicious result, choosing quality ingredients — especially good dried squid — is an absolutely crucial factor.

If you’re looking for a reliable place to buy aromatic, thick, and ocean-fresh dried squid, Ola Squid is the trusted choice for you. Order dried squid from Ola Squid today to easily prepare authentic, delicious dishes right at home and bring more satisfying meals to your family every day.

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