How to Make Delicious Steamed Squid with Ginger

Ginger-steamed squid is a favorite dish for many families thanks to the natural sweetness of the seafood blending with the warm aroma of ginger and lemongrass. However, not everyone knows how to steam squid so it turns out crunchy, keeps its nutrients, without releasing too much water or tasting fishy.

In this article, Ola Squid will guide you through making ginger-steamed squid just like at a restaurant, simple and quick!

Ingredients for ginger-steamed squid

To make an authentic ginger-steamed squid dish, you need to prepare all the necessary ingredients. Below is the detailed quantity of ingredients for a meal serving 3 – 4 people.

How to make basic, authentic ginger-steamed squid

A properly made onion and ginger steamed squid dish is one where the squid is cooked just right, the skin looks glossy, it hasn’t shrunk, and it gives off a fragrant aroma. Join Ola Squid in the kitchen and follow the detailed 5-step guide below:

Step 1: Prepare the squid and other ingredients

• Prepare the squid: After buying the squid, remove the ink sac, the cuttlebone, and the beak. Wash the squid with diluted salt water mixed with a bit of white wine or crushed ginger to remove the fishy smell, then rinse again with clean water and drain.
• Prepare the vegetables: Peel the ginger and cut it into thin strips. Peel the carrot and either carve it into flower shapes or slice it thinly. Peel the onion and cut it into wedges. Wash the celery and green onion, then cut them into pieces about 4 – 5 cm long. Slice the chili.

Step 2: Marinate the squid

• Put the squid in a bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, and a little shredded ginger.
• Mix gently and marinate for about 10 – 15 minutes so the squid absorbs the seasoning fully.

Step 3: Arrange ginger, onion, and lemongrass on the steaming plate

• Prepare a deep plate. Line the bottom of the plate with a layer of onion, carrot, celery, and shredded ginger.
• Arrange the marinated squid on top, then scatter the remaining shredded ginger, green onion, and sliced chili over the squid for a nice presentation.

Step 4: Steam the squid

• Bring water to a boil in a steamer. Once the water is boiling vigorously, place the plate of squid inside and steam over high heat.
• Steam for about 8 – 10 minutes (depending on the size of the squid). When the squid body firms up and turns opaque white and plump, it’s cooked.

Step 5: Finished dish and enjoying it

The ginger-steamed squid dish comes out hot and steaming, with an eye-catching color from the carrot, green onion, and chili. You should enjoy it right while it’s still hot to fully savor the sweet, crunchy squid combined with the warm flavor of ginger.

Tips for sweet, crunchy ginger-steamed squid that isn’t fishy or tough

To get ginger-steamed squid that’s sweet and crunchy, without a fishy smell or a tough texture, you should keep the following points in mind when selecting ingredients, preparing, and cooking:

• Don’t steam for too long: Squid cooks very quickly. If you steam it beyond the recommended time, the squid will release water, shrink, lose its sweetness, and become tough and chewy.
• Choose fresh squid and prepare it carefully: Good squid has clear eyes and firm, elastic flesh. You should wash the squid with wine and ginger before steaming to remove the fishy smell.
• The right ginger-lemongrass ratio: Ginger and lemongrass help enhance the flavor of the dish, but if you use too much, they’ll overpower the squid’s natural sweetness. So, you should use the exact quantities recommended by Ola Squid above!

Check out more similar steamed squid recipes:

• 5 delicious, crunchy, non-fishy ways to steam squid at home
• How to make sweet, crunchy beer-steamed squid without a fishy smell at home
• How to prepare delicious onion-steamed squid simply
• Guide to making irresistibly fragrant coconut water-steamed squid
• Revealing how to make irresistible spicy and sour Thai-style steamed squid

How to make authentic dipping sauce for ginger-steamed squid

A delicious steamed squid dish is never complete without an accompanying “magical” dipping sauce. To elevate the flavor of your ginger-steamed squid, you can choose to prepare the dipping sauce following Ola Squid‘s guide below:

Ginger, chili, and lime fish sauce recipe

Ginger, chili, and lime fish sauce is a familiar type of steamed squid dipping sauce eaten with onion-steamed or ginger-steamed squid. The spicy warmth of ginger blends with the light sourness of lime and a harmonious hint of salty-sweetness to make the squid dish richer and more flavorful.

• Ingredients needed: 3 tablespoons fish sauce, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 100ml filtered water, minced ginger, minced garlic, crushed chili.
• How to make it: Stir the sugar with the filtered water and fish sauce until dissolved. Next, add the lime juice and stir well, then finally add the minced ginger, garlic, and crushed chili so they float on top for an appealing look.

Salt, chili, and lime dipping sauce

Salt, chili, and lime dipping sauce is the go-to national dipping sauce for seafood, and it pairs very well with ginger-steamed squid. The spicy heat of chili, the mild sourness of kumquat, and a slight richness combine to perfectly balance the squid’s natural sweetness.

• Ingredients needed: 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon MSG, 2 green/red chilies, and the juice of 1 lime.
• How to make it: After preparing all the ingredients, put everything into a blender and blend for about 1 – 2 minutes until the mixture is well combined, turns an appealing green/red color, and thickens. Pour it into a small bowl to enjoy right away, or store it in a sealed glass jar in the fridge to use with boiled, steamed, or grilled seafood dishes.

Frequently asked questions about ginger-steamed squid

What vegetables go well with ginger-steamed squid?

Ginger-steamed squid goes well with herbs like Vietnamese coriander, green onion, and cilantro, along with cucumber, shredded carrot, or wrapped in rice paper with fresh greens and dipped in sweet-and-sour ginger fish sauce.

Why does steamed squid sometimes taste fishy?

Steamed squid tastes fishy mainly due to:

• Incomplete preparation: Not removing the ink sac, not washing off the slimy layer on the squid’s skin.
• Missing odor-neutralizing seasonings: Not using ginger, lemongrass, or a bit of white wine during preparation/marinating.
• Squid that isn’t fresh: Using squid that’s been stored too long or improperly frozen, causing it to lose freshness.
• Wrong steaming temperature: Steaming on low heat or for too long causes the squid to release a fishy-smelling liquid.

What does steaming ginger with squid do?

Ginger has a warming property and a distinctive aroma that effectively neutralizes fishy odors when cooking seafood. When steamed with squid, ginger also enhances the fragrance, making the dish more appealing and easier to eat. In addition, ginger aids digestion and reduces the feeling of a cold stomach after eating seafood. As a result, ginger-steamed squid isn’t just delicious, it’s also good for your health.

With just a few simple steps, you’ve completed a ginger-steamed squid dish that’s delicious and crunchy, just like at a restaurant, right in your own kitchen. Don’t forget to choose fresh, high-quality squid so your dish turns out perfectly!

And if you’re looking to try something different with squid, don’t hesitate to contact Ola Squid – a trusted address specializing in supplying delicious dried squid, with great quality, competitive prices, guaranteed food safety, and nationwide delivery support.