Tiếng Việt
ไทยGrilled dried squid is the nation’s favorite “snack” for gatherings with friends or family meals. The mouthwatering aroma wafting from each strand of squid grilled to a slight char always knows how to awaken every sense. However, not everyone knows how to grill dried squid so that it cooks through, turns soft and sweet without becoming dried out or bitterly burnt. Let’s join Ola Squid to discover the authentic way to grill dried squid right at home through the detailed article below!
How to choose good dried squid for grilling that you shouldn’t skip
To get a plate of delicious, authentic grilled dried squid, choosing the ingredients plays a role that determines up to 80% of the dish’s success. No matter how good your grilling method is, if you choose low-quality squid or fake squid, the finished product will still turn out mushy, bitter, or lose its natural sweetness.
- Distinctive aroma, free of chemical smell: Good-quality dried squid has a natural sea aroma, gentle and with a characteristic faint scent. You shouldn’t choose squid with a pungent, moldy, or strong chemical smell.
- Moderate dryness, slight flexibility when bent: When you touch the squid’s body, your hand should feel dryness, with no damp stickiness. When gently bent or curved, the squid should have elasticity and slight flexibility, without crumbling or being overly stiff.
- A thin, natural layer of white powder on the surface: Dried squid made from fresh, live squid is covered with a thin, even layer of white powder across its body. The thicker the powder layer, the fresher the squid and the more properly it was dried.
See more: How to choose good dried squid according to the experience of coastal locals
5 delicious ways to grill dried squid at home
Each grilling method brings its own distinct flavor and experience. Below is a detailed guide to 5 popular and easy ways to grill dried squid right in your own kitchen.
Method 1 – Grilling dried squid with 90-degree alcohol
Grilling dried squid with alcohol at 90 degrees is a delicious and authentic traditional way to grill dried squid. The alcohol flame burns quickly and radiates heat evenly, helping the squid cook through from the inside without losing its natural sweetness.
- Step 1: Separate the body and head of the squid. Arrange the squid’s body on an aluminum plate or a deep ceramic dish.
- Step 2: Evenly pour about 2 – 3 tablespoons of 90-degree alcohol over the entire surface of the squid, and wait about 1 minute for the alcohol to soak in evenly.
- Step 3: Use a lighter to ignite the alcohol. Use tongs to continuously flip the squid until the alcohol burns out completely and the squid’s edges are slightly charred, releasing a mouthwatering aroma.
- Step 4: Wrap the squid in newspaper, then gently pound it with a pestle so the squid becomes soft and easy to tear.
Method 2 – Grilling dried squid on a gas stove
Grilling dried squid on a gas stove is a quick option for those who don’t have alcohol or a charcoal stove on hand. However, this method requires you to be extremely skillful so the squid doesn’t pick up a gas smell or become excessively charred.
- Step 1: Clamp the dried squid into a grilling rack.
- Step 2: Turn on the gas stove to the lowest flame. Hold the grilling rack and evenly wave both sides of the squid over the flame, keeping a distance of about 10 – 15cm from the fire.
- Step 3: Flip the rack continuously every 3 – 5 seconds. When the squid curls up, gives off a fragrant aroma, and turns a pale golden color, it is cooked.
Method 3 – Grilling dried squid with an air fryer
Grilling dried squid with an air fryer is a choice for modern families thanks to its convenience, cleanliness, and lack of smoke filling the house.
- Step 1: Preheat the air fryer at 180°C for 3 minutes.
- Step 2: Spray a thin layer of water or beer over the squid’s surface so it doesn’t dry out. Place the squid in the frying basket.
- Step 3: Set the temperature to 160°C – 180°C and grill for 2 – 3 minutes. Open the fryer, flip the squid, and grill for another 1 – 2 minutes to finish.
Method 4 – Grilling dried squid with a charcoal stove
Dried squid grilled over glowing charcoal fully preserves its chewiness, delicate sweetness, and the faint, distinctive smoky aroma.
- Step 1: Light the charcoal stove until the coals glow red, with no more black smoke.
- Step 2: Place the squid on the rack and grill it while fanning the charcoal.
- Step 3: Continuously flip the squid, fanning gently to maintain a stable temperature. Grill until both sides of the squid are evenly golden and the body has puffed up slightly.
Method 5 – Grilling delicious squid with an oven (microwave)
Grilling dried squid with an oven lets you process a large quantity of squid at once for gatherings with many guests, while still cooking it evenly and attractively.
- Step 1: Turn on the oven at 200°C for 10 minutes beforehand to stabilize the temperature.
- Step 2: Wrap the squid in a layer of aluminum foil (you can sprinkle a bit of beer on it) to keep it moist.
- Step 3: Place the rack of squid in the middle of the oven and grill for about 3 – 5 minutes.
- Step 4: Then take it out and tear it into strips while the squid is still piping hot.
> See more other ways to grill dried squid:
- How to grill dried squid on an induction cooktop for soft, sweet results without burning
- How to grill dried squid with alcohol deliciously and safely
Comparison table of the 5 ways to grill dried squid to help you choose the grilling method that suits you:
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages | Taste rating |
| 90-degree alcohol | Cooks evenly, chewy and sweet, authentic traditional flavor | Requires careful attention to safety | 5/5 ⭐ |
| Gas stove | Quick, convenient, always on hand | Easily charred, may pick up a gas smell | 3/5 ⭐ |
| Air fryer | Clean, no smoke, safe | Easily dries out if temperature is set incorrectly | 4/5 ⭐ |
| Charcoal stove | Rich smoky aroma, the most robust sweetness | Takes time to light the charcoal, lots of smoke | 5/5 ⭐ |
| Oven | Can grill a large batch at once, cooks evenly | Squid easily dries out if not wrapped in foil | 4/5 ⭐ |
Tips to keep grilled dried squid from burning, becoming tough, or drying out
Whichever way of grilling dried squid you apply, you should also keep a few small tips in mind below to help your plate of squid always turn out soft, fragrant, chewy, and full of restaurant-quality flavor:
- Soak the squid in beer or water before grilling: About 5 – 10 minutes before grilling, you should soak the squid in beer or warm water. Beer helps remove the fishy smell and makes the squid’s flesh expand evenly, so when grilled the squid turns soft, sweet, and very easy to tear into strips.
- Grill over moderate flame/heat, don’t let the flame get too high: Dried squid is very thin and burns easily. Burning too much alcohol or placing the rack too close to the gas flame will cause the outer layer to burn bitterly before the flesh has had time to cook through and become chewy.
- Flip evenly, don’t grill too long on one side: Continuously flipping the squid helps the heat distribute evenly, retains natural moisture, and avoids one side becoming dry and stiff.
Guide to making an appealing dipping sauce for grilled dried squid
An authentic grilled dried squid dish is never complete without a bowl of rich dipping sauce. Below are 3 fantastic dipping sauce recipes for grilled dried squid to help you fully enjoy the flavor of the dish:
How to make tamarind dipping sauce for dried squid
Tamarind sauce brings a light sour, sweet, and spicy flavor when dipped with grilled squid.
- Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of tamarind pulp, 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and chili.
- Method: Dissolve the tamarind pulp, fish sauce, and sugar over low heat until the mixture thickens into a syrup. Turn off the heat, pour into a bowl, then mix in the minced garlic and chili.
How to make green chili salt dipping sauce for dried squid
Green chili salt, with its harmonious sour, spicy, salty, sweet flavor and fragrant hint of lime leaf, will awaken every sense when enjoyed with properly grilled dried squid.
- Ingredients: 5 Thai green chilies, 2 lime leaves, 1 tablespoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of condensed milk, 3 tablespoons of kumquat juice.
- Method: Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend until you get a smooth, attractive green mixture.
How to make red chili salt dipping sauce for dried squid
Red chili salt dipping sauce for dried squid suits those who prefer a robust, traditional spicy flavor.
- Ingredients: 3 red horn chilies, 2 bird’s eye chilies, 1 tablespoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, 1 tablespoon of condensed milk.
- Method: Pound the chilies, salt, and sugar in a mortar. Then scoop it into a bowl, add the lime juice and condensed milk, and stir until fully dissolved.
Where to buy trustworthy, good-quality dried squid for grilling?
If you’re looking for a place to buy quality, pure dried squid that guarantees food safety and hygiene, Ola Squid is the suggestion for you.
Ola Squid supplies premium dried squid lines selected directly from famous fishing regions. The squid supplied by Ola Squid is caught, processed, and dried under a strict process, fully retaining its fresh sweetness, chewy dense flesh, and natural aroma. Visit the website now at https://olasquid.com/ to choose the finest dried squid products for your family!
>>> See more: Top 10 quality dried squid manufacturing companies in Vietnam
Frequently asked questions about grilled dried squid
Why does grilled squid often turn out tough and hard to tear?
Grilled squid becomes tough for 2 main reasons: over-grilling causes the squid to lose all its moisture, or choosing low-quality squid (squid that was dried too much, or old squid). In addition, if you tear the squid along the muscle fiber instead of tearing across the strands, it will also make the squid tougher and harder to eat.
Which grilling method best preserves the natural sweetness?
Grilling squid with 90-degree alcohol or over glowing charcoal are the two methods that best preserve the light natural sweetness and distinctive flavor. The even heat radiated by these two methods helps the squid cook through and stay chewy from the inside out without losing nutrients.
How long can grilled dried squid be stored?
Grilled dried squid tastes best when enjoyed right while it’s still hot. If you don’t finish it, you can wrap the grilled squid tightly in a plastic bag or a sealed container and store it in the refrigerator’s cool compartment for 1 – 2 days. When eating it again, you just need to briefly microwave it for about 20 – 30 seconds.
>>> 7 proper ways to store grilled dried squid and how to reheat it
How many calories are in grilled dried squid?
Many people wonder how many calories are in grilled dried squid and whether eating it will cause weight gain. On average, 100g of grilled dried squid contains about 290 – 300 kcal. Dried squid is rich in protein and low in fat, making it suitable for those pursuing a healthy diet if consumed in moderate amounts.
We hope that with this detailed guide to 5 ways to grill dried squid along with tips for choosing squid and making dipping sauce above, you now feel confident heading into the kitchen to show off your skills making grilled dried squid that’s delicious, chewy, and full of flavor for your family. Don’t forget to visit Ola Squid to order the highest-quality dried squid, helping make your at-home culinary gathering even more complete!
