What to Cook with Small Squid? 6 Foolproof Delicious Recipes

Small squid features tender meat, a natural sweetness, and bite-sized dimensions, making it versatile for preparing many appealing dishes such as steamed with ginger and lemongrass, simmered in a savory-sweet sauce, fried with fish sauce, or cooked in a spicy and sour hotpot. If you are wondering what delicious dishes to make with small squid, the recipes shared by Ola Squid below are all easy to execute at home, require simple ingredients, and are well-suited for family meals.

How to Choose Fresh and Delicious Small Squid

Fresh small squid features firm flesh, a natural color, and a mild, characteristic seafood aroma. When purchasing, you should carefully observe the body, head, and tentacles rather than just selecting by size.

Color, Elasticity, and Aroma

Fresh and delicious small squid possesses the following characteristics:

• Color: The squid body is translucent or ivory-white, with skin that remains glossy and free from dullness or abnormal yellow discoloration.
• Elasticity: Press gently on the squid body with your finger; the flesh should feel firm and quickly spring back to its original shape. Squid that is mushy, deeply indented, or slimy is usually no longer fresh.
• Head and tentacles: The squid head remains relatively firmly attached to the body, and the tentacles are firm rather than limp or soggy.
• Aroma: Fresh squid has a characteristic ocean scent that is not overpowering. If the squid emits a foul, sour, or abnormal odor, you should avoid purchasing it.

For mini squid or small squid, size does not determine freshness. Therefore, instead of only choosing ones of uniform size, you should prioritize a batch with firm bodies, glossy skin, and no signs of sliminess.

See more: How to choose fresh and delicious squid that not everyone knows

Tips to Avoid Buying Spoiled Squid

To minimize purchasing squid that has been left sitting for a long time, you can perform a quick check by observing the skin and pressing gently on the body. Fresh squid has a relatively dry surface, no abnormal slime, and good body elasticity.

Additionally, you should avoid selecting squid with a head that easily detaches from the body, cloudy eyes, limp tentacles, or a noticeable foul odor. If you are buying cleaned and packaged squid, check the expiration date, packaging condition, and storage conditions before preparation.

What Delicious Dishes to Make with Small Squid? 6 Easy Home-Cooked Suggestions

If you do not yet know what delicious dishes to make with small squid, you can choose a recipe based on your personal taste and desired cooking method. Small squid can be steamed to preserve its sweetness, simmered or fried for richer flavor, stir-fried with vegetables for a well-rounded meal, or cooked in a hotpot for the whole family to enjoy.

Below are 6 easy-to-make dishes using small squid at home.

Small Squid Steamed with Ginger and Lemongrass

Small squid steamed with ginger and lemongrass is a suitable choice if you want to savor the natural sweetness of the squid. Ginger and lemongrass enhance the dish’s aroma while simultaneously reducing the characteristic fishy odor of seafood.

Prepared Ingredients (Serves 3 – 4)

• 500 – 600g small squid
• 3 stalks of lemongrass
• 1 small knob of ginger
• 1 – 2 chili peppers
• Scallions
• Seasonings: fish sauce, sugar, lime or calamansi.

Instructions

• Step 1: Prepare the squid: Pull the head away from the body, remove the ink sac, quill, and internal organs. Rinse the squid with clean water, you can use a little salt to rub gently and then rinse again. Drain well.

• Step 2: Prepare ginger and lemongrass: Wash the ginger and slice or julienne it. Crush and cut the lemongrass stalks into segments. A portion can be sliced to scatter over the squid.

• Step 3: Steam the squid: Arrange lemongrass and ginger at the bottom of the steamer basket, place the squid on top, and cover with more ginger, lemongrass, and chilies. Steam for about 7 – 10 minutes depending on the size of the squid. Avoid steaming for too long as the squid will become tough.

• Step 4: Make the dipping sauce: Mix fish sauce with sugar, lime or calamansi juice, add minced chili and a little ginger according to taste.

• Step 5: Enjoy: Once the squid is just cooked through, transfer to a plate, sprinkle with scallions, and serve hot with the dipping sauce.

Similar delicious dishes: How to make fragrant and non-fishy steamed squid with ginger

Small Squid Stuffed with Meat Simmered in Fish Sauce

If you want to change up the family meal, small squid stuffed with meat simmered in fish sauce is a dish with a rich, savory-sweet flavor, combining tender-chewy squid with savory, fatty meat stuffing. This dish pairs perfectly with hot white rice.

Prepared Ingredients (Serves 3 – 4)

• 500g small squid
• 200g minced pork
• 20g wood ear mushrooms
• 2 – 3 shallots
• Scallions
• 1 chicken egg
• 1 – 2 chili peppers
• Seasonings: fish sauce, sugar, pepper, seasoning powder, cooking oil.

Instructions

• Step 1 – Prepare the squid: Clean the squid, keeping the body intact to use as the stuffing casing. The head and tentacles can be finely chopped and mixed into the meat filling.

• Step 2 – Make the filling: Rehydrate the wood ear mushrooms, wash, and mince them finely. Mix the minced pork with the wood ear mushrooms, minced squid heads, shallots, scallions, chicken egg, pepper, and a little seasoning.

• Step 3 – Stuff the meat: Put the filling into the squid body, only filling about 2/3 to 3/4 of the body to leave room for the filling to expand during cooking. Use a toothpick to secure the open end of the squid.

• Step 4 – Lightly pan-fry: Heat a pan with a little oil, add the squid and pan-sear until the body firms up and turns slightly golden.

• Step 5 – Simmer in fish sauce: Mix fish sauce, sugar, and a little filtered water to taste. Add the mixture to the pan along with chilies, then simmer on low heat until the sauce thickens and coats evenly around the squid.

• Step 6 – Finish: Turn off the heat and remove the toothpicks before serving. The stuffed squid dish should be enjoyed while hot to fully appreciate its tenderness and rich flavor.

Similar delicious dishes: Guide to making irresistibly delicious crispy fried stuffed squid

Small Squid Simmered in Savory-Sweet Sauce

If you are looking for what delicious dishes to make with mini squid using a quick and concise method, small squid simmered in a savory-sweet sauce is definitely worth a try. A slightly thick fish sauce and sugar glaze clings to each squid, creating a rich flavor while retaining the natural sweetness of the seafood.

Prepared Ingredients (Serves 3 – 4)

• 500 – 600g small squid
• 2 – 3 garlic cloves
• 1 – 2 shallots
• 1 – 2 chili peppers
• Scallions or cilantro
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 – 1.5 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• Cooking oil.

Instructions

• Step 1 – Prepare the squid and seasonings: Wash 500g baby squid, quickly blanch in boiling water with salt, ginger, and shallots for about 1 minute, then remove and soak in ice water for 15–20 minutes. Afterwards, drain the squid thoroughly. Prepare the ginger, shallots, scallions, and chilies, separating the portions used for marinating and for sautéing.

• Step 2 – Marinate the squid: Place the squid in a bowl, add 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of MSG, 1 tablespoon of caramel sauce, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce along with a portion of minced shallots, scallion stalks, and chilies. Mix well and marinate for about 5–10 minutes.

• Step 3 – Simmer the squid in savory-sweet sauce: Sauté the remaining shallots, scallion stalks, and chilies in cooking oil until fragrant. Add the squid and marinade to the pan, lower the heat, add 1 tablespoon of chili sauce, and simmer until the sauce thickens and coats evenly around the squid. Stir gently occasionally to prevent the squid from burning.

• Step 4 – Finish: Top with scallions and julienned chilies, and sprinkle with ground pepper. The finished simmered squid is firm, infused with a savory, sweet, mildly spicy, and delicious flavor, perfect for serving with hot rice or as a drinking snack.

Similar delicious dishes: 3 simple and flavorful ways to make simmered dried squid at home

Small Squid Fried with Fish Sauce

Small squid fried with fish sauce features a firm, fragrant outer layer coated in a rich fish sauce and sugar glaze. Small squid fried with fish sauce is an easy-to-eat dish that can be enjoyed in daily meals or as a snack.

Prepared Ingredients (Serves 3 – 4)

• 500g small squid
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 – 2 chili peppers
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon chili sauce as desired
• Cooking oil
• A little crispy frying flour if you want a crispier outer crust.

Instructions

• Step 1 – Prepare the squid: Clean the squid, rinse with water and let drain completely. If the squid retains too much water, hot oil splatter may occur during frying.

• Step 2 – Fry the squid: You can fry them directly or coat them with a thin layer of crispy frying flour. Fry until the squid turns golden, then remove and drain excess oil.

• Step 3 – Make the fish sauce glaze: Sauté garlic until fragrant, add fish sauce, sugar, chili, and chili sauce into the pan. Stir over low heat until the mixture becomes slightly viscous.

• Step 4 – Coat with the sauce: Add the fried squid into the pan, toss quickly so that the fish sauce evenly coats every piece of squid.

• Step 5 – Finish: Sprinkle with pepper or scallions, then turn off the heat. Avoid simmering for too long as the squid might become tough.

Similar delicious dishes: How to make flavorful squid fried with fish sauce that is addictive upon tasting

Small Squid Stir-Fried with Onion and Celery

Small squid stir-fried with onion and celery combines the natural sweetness of squid with the crisp sweetness of onions and the characteristic aroma of celery. This is a suitable choice if you want a squid dish that includes vegetables while remaining quick to prepare.

Prepared Ingredients (Serves 3 – 4)

• 500g small squid
• 1 onion
• 2 – 3 stalks of celery
• 1/2 bell pepper as desired
• 3 garlic cloves
• Scallions
• Seasonings: fish sauce, oyster sauce, pepper, seasoning powder, cooking oil.

Instructions

• Step 1 – Prepare the squid: Clean the squid, rinse quickly with water and drain well.

• Step 2 – Prepare vegetables: Peel the onion and cut into wedge shapes. Wash the celery and cut into bite-sized segments. Slice the bell pepper.

• Step 3 – Stir-fry the squid: Sauté garlic until fragrant, add the squid and stir-fry quickly over high heat. Season with a little fish sauce and pepper, then toss until the squid firms up. Transfer the squid to a plate.

• Step 4 – Stir-fry vegetables: Add onion, celery, and bell pepper into the pan, toss quickly so the vegetables are just cooked through while retaining their crunchiness.

• Step 5 – Add the squid back to stir-fry together: Return the squid to the pan, add a little oyster sauce and seasonings if needed. Toss evenly for about 1 – 2 minutes then turn off the heat.

• Step 6 – Final product: Sprinkle with extra scallions and pepper. Best served immediately while hot so the squid and vegetables maintain their optimal flavor.

Similar delicious dishes: How to make delicious, rich, and appealing stir-fried squid with onion and celery

Small Squid Spicy and Sour Hotpot

Small squid spicy and sour hotpot is a fitting suggestion for days when you want to change dishes or when multiple people are dining together. The rich spicy and sour hotpot broth combined with tender, sweet squid and various vegetables and mushrooms creates a meal that is both appetizing and easy to prepare.

Prepared Ingredients (Serves 3 – 4)

• 500 – 600g small squid
• 200g assorted mushrooms
• 1/4 pineapple
• 2 tomatoes
• 100g okra
• Hotpot vegetables as desired
• 2 stalks of lemongrass
• 1 small knob of ginger
• 2 – 3 chili peppers
• 1 packet of Thai hotpot seasoning or sour-spicy seasonings to taste
• 1 – 1.5 liters of water
• Seasonings: fish sauce, sugar, salt, lime or tamarind juice.

Instructions

• Step 1 – Prepare the squid: Clean the squid, rinse thoroughly and drain. You can keep them whole so the squid maintains a nice shape when dipped into the hotpot.

• Step 2 – Prepare vegetables and ingredients: Cut tomatoes into wedges, slice the pineapple, wash the okra and cut in half. Clean the mushrooms, wash the hotpot vegetables and drain.

• Step 3 – Cook the broth: Sauté lemongrass, ginger, and a little chili until fragrant. Add tomatoes and pineapple to stir-fry briefly, then add water. Simmer for about 10 – 15 minutes so the broth develops a natural sweetness. Add hotpot seasoning, fish sauce, sugar, and the sour agent such as lime or tamarind juice. Adjust the spicy, sour, and salty levels to personal taste.

• Step 4 – Enjoy: When the hotpot broth boils, successively add mushrooms, okra, vegetables, and squid to dip. The squid only needs to be cooked just right so you can enjoy it without it becoming tough.

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With characteristics of tender meat, natural sweetness, and ease of combining with various seasonings, what delicious dishes to make with small squid is no longer a difficult question. Depending on your preference, you can choose light steamed ginger lemongrass, rich simmered stuffed squid in fish sauce, savory-sweet simmered, fragrant and fatty fish sauce fried, stir-fried with onion and celery, or spicy and sour hotpot.

No matter which cooking method you choose, prepping the small squid and selecting fresh ingredients remain vital factors to ensure the dish is not fishy and retains its inherent sweetness. If you love dishes made from squid, you can refer to more delicious squid recipes shared by Ola Squid to easily vary your family menu every day.