What is Milk Squid? Milk Squid Price Per Kg?

Have you ever heard of baby squid before? Although it is just a small type of squid, baby squid is favored by many people because of its sweet meat, high nutritional value, and its versatility as an ingredient for many delicious and attractive dishes. So, what is baby squid, how to choose fresh ones, what dishes should be made, and what is the current price of 1kg of baby squid? To answer these questions, let’s explore the details with Ola Squid right in this article!

1. What is baby squid?

1.1. Characteristics of baby squid

Baby squid, also known as rice squid, is a small but nutrient-rich seafood with a characteristic flavor. The squid’s body is usually about 8-12cm long, only slightly larger than an index finger, with a light cinnamon-like color. Despite its small size, the inside of the squid’s body contains creamy eggs and “squid milk,” making it suitable for many different culinary preparations.

Fresh baby squid is caught during the day and preserved by flash-freezing on the spot to maintain the sweetness and firmness of the meat. When enjoying it, you will feel the chewy, crunchy, smooth, and rich meat that captures the full flavor of the ocean. Thanks to its small size, baby squid cooks quickly while still retaining its natural flavor. It can be used in dishes such as steamed with onion and ginger, crispy fried with fish sauce, sweet and sour simmered, or grilled with sate sauce, all of which are very appealing.

1.2. Nutritional value of baby squid

Baby squid is not only a delicious seafood dish but also a source of essential nutrients for the body. In every 85g of baby squid, there are:

• 30% protein helps develop and maintain muscles, while also improving skin and hair health.
• 90% copper (Cu) supports blood enhancement, improves anemia, and boosts resistance.
• 63% selenium plays an important role in protecting cells and the immune system, reducing joint pain.
• 23% vitamin B2 helps reduce migraines and supports energy metabolism in the body.
• Calcium and phosphorus help strengthen bones and teeth, ensuring a healthy skeletal frame.
• Other vitamins and minerals including B1, PP, iron, omega-3 fatty acids… provide energy, reduce inflammation, and maintain stable body functions. (according to ScienceDirect)

2. How to choose and buy fresh baby squid

When buying fresh baby squid for naturally sweet and chewy meat to ensure dishes made from squid are delicious and attractive, it is necessary to note some important points to guarantee quality:

• Timing and location: Baby squid is rarely sold widely, so it is best to visit seafood markets early in the morning to easily find the freshest squid.
• Observe shape and color: Choose squid with round, even bodies, size only about a finger, characteristic bright red-pink color, and clear eyes.

• Check the head and body: Fresh squid will have the head and body firmly attached to each other; avoid buying those that are detached or have mushy bodies.
• Buying frozen squid: If choosing frozen egg squid, carefully check that the head and body are still connected, the eyes are not cloudy, and there is no strange foul odor.

3. What delicious dishes can be made with baby squid?

So, what delicious dishes can be made with baby squid? Baby squid can be prepared in a variety of dishes, from frying, steaming, stir-frying, simmering, to baby squid noodles, specifically:

3.1. Baby squid fried with fish sauce

The dish baby squid fried with fish sauce is a suggestion for family meals or as an attractive snack. To prepare it, you need about 300g of baby squid along with ingredients such as horn chili, scallions, onions, fish sauce, wheat flour, sugar, and cooking oil.

The detailed method is as follows:

• First, you need to clean the baby squid and lightly marinate it with salt or fish sauce to absorb the flavor.
• Next, roll the squid through a layer of dry flour and fry until golden and crispy. While frying, mix fish sauce with sugar until completely dissolved, then mix well with the fried squid.
• Finally, add onions, chilies, and chopped scallions and stir quickly to make the dish more fragrant and eye-catching.

Baby squid fried with fish sauce has a natural sweetness, a slightly crispy exterior, and a rich fish sauce aroma, which goes very well with white rice.

3.2. Steamed baby squid with ginger and scallions

Besides the familiar fried squid with fish sauce, steamed baby squid with ginger and scallions is an easy-to-make dish that you should not miss. To make this dish, the ingredients to prepare include 500g of baby squid, 1 onion, 1 young ginger root, salt, and seasoning powder.

Cooking method:

• Clean the newly bought squid, wash it with salt water, and let it drain. Marinate the squid with a bit of salt and seasoning powder for about 15 minutes to absorb the flavor.
• While waiting for the squid to marinate, peel the onion, cut it into wedges, and peel and julienne the ginger.
• Arrange the onion and ginger at the bottom of the tray with the squid on top, then steam for 5-10 minutes until cooked. After that, dip it in sweet and sour fish sauce to highlight the gentle sweetness and characteristic aroma of the dish.

3.3. Sweet and salty simmered baby squid

Sweet and salty simmered baby squid is a rich dish, blending light spiciness, perfectly balanced sweet and salty flavors, and the natural crunchiness of the squid. To prepare this dish, you need to prepare ingredients such as 500g of fresh baby squid, minced garlic, chili, scallions, and spices like fish sauce, cooking oil, sugar, chili sauce, MSG, and ground pepper.

Cooking instructions:

• First, wash the squid and marinate it with white wine for about 5 minutes to remove the fishy smell. Prepare the sauce mixture including fish sauce, sugar, MSG, chili sauce, and ground pepper.
• Next, cut the chili in half, mince the garlic, and chop the scallions.
• Boil a small pot of water with a little salt, quickly blanch the squid to firm it up, then take it out. Then heat the pan, sauté the garlic with cooking oil, then add the squid and stir well.
• Pour in the prepared sauce, simmer over high heat until the sauce thickens, the squid is evenly absorbed, and it smells fragrant. Finally, sprinkle scallions on top and you’re done.
• Serve on a plate, enjoy with hot rice, cucumber, lettuce, or use as a snack with drinks, both are very tasty.

3.4. Stir-fried baby squid with tomatoes

Stir-fried baby squid with tomatoes is a rustic but flavorful dish, combining the tangy taste of tomatoes with the natural sweetness and crunchiness of the squid, bringing a delicious meal. Ingredients to prepare for 4 people include 500g of baby squid, 2-3 tomatoes, celery, scallions, cilantro, garlic, shallots, chives (allium macrostemon), and basic spices such as cooking oil, sugar, fish sauce, ground pepper, salt, chili powder, and seasoning powder.

How to make stir-fried baby squid with tomatoes:

• Clean the squid, cut into bite-sized pieces, then marinate with salt, fish sauce, cooking oil, seasoning powder, pepper, sugar, chili powder, minced shallots, and chives for about 15 minutes.
• Cut tomatoes into wedges, and wash and chop celery, scallions, and cilantro. Heat a pan with a little oil, sauté garlic, then add the squid and stir over high heat until firm.
• Continue adding tomatoes, season with fish sauce, sugar, and seasoning powder to taste. When the tomatoes are cooked and the flavors are absorbed, sprinkle with pepper, scallions, and cilantro, then turn off the heat.

3.5. Flour-coated fried baby squid

Flour-coated fried baby squid is an attractive dish thanks to its crispy outer shell and soft, sweet squid meat inside, perfect for family meals or gatherings. The necessary ingredients to make this dish include 500g of fresh baby squid, tapioca starch, garlic, ginger, chili, lemon, white wine, and spices like salt, seasoning powder, MSG, pepper, and cooking oil.

How to make:

• Wash the squid, then marinate with white wine, minced garlic, and spices for about 15-20 minutes to absorb. Once the squid is marinated, coat each squid with a thin layer of tapioca starch.
• Next, heat the oil and fry the squid until golden and crispy, then take it out and drain the oil. Flour-coated fried baby squid is best enjoyed while still hot, dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce or chili sauce, served with white rice.

3.6. Baby squid noodles

Baby squid noodles is a simple, quick but still nutrient-rich dish, combining the fresh sweetness of squid with chewy, fragrant noodles, suitable for a snack or breakfast. You only need simple ingredients including 200g of fresh baby squid, 1 pack of noodles, fresh greens, scallions, cilantro, and spices.

The preparation method is as follows:

• Boil about 200ml of water, add baby squid, and boil for 2 minutes. Next, add noodles and cook for another 3 minutes until the noodles are soft, then turn off the stove.
• Add scallions and cilantro, season to taste, and serve with fresh greens. The hot noodle dish, with sweetness from the squid and the broth, brings a harmonious and irresistibly delicious flavor.

See more: Answer: What delicious dishes to make with small squid? Price of small squid?

For more options of premium seafood, especially if you are interested in the best dried squid in Vietnam, don’t forget to visit our OlaSquid shop for high-quality products.

4. How much does 1kg of baby squid cost?

The price of baby squid can change depending on the season, the catching area, and the freshness of the product. Live fresh baby squid is usually sold at a price of about 200,000 – 250,000 VND/kg, while frozen baby squid has a softer price, ranging from 150,000 – 200,000 VND/kg. This difference is mainly due to freshness and supply at different times of the year, as baby squid is a seafood with quite distinct seasonality.

The above article provides detailed information about the characteristics, nutritional value, how to choose and buy, how to prepare, and the price of baby squid. We hope it has helped you answer the question asked at the beginning of the post. If you want to learn more about other types of squid and not miss out on much other useful information, visit the website olasquid.com now!