How to Make Delicious and Irresistible Fish Sauce Glazed Baby Squid

Baby squid simmered in fish sauce is a simple yet flavorful dish that goes perfectly with rice. Fresh baby squid has tender meat and a natural sweetness. When simmered with fish sauce, sugar, garlic, and chili, it creates a lightly thickened, harmoniously sweet and savory, and irresistibly aromatic sauce. If you are looking for how to make baby squid simmered in fish sauce at home, you can refer to the recipe shared by Ola Squid below to ensure the squid is flavorful while retaining its tender deliciousness.

Ingredients to Prepare

To make baby squid simmered in fish sauce for about 2–3 people, you do not need to prepare too many ingredients.

Detailed ingredients table:

• Prep time: About 15 minutes
• Cook time: About 15–20 minutes
• Total time: About 30–35 minutes

Tips for choosing fresh, delicious baby squid: Baby squid are small in size, with firm bodies that retain their freshness. When buying, you should prioritize those with natural colors, bright skin, no unusual sliminess, and no strong fishy odor.

Some common characteristics that help you choose delicious squid:

• Firm body: When gently pressed with a finger, the meat should feel elastic and not mushy.
• Intact skin: The skin layer should be bright, not scratched or heavily peeled.
• Natural scent: Fresh squid has a characteristic seafood scent, with no sour or strange odors.
• Clear eyes: This is also a sign used to recognize if the squid is still fresh.
• No unusual slimy discharge: Squid that is too slimy or shows signs of decomposition should be discarded.

If fresh baby squid is not available, you can also substitute it with dried squid to create a variation of dried squid simmered in fish sauce, which has a chewier texture and a richer flavor.

Detailed Instructions on How to Make Baby Squid Simmered in Fish Sauce

The method of making simmered squid in fish sauce is not too complicated, but you need to pay attention to the prep work and simmering time. Cooking the squid for too long makes it tough, while simmering it for too short a time won’t allow the seasonings to penetrate the meat.

Step 1 – Prepare the Baby Squid

Wash the purchased baby squid thoroughly and let it drain. Place a pot on the stove, add 3 crushed shallots (can be replaced with a few slices of ginger), 1 teaspoon of salt, and 30ml of vinegar. Cover with a lid, bring to a boil, then add the baby squid to blanch.

Use chopsticks to gently stir the squid for about 30–45 seconds, then quickly remove it and plunge it into a bowl of ice-cold water for about 10–15 minutes. This method helps the squid retain its crispness, firm texture, and prevents it from becoming tough after cooking. Finally, take the squid out and let it drain completely before proceeding to the next steps.

See more: Secrets to cleaning squid quickly and without fishy odor

Step 2 – Prepare other ingredients

Peel, wash, and drain the shallots, garlic, and chilies. Then, finely mince 4 shallots, 3 cloves of garlic, and 2 chilies. Wash and drain the green onions, then finely chop about 5g. Keep each ingredient separate for convenience during the next cooking steps.

Step 3 – Mix the Simmering Sauce

Combine the fish sauce, sugar, MSG, chili sauce, and ground black pepper in a small bowl. Stir well until the sugar is fully dissolved and the seasonings are blended, creating a rich sauce mixture for simmering the squid.

Step 4 – Simmer the Squid in Fish Sauce

Heat a pan, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, and fry the minced garlic and chili until fragrant. Once aromatic, add the squid and toss for a few minutes to firm up. Next, pour the prepared fish sauce mixture into the pan and stir gently so that the sauce evenly coats the squid. Simmer over medium-high heat so the sauce thickens quickly and deeply penetrates each piece of squid. When the squid is dry, the sauce is evenly clung, and it has a beautiful color, turn off the heat.

Step 5 – Finished Dish

Transfer the squid to a serving dish and garnish with lettuce and cucumber. The dish is best enjoyed hot; you can enjoy it with warm rice or serve it as a drinking snack.

See more: What is baby squid good for? 6 easy and delicious recipes

Tips for making simmered baby squid delicious, not fishy, and not dry

To make the baby squid simmered in fish sauce delicious, the preparation step and temperature control are just as important as the seasoning recipe. Some tips below will help the squid retain its natural sweetness and keep the sauce at a perfect thickness:

• Clean and thoroughly dry the squid: Excess water on the squid will dilute the sauce and prolong the simmering process.
• Use ginger and white wine during prep: Combining these two ingredients helps reduce the characteristic fishy odor of squid.
• Do not marinate with too much fish sauce: The squid will continue to absorb flavors during simmering, so only a light seasoning is needed.
• Lightly fry or sauté before simmering: This step helps the squid firm up and limits excess water release during cooking.
• Simmer over low heat: Moderate heat allows the sauce to slowly thicken and penetrate the squid without burning the sugar.
• Do not simmer too long: Once the sauce is thick and coats the squid, turn off the heat immediately to prevent the meat from becoming tough and dry.
• Adjust the taste before the sauce fully dries up: If it tastes too salty, you can add a little filtered water; if the taste is not rich enough, continue simmering for a short while.

See more similar delicious dishes:

• How to make rich and irresistible egg squid simmered in fish sauce
• How to make delicious, rich, and appealing simmered squid with garlic and chili
• How to make delicious and flavorful sweet and savory simmered squid at home

How long does baby squid simmered in fish sauce last?

Baby squid simmered in fish sauce is a cooked dish but still contains a lot of moisture, so you should not leave it at room temperature for a long time. After cooking, you should consume the dish during your meal or refrigerate it if there are leftovers.

If you are not eating it immediately, let the squid cool down slightly, then place it in a clean airtight container, store it in the refrigerator, and consume it within 1–2 days. When reheating, make sure to warm it up sufficiently before eating.

For cooked squid dishes, you should prioritize consuming them early rather than storing them for too long. If the squid has a strange odor, feels slimy, changes color, or the sauce shows unusual signs, do not continue to eat it.

Frequently Asked Questions when making baby squid simmered in fish sauce

Can baby squid be replaced with dried squid for simmering?

Yes. Dried squid can be used to prepare simmered squid in fish sauce, however, the preparation method and cooking time will differ from fresh baby squid.

What to do if simmered baby squid tastes fishy?

If the squid still has a fishy smell after simmering, the reason usually stems from the squid not being fresh enough or the preparation step not being thorough. With fresh squid, you can wash it clean and then deodorize it with crushed ginger combined with a small amount of white wine before cooking.

Additionally, you should fry garlic, shallots, and ginger until fragrant before adding the squid to lightly sauté. These ingredients help make the simmered baby squid more aromatic and balance the characteristic smell of seafood.

During the simmering process, do not cover the pan for too long because accumulated steam can cause the squid to release a lot of water and prevent the sauce from thickening quickly. Once the sauce is thick, turn off the heat immediately to preserve the deliciousness of the squid.

Above is the detailed guide on how to make simple yet flavorful baby squid simmered in fish sauce that Ola Squid wants to share with you. Wish you success with this dish and don’t forget to visit the Culinary Blog of Ola Squid to discover many more recipes for fresh squid, dried squid, as well as other useful information!