Tiếng Việt
ไทยBaby squid simmered with fish sauce is a dish loved by many for its rich flavor, natural sweet and buttery taste of the squid blending with the aromatic, pungent fish sauce and a hint of spiciness on the tip of the tongue. This is a suitable dish for every family meal or as a snack to enjoy with friends. Let’s explore how to make perfectly delicious baby squid simmered with fish sauce in the following article from Ola Squid!
1. Ingredients for making baby squid simmered with fish sauce
The ingredients you need to prepare for this baby squid simmered with fish sauce dish include:
- 500g fresh baby squid
- High-quality fish sauce
- Sugar, cooking oil, minced garlic
- Ground pepper, green onions, cilantro
- Fresh chili or chili paste (optional)
Secrets to choosing fresh baby squid
To choose fresh baby squid, you should prioritize those with a moderate size from 5-12cm, with the body covered in a thin brownish-red skin. Fresh squid usually has a bright, transparent color, the body and tentacles are firmly attached, and the belly is firm and full of eggs.
The ideal time to buy fresh baby squid at a reasonable price is in April, May, and June. This is the breeding season when the squid is both sweet and full of eggs, ensuring the dish is even more attractive.
Properly preparing baby squid
Guide on how to prepare fresh baby squid to remove the fishy smell and maintain freshness:
- Gently pull out the tentacles and head, avoiding breaking the ink sac. If the ink sac breaks, rinse it thoroughly with water.
- Use a knife to remove the eyes and remaining beak, then peel off the outer skin layer.
- Clean the head and internal parts, then rinse again with clean water to completely remove impurities and fishy odors.
2. Detailed instructions on how to make baby squid simmered with fish sauce
Step 1: Ingredient preparation and processing
First, wash the baby squid and let it drain completely. Then, heat a pan with cooking oil and add the squid to fry over medium heat. Stir evenly until the squid firms up and turns slightly golden on both sides, then remove and drain the oil. This preliminary step helps the squid maintain its chewy and crispy texture while creating an attractive golden color for the dish.
Step 2: Mixing the rich simmering sauce
In a small bowl, take 3 tablespoons of fish sauce, 4 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of minced chili or chili paste, and 2 tablespoons of filtered water. Stir thoroughly until completely dissolved so that the seasonings blend together to create a slightly thick mixture.
Step 3: Simmering the baby squid with fish sauce
Next, heat the pan with a little cooking oil and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant. Then, pour in the prepared rich simmering sauce and cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens slightly. Add the baby squid to the pan, stirring gently so the squid is evenly coated with the seasonings. When the sauce evenly coats the squid and releases an attractive aroma, turn off the heat and sprinkle with some chopped green onions to enhance the flavor.
Finished product and enjoyment
The baby squid simmered with fish sauce, once completed, has a beautiful golden color and a seductive, spreading aroma. When serving on a plate, sprinkle some ground pepper and a few sprigs of cilantro on top to make it more flavorful and eye-catching. Enjoy the baby squid simmered with fish sauce while it’s still hot with white rice to experience the delicious sensation of each chewy, crispy, and rich piece of squid.
3. Tips for making the baby squid simmered with fish sauce even better
Here are some notes to make the baby squid simmered with fish sauce with the right flavor:
- When preparing, wash the squid with a mixture of white wine and crushed ginger to completely remove the fishy smell, helping the squid maintain its natural sweet freshness.
- Garlic and chili should be finely minced so that when sautéed, they help the dish release its aroma and look more attractive.
- Choose pure, rich-flavored fish sauce to help the simmered dish achieve the standard taste.
- Only simmer over medium or low heat, avoiding high heat which can easily burn the fish sauce and make the squid dry and tough.
- If you like a more pungent taste, you can add satay or minced dried chili when simmering to make the dish more intense and appealing.
4. Other delicious dishes from baby squid or simmered with fish sauce
In addition to baby squid simmered with fish sauce, you can also refer to these 3 unique processing methods below to vary your family menu:
Egg squid simmered with tamarind
Egg squid simmered with tamarind is an attractive dish that combines the sour and sweet taste of tamarind, the mild spiciness of chili, and the chewy, crispy texture of egg squid. Each plump egg squid, when simmered with the thick tamarind sauce, creates an irresistibly rich flavor. You can enjoy it with hot rice, use it as a drinking snack, or eat it with grilled rice paper; it’s all very delicious.
Spicy simmered dried squid
With lightly grilled dried baby squid, then simmered with a mixture of fish sauce, sugar, chili paste, and fried garlic, you will immediately have a dish that is both pungent and sweet-salty. Each piece of dried squid is simmered over appropriate heat, evenly absorbing the seasoning, chewy and spicy, very suitable as a snack or to bring along on trips. Additionally, you can store it in a tightly sealed glass jar in a dry place for 5-7 days and still maintain its delicious flavor. To ensure the best quality, you can choose premium whole dried squid from our shop.
See more:
- How to make rich and irresistibly delicious egg squid simmered with fish sauce
- Explaining: What is baby squid? How much does baby squid cost per kg?
- How to make delicious, rich, and attractive chili garlic simmered squid
- How to make delicious sweet and salty simmered squid at home
Baby squid fried with fish sauce
If you love the rich flavor of fish sauce but want to change the preparation method, try baby squid fried with fish sauce. The squid is fried until golden and crispy, then evenly soaked in a layer of sweet, salty, and spicy fish sauce mixture. When eating, you will feel the crispness on the outside and the soft sweetness on the inside. This dish is both attractive and easy to make, serving as a great choice for family gathering meals.
Above is the detailed guide on how to make baby squid simmered with fish sauce that is simple yet flavorful, which Ola Squid wanted to share with you. Good luck with this dish, and don’t forget to visit our online shop to explore many more recipes for processing fresh squid, dried squid, as well as other useful information!
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