Addictively Delicious Peppery Braised Squid Recipe

If you are a fan of rich and savory braised dishes that are perfect with rice, then peppered squid is a must-try dish. The sweetness of the squid combined with the fragrant spiciness of pepper and the glistening braising liquid makes everyone who tries it praise its deliciousness. Let’s discover how to make authentic, simple peppered squid right at home in this article!

What is peppered squid, and is it delicious?

Peppered squid is a traditional dish in many Vietnamese family meals. This dish uses fresh or dried squid as the main ingredient, combined with good fish sauce and a few special spices to create a rich, spicy flavor that is very appetizing with rice.

Món mực kho tiêu đậm đà và thơm ngon

After braising, the squid absorbs the flavors evenly, retaining a slight chewiness and crispness, especially the enticing aroma of pepper. This dish is suitable for cool days or simply when you need a savory dish to balance out soups or boiled vegetables in a family meal.

Prepare ingredients for Peppered Squid

To make this dish perfectly delicious, you need to prepare the following ingredients:

• Fresh squid: 300-500g (egg squid or tube squid are both delicious)
• Pepper, garlic, chili, shallots
• Seasonings including fish sauce, sugar, seasoning powder, cooking oil, caramel sauce (nước hàng)
• Scallions or cilantro for garnish

Steps to prepare delicious and authentic Peppered Squid

Step 1: Prepare the squid

• First, rinse the squid thoroughly under cold running water, then clean the eyes by gently removing them one by one.
• Hold the squid body firmly, use the other hand to gently pull the head and tentacles away from the body to expose the inside. Continue to clean the tentacles and keep them for use.
• Gently remove the ink sac inside with your hand, being careful not to break it. If the ink sac accidentally breaks, rinse immediately under running water to prevent the ink from blackening the meat and causing an unpleasant odor. You need to rinse carefully to keep the eggs inside intact.
• Because egg squid is small and contains a lot of “milk” and eggs inside, you don’t need to remove all the internal organs, to avoid losing the natural deliciousness of the dish.

Step 2: Prepare other ingredients

• Peel and mince shallots and garlic.
• Slice chili (if you like it spicy).
• Chop scallions, separating the white parts to sauté for fragrance.
• Lightly crush whole peppercorns if you prefer a stronger pepper aroma than pre-ground pepper.

Step 3: Braise the squid

• Next, heat the pot with about 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, then add minced garlic and shallots and sauté until fragrant. When the aroma is released, add the prepared squid and stir gently to allow the squid to absorb the fragrance.
• Add 2 tablespoons of caramel sauce to the squid, stir well to give the dish a beautiful color. Add enough water to cover the squid, then bring to a boil.
• Then, when the water starts to boil, season with fish sauce, salt, seasoning powder, MSG, and pepper according to your taste. Reduce the heat to low, continue to simmer until the braising liquid thickens and becomes syrupy, and the squid is well-infused with the flavors. Taste and adjust seasoning one last time before turning off the heat to ensure the dish is just right.

Step 4: Finish and present

When the squid is tender, the braising liquid is thick, and the characteristic aroma is strong, sprinkle with more ground pepper and a few slices of chili on top, then turn off the heat. Finally, sprinkle with chopped scallions to enhance the color and flavor of the dish.
The finished dish is peppered squid with firm squid, deeply infused with flavor, combined with the rich aroma of sautéed shallots and garlic, and the warm spiciness of pepper. Served with hot white rice, the thick braising liquid poured over the rice will make the meal complete and full of the essence of the sea.

Tips to make Peppered Squid more appealing

To make the peppered squid dish richer and retain its freshness and deliciousness, pay attention to some of these tips:

• Prioritize squid with firm bodies, natural bright colors, not slimy, and no strange odor. The eyes should be clear, the body should be elastic and intact.
• Fresh squid usually has a distinct dark brown body (if it’s a flat squid), and the white part will be slightly milky white. When you lift the tentacles, if they are still attached, it is a sign that the squid is fresh and lively.
• Marinate the squid with fish sauce and seasonings for about 10-15 minutes before braising to allow the meat to absorb the flavors evenly, making the dish richer when cooked.
• Using lightly crushed whole peppercorns instead of pre-ground pepper will make the dish more fragrant and have a more appealing spicy kick.
• You should braise over low heat and do not cook for too long, as the squid can easily become dry or tough, losing its natural sweetness.

Similar dishes to Peppered Squid

It’s not just about the traditional peppered squid dish; you can completely transform it with various other ingredients to create rich braised dishes that offer a change of pace for your daily meals. Here are some tempting suggestions you shouldn’t miss:

Peppered squid from dried squid

If you don’t have fresh squid, you can absolutely use dried squid to make a braised dish. Dried squid braised with pepper is a rustic yet captivating dish, combining the spicy aroma of pepper, the rich sweetness of fish sauce, and the characteristic chewy texture of dried squid.

Ingredients needed:

• 300g dried squid
• 100g pork belly, 10g pepper
• Shallots, chili, scallions
• Seasonings: fish sauce, caramel sauce, salt, seasoning powder, MSG, cooking oil

How to prepare dried squid braised with pepper:

• Step 1 – Prepare ingredients:
  • Soak dried squid in warm water for about 15 minutes until softened, then pat dry with a clean cloth. Lightly pound the squid body with a mallet to soften it, then tear the tentacles into small strips, and cut the body into bite-sized pieces (1-1.5cm).
  • Wash pork belly, cut into small cubes. Prepare and mince shallots, scallions, and chili.
• Step 2 – Lightly fry pork belly: Heat cooking oil in a pan, add pork belly and stir until golden brown on all sides and slightly crispy, then turn off the heat.
• Step 3 – Braise the squid: Sauté minced shallots in a little cooking oil until fragrant, then add the squid and pork belly and stir-fry evenly. Add caramel sauce for color, then add water to just cover the ingredients.
• Next, season with fish sauce, salt, seasoning powder, MSG, and whole peppercorns. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 20-25 minutes until the sauce thickens, and the squid and pork belly are well-infused with the flavors.
• Before turning off the heat, sprinkle with chopped scallions and ground pepper to enhance the flavor of the dish.

Peppered squid with shrimp and pork

If you are looking for a braised dish that is both delicious, nutritious, and unique, then peppered squid with shrimp and pork is the perfect choice for your family meal. The harmonious combination of the natural sweetness of squid, tender and fatty pork, firm and fresh shrimp, all combined with a rich braising liquid, the mild spiciness of pepper and chili will bring an unforgettable culinary experience.

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 400g fresh tube squid (about 4 pieces)
• 150g fresh shrimp and 150g pork belly (or shoulder)
• 300g pork fat and 50g dried shrimp
• Shallots, garlic, scallions, chili
• Seasonings: fish sauce, pepper, sugar, MSG, seasoning powder, white wine

How to prepare peppered squid with shrimp and pork:

• Step 1 – Prepare ingredients: Clean the squid, remove the ink sac and internal organs, then soak in white wine to remove the fishy smell, and cut into bite-sized rings. Peel and devein the shrimp. Wash and thinly slice the pork. Soak dried shrimp in warm water until softened, then lightly pound. Cut pork fat into small pieces, mince shallots and garlic.
• Step 2 – Make crispy pork cracklings: Fry pork fat with smashed garlic until the fat is golden and crispy, rendering pork lard. Remove the cracklings and set aside.
• Step 3 – Make the sauce: Mix 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of pepper, 4 tablespoons of fish sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of MSG with half a cup of water, stir well to make the braising liquid.
• Step 4 – Braise the squid: Sauté minced shallots and garlic in 3 tablespoons of pork lard until fragrant, then add chili and dried shrimp and stir-fry briefly. Continue to add squid, fresh shrimp, and pork, stir-fry for about 3-5 minutes until they are firm. Pour in the prepared sauce, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and braise for about 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens. When the braising liquid has reduced, sprinkle with chopped scallions and crispy pork cracklings, turn off the heat, and enjoy while hot.

Peppered pineapple squid

Peppered pineapple squid is a delicious variation, harmonizing the sweetness of squid, the fresh sourness of pineapple, and a touch of spiciness from chili and pepper. This dish balances flavors, makes the squid meat tender and fragrant, and easier to eat.

Ingredients needed:

• Fresh squid, cleaned
• Ripe pineapple, fresh chili
• Shallots, scallions
• Seasonings: cooking oil, salt, seasoning powder, pepper, caramel sauce, MSG (to taste)

How to prepare:

• Step 1: First, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil to a pot and sauté minced shallots until fragrant.
• Step 2: Add squid and stir-fry for about 3 minutes until firm. Then, add a little water and season to taste. When the water boils, add pineapple and fresh chili and stir well.
• Step 3: Reduce the heat, braise for 20-25 minutes until the sauce thickens and the squid is well-infused with flavor. Before turning off the heat, sprinkle with pepper and scallions to enhance the aroma and color of the dish. The squid is slightly chewy, rich, combined with the sweet and sour taste of pineapple and a hint of chili spiciness, creating an appetizing braised dish that is perfect with rice.

Other delicious braised squid dishes

Besides the dishes mentioned above, you can also try other creative squid braising recipes such as:

• Braised squid with ginger: The warmth of ginger makes the squid fragrant and easier to digest.
• Braised squid in coconut milk: A slightly rich, refreshing braised dish with the distinct flavor of the Mekong Delta.
• Braised squid with tamarind: A uniquely sweet and sour flavor, suitable for the taste of young people.
• Braised squid with shallots and garlic: Simple but extremely appetizing with rice, easy to make.

Regardless of the version, braised squid dishes have in common that they are fragrant, rich in flavor, easy to eat, and very appetizing with rice. With just a little variation using ingredients readily available in your kitchen, you can have a complete and delicious meal.

Above is a detailed guide on how to make incredibly delicious peppered squid, as well as tips for making this dish authentic. We hope you succeed in making it! If you are looking to buy quality dried squid to prepare a flavorful dried squid braised with pepper dish, don’t hesitate to contact Ola Squid right away!