Dried squid
Flattened dried squid
Seasoned Shredded Squid
Dried squid snack
Tiếng Việt
ไทยBigfin reef squid is a type of seafood with a large body, thick, chewy, and crunchy flesh, commonly used to prepare various dishes. However, this type of squid easily turns bitter if not prepped correctly. So, what delicious dishes to make with bigfin reef squid to ensure the squid meat is rich and easier to eat? In the following article, Ola Squid will suggest 6 appealing dishes made from bigfin reef squid, while also guiding you through simple preparation methods so you can confidently cook them at home.
What is bigfin reef squid?
Bigfin reef squid, also known as purpleback flying squid or oceanic squid, is scientifically called Purpleback flying squid. This is a large-sized marine squid. Compared to popular squid varieties like squid tubes or bigfin reef squid, bigfin reef squid typically features a large body, thick flesh, dark skin color, and rather stiff tentacles.
The flesh of bigfin reef squid is crunchy and chewy, but its flavor is usually not as deeply sweet as some other squid types. If not thoroughly cleaned and processed, the meat may retain a fishy odor or a slightly bitter taste. In return, thanks to its thick muscle fibers and relatively affordable price, bigfin reef squid is well-suited for cooking methods that require rich seasoning and marination, such as frying, stir-frying, grilling, or making seasoned dried squid.
Learn more: Why is bigfin reef squid cheap?
How to prep bigfin reef squid to reduce fishy odor and bitter taste
Bigfin reef squid has a thick body, so it needs to be thoroughly cleaned before cooking. You can follow these steps to remove the internal organs, inedible parts, and minimize any lingering fishy odors.
Step 1: Separate the head, body, and remove the squid’s internal organs
Firmly hold the body and gently pull the head away from the body to separate the two parts. Remove the ink sac, internal organs, and the hard quill inside the body. Handle carefully to avoid breaking the ink sac, which would stain the meat.
Step 2: Remove the eyes and squid beak
On the head part, use a knife to cut out the squid’s eyes and the hard beak located between the tentacles. Afterward, check the gaps in the tentacles to remove any dirt or remaining internal residues.
Step 3: Peel off the outer skin
Use a knife to lightly slit a line on the skin, then use your hands to peel it off slowly to separate the dark skin from the meat. If the skin clings tightly, you can use a clean towel to grip the skin for easier pulling. Skinning helps the squid piece look better and prevents the outer membrane from remaining chewy when eaten.
Step 4: Wash, cut into pieces, and store
Wash the squid multiple times under running tap water, paying attention to cleaning both the inside of the body and the tentacles. To reduce fishy and bitter tastes, you can use a little coarse salt or crushed ginger to gently rub the squid meat, then rinse again and let it drain. Avoid soaking the squid in water for too long or using too many deodorizing spices as this can affect the natural flavor.
Depending on the dish, cut the squid into rings, bite-sized pieces, or score a diamond pattern on the surface to easily absorb spices. If not cooking immediately, put the squid into a sealed container or food bag, store it in the refrigerator compartment for early use, or freeze it if longer storage is needed.
Read more: How to prep clean squid quickly and simply
6 delicious dishes from bigfin reef squid you must try
If you don’t know what delicious dishes to cook with bigfin reef squid, you can check out the 6 suggestions below, ranging from crispy fried dishes to eat with rice to aromatic grilled dishes to enjoy on the weekend.
Crispy fried bigfin reef squid
Crispy fried bigfin reef squid features a golden, crispy outer crust while retaining its signature chewy and crunchy texture inside. This dish is quite easy to make, suitable as a savory dish in family meals or as a snack dipped in chili sauce.
Ingredients: 500g prepped bigfin reef squid, 100g crispy frying flour, 1 chicken egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/3 teaspoon pepper, and about 300ml cooking oil.
Instructions:
- Clean the squid, let it drain, then cut it into bite-sized pieces. Marinate the squid with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/3 teaspoon of pepper for about 10-15 minutes.
- Crack 1 egg into a bowl and beat it well. Dip each piece of squid into the egg, then roll it evenly in 100g of crispy frying flour to create an outer coating.
- Heat about 300ml of cooking oil in a pan, add the squid and fry over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes depending on thickness. When the batter turns evenly golden and the squid is fully cooked, remove to a plate lined with oil-absorbing paper.
Similar delicious dish: How to make crispy fried and breaded fried squid
Bigfin reef squid grilled with salt and chili
Bigfin reef squid grilled with salt and chili is loved for its rich salty and spicy flavor, combined with the aroma of garlic and chili. When grilled, the squid surface is slightly charred while the inside keeps its chewy and delicious texture.
Ingredients: 500g prepped bigfin reef squid, 2 teaspoons chili salt, 1 teaspoon satay sauce, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon cooking oil, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon minced chili.
Instructions:
- Wash the squid, let it drain, and score a diamond pattern on the body so it easily absorbs spices. If the squid body is too thick, you can cut it into bite-sized portions.
- Put 2 teaspoons chili salt, 1 teaspoon satay sauce, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon cooking oil, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon minced chili into a bowl. Mix well until the spices blend together.
- Brush the seasoning mixture onto both sides of the squid, gently rubbing with your hands to coat the sauce evenly. Marinate for about 20-30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 180-200°C, put the squid in and bake for about 10-15 minutes depending on thickness. During grilling, turn both sides evenly and brush on more marinade so the squid doesn’t dry out. Grill until the squid is fully cooked and the surface is slightly charred.
Similar delicious dish: How to make foolproof delicious salt and chili grilled squid at home
Bigfin reef squid fried with fish sauce
Bigfin reef squid fried with fish sauce features a harmonious salty-sweet taste, fragrant with garlic and chili and an eye-catching brown-gold color. The squid is lightly fried then simmered with a slightly thick sauce, making it very suitable to eat with hot rice.
Ingredients: 500g prepped bigfin reef squid, 2 tablespoons fish sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon minced chili, 2 tablespoons filtered water, 1/3 teaspoon pepper, and about 200ml cooking oil for frying.
Instructions:
- Cut the squid into bite-sized pieces, let it drain, then marinate with 1/3 teaspoon of pepper for about 10 minutes.
- Heat about 200ml of cooking oil in a pan, add the squid and fry over medium heat for about 2-3 minutes until the meat firms up and turns slightly golden. Remove the squid to a plate to drain the oil.
- Put 2 tablespoons fish sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 2 tablespoons filtered water into a bowl, stir well until the sugar dissolves.
- Keep about 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in the pan, sauté 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and 1 teaspoon of minced chili until fragrant. Next, add the fish sauce mixture and bring to a gentle boil, then add the lightly fried squid. Toss well for about 3-5 minutes until the sauce thickens and clings around the squid pieces, then turn off the heat.
Similar delicious dish: How to make delicious restaurant-style fish sauce-fried egg squid that everyone loves
Stuffed bigfin reef squid with pork
Stuffed bigfin reef squid with pork is a dish combining the chewy, crunchy squid body with soft and fragrant minced pork filling. The preparation method is also very simple and easy to do at home.
Ingredients: 500g cleaned bigfin reef squid body, 200g ground pork, 20g dried cellophane noodles, 3 wood ear mushroom ears, 1 purple onion, 2 scallion stalks, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 1/2 teaspoon seasoning powder, and 1/3 teaspoon pepper.
Instructions:
- Soak 20g cellophane noodles and 3 wood ear mushroom ears in water for about 10-15 minutes until soft. Take them out to drain and chop finely. Peel and finely chop the purple onion; wash and chop the scallions.
- Put 200g ground pork, cellophane noodles, wood ear mushrooms, purple onion, and scallions into a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 1/2 teaspoon seasoning powder, and 1/3 teaspoon pepper, mix well and leave for about 10 minutes to absorb the spices.
- Use a spoon to stuff the filling into the squid body, only stuffing about 2/3 to 3/4 of the body to leave room for the filling to expand when cooked. Use a toothpick to secure the squid opening.
- Arrange the squid in a steamer when the water is boiling, steam for about 15-20 minutes depending on the size of the squid body and the thickness of the filling. Check to ensure the pork filling inside is fully cooked, then remove, let cool slightly, and cut into bite-sized rings.
Explore more foolproof similar stuffed squid recipes:
Bigfin reef squid fried with salt and kumquat
Bigfin reef squid fried with salt and kumquat features a sour, salty, mildly spicy taste along with the characteristic aroma of kaffir lime leaves. This is a suitable dish for snacking or for gatherings with family and friends.
Ingredients: 500g prepped bigfin reef squid, 4–5 kumquats, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 2 garlic cloves, 3–4 kaffir lime leaves, and about 200ml cooking oil.
Instructions:
- Wash the squid, let it drain, then cut into bite-sized pieces. Wash the kumquats, squeeze to get the juice and discard the seeds. Peel and mince the garlic; wash and shred the kaffir lime leaves.
- Put 2 tablespoons kumquat juice, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon chili powder into a bowl. Stir well until the spices blend.
- Heat about 200ml of cooking oil, add the squid and fry over medium heat for about 3–5 minutes until the meat firms up and is fully cooked. Remove the squid to drain the oil.
- Keep about 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in the pan, sauté the garlic until fragrant then add the squid. Drizzle the kumquat salt mixture, toss well for about 2–3 minutes so the spices cling to the squid pieces. Finally, add the shredded kaffir lime leaves, toss quickly, and turn off the heat.
Similar delicious dish: How to make sweet and sour, rich kumquat sauce crispy fried squid
Bigfin reef squid fried in tomato sauce
Bigfin reef squid fried in tomato sauce has a balanced sweet and sour flavor, combined with chewy and crunchy squid meat and a mildly thick tomato sauce. The dish is simple to prepare and goes very well with white rice.
Ingredients: 500g prepped bigfin reef squid, 2 tomatoes (about 200g), 2 garlic cloves, 1 purple onion, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar, 50ml filtered water, 2 tablespoons cooking oil, 1 scallion stalk, and 1/3 teaspoon pepper.
Instructions:
- Wash the squid, let it drain, then cut into bite-sized pieces. Wash the tomatoes, dice them. Peel and finely chop the garlic and purple onion; wash the scallions and cut them into sections.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a pan, add the squid and fry quickly for about 2–3 minutes until the meat firms up, then remove to a plate.
- Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to the pan, sauté the purple onion and garlic until fragrant. Add the tomatoes and stir-fry for about 3–5 minutes until soft, then add 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and 50ml filtered water. Stir well, simmer until the sauce is slightly thick.
- Add the squid into the sauce pan, toss well and simmer over low heat for about 3–5 minutes until the squid is fully cooked and absorbs the spices evenly. Taste to adjust seasoning, add scallions and 1/3 teaspoon of pepper before turning off the heat.
>>> Suggestions for 14 easy-to-cook delicious dishes from squid
Hopefully, with the above suggestions, you now know what delicious dishes to make with bigfin reef squid and how to prep the ingredients to minimize fishy and bitter tastes. Depending on your family’s palate, you can choose crispy fried, salt and chili grilled, fish sauce fried, or stuffed dishes to enrich your menu. If you love the flavor of dried squid, you can also refer to Ola Squid to choose delicious and suitable dried squid products to enjoy with your family.
