Dried squid
Flattened dried squid
Seasoned Shredded Squid
Dried squid snack
Tiếng Việt
ไทยDried squid already has a rich sweetness and a distinctive aroma, but when combined with fresh coconut water, it becomes a soft, fragrant, gently sweet dish. The squid is lightly grilled to release its aroma, gently pounded to loosen the fibers, then steamed with coconut water, ginger and lemongrass so it absorbs more flavor, and when shredded it has a moderately chewy, tender texture. In this article, Ola Squid will guide you through a simple coconut water steamed shredded squid recipe that is easy to make at home.
Ingredients for coconut water steamed shredded squid
Here are the ingredients you need to prepare before making coconut water steamed shredded squid:
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Dried squid | 300g |
| Fresh coconut water | 500ml |
| Fresh ginger | 1 small piece |
| Lemongrass | 2 stalks |
| Shallots | 2 bulbs |
| Sugar | 1 tablespoon |
| Fish sauce | 1 tablespoon |
| Kaffir lime leaves | 3 – 4 leaves |
| Fresh chili | 1 – 2 pieces |
| Chili sauce | To taste |
| Mayonnaise | To taste |
Choose dried squid with a thick body, medium to large in size, so that the meat fibers stay attractive when grilled and shredded. Use fresh coconut water for a natural, mild sweetness, and avoid canned coconut water if you want a clearer aroma and a gentler flavor.
How to choose good dried squid for steaming with coconut water
The squid determines most of the flavor of the dish. Good dried squid, when steamed with coconut water, swells to a moderate softness, keeps its sweet chewiness and is easy to shred into long, attractive strands.
Tips for choosing good dried squid:
- White powder: Prefer pieces with a white powder coating spread evenly over the body. This is a common feature of squid that has been naturally sun-dried and is of good quality.
- Color: The belly is white and the back is a natural light pink, not too dark and without unusual spots.
- Body: Choose pieces with a straight, thick and firm body. Squid that is too thin tends to produce small strands that crumble easily after cooking.
- Smell: Good squid has the distinctive aroma of dried seafood, with no foul, sour or musty smell or any strange odor.
- Dryness: The body is dry and not sticky or wet, but still has some elasticity when held.
Choose a suitable squid size: To make coconut water steamed shredded squid, choose medium or moderately large squid. This size gives the body thick meat fibers, which loosen into long strands without crumbling when lightly grilled and pounded.
Squid that is too small usually has a thin body, which easily turns mushy when steamed and is hard to shred into attractive strands. Conversely, squid that is too large can take a long time to steam and turn tough if it is not softened properly.
Steps to make authentic coconut water steamed shredded dried squid
After choosing good squid and preparing all the ingredients, follow the steps below:
Step 1 – Prepare and lightly grill the dried squid
Rinse the dried squid quickly in warm water to remove surface dust, then let it drain thoroughly. Do not soak the squid for too long, because the body will absorb a lot of water, which reduces the sweetness and weakens the aroma during grilling.
Next, lightly grill the squid over charcoal or an alcohol burner at medium heat, about 100 – 150°C. Turn it evenly on both sides until the body is just hot, releases its aroma and firms up slightly. Do not grill for too long, because high heat can make the dried squid hard, which makes the later steaming step harder to soften it. After grilling, peel off any remaining membrane or hard outer layer so the squid has a softer texture and is easier to shred when eaten.
Step 2 – Pound and soften the squid
Place the grilled squid on a clean cutting board and use a pestle to pound it gently all over the body. This loosens the meat fibers inside and helps the squid absorb the sweetness of the coconut water more easily.
Do not use too much force, because it can crush the squid body or tear it into many pieces. Pound just enough for the body to soften and the meat fibers to start separating slightly. After pounding, you can gently pull along the length of the squid body by hand to check its softness before moving on to the steaming step.
Step 3 – Steam the squid with fresh coconut water
Wash the ginger and slice it thinly; crush the lemongrass and cut it into sections; peel the shallots and crush them lightly. Put the fresh coconut water in a pot with the ginger, lemongrass, shallots, sugar and fish sauce, then heat until the mixture starts to boil.
When the coconut water is hot, place a steaming rack on top, arrange the squid on the rack and cover tightly. Keep the heat low to medium and steam for about 15 – 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the squid body. The hot steam and the fragrance of ginger and lemongrass will gradually soften the squid and let it absorb the gentle sweetness of the coconut water.
If you want the squid to absorb a stronger flavor, you can flip it once during steaming. Do not steam for too long, because after dried squid has absorbed enough water, it keeps tightening as it cools and easily becomes tough and hard.
Step 4 – Shred the dried squid
When the squid is steamed soft, take it out onto a plate and let it cool slightly until it is still warm. Pound it gently once more with a pestle if the meat fibers have not loosened, then use your hands to pull the squid apart lengthwise into bite-sized long strands.
Shred evenly and do not make the strands too small, so the squid keeps its chewiness and is pleasant to eat. For the tentacles and head, you can shred them into smaller pieces to make them easier to eat. If you want softer, more attractive strands, shred while the squid is still slightly warm. When the squid cools completely, the meat tightens and is hard to pull into long strands.
Step 5 – Finished dish and serving
After shredding, the coconut water steamed squid has a natural ivory-white color, with tender, chewy strands that smell distinctly of squid but are not dry or hard. The light saltiness of the fish sauce blends with the mild sweetness of the coconut water to create a gentle aftertaste that is not too sharp.
Arrange the squid on a plate and sprinkle with thinly sliced kaffir lime leaves and fresh chili to add fragrance and color. This dish can be eaten right away while still warm, dipped in chili sauce or mayonnaise mixed with garlic and chili to taste. If you prefer a stronger flavor, you can make a sour and spicy dipping sauce to go with it. The spicy, lightly sour taste will balance the sweetness of the coconut water and make the squid dish even more appealing.
See more similar dishes: How to make coconut water steamed fresh squid, sweet and free of fishy smell
Tips to keep coconut water steamed dried squid from turning tough and to make it more flavorful
To get coconut water steamed squid with a moderately tender, chewy texture, pay attention from the light grilling step through to steaming. The tips below will help the squid stay delicious and absorb flavor better:
- Grill just enough: Grill only until the squid releases its aroma and the body firms up slightly. Grilling too long makes the squid lose moisture and turn tough easily.
- Pound the squid properly: Use moderate force to loosen the meat fibers, and do not pound hard enough to crush the squid body.
- No need to soak the squid for long: Just rinse it quickly under clean running water or rinse it in warm water for about 1 – 2 minutes to remove surface dust, then let it drain before grilling. Avoid soaking the squid in water for too long, as it can reduce its richness and distinctive flavor.
- Use fresh coconut water: Coconut water gives the squid a mild sweetness and a natural fragrance.
- Keep medium heat when steaming: Heat that is too high can make the coconut water evaporate quickly before the squid is soft enough. Medium heat lets the squid heat evenly and absorb flavor better.
- Do not steam for too long: When the squid is soft and can be shredded easily, take it out right away. Prolonged steaming can make the squid meat tighten and turn hard.
- Shred while the squid is warm: This is when the squid is soft, the meat fibers are loose and it is easier to form long strands.
Frequently asked questions about coconut water steamed shredded dried squid
Do I need to soak dried squid before steaming it with coconut water?
It is not strictly necessary to soak dried squid before steaming. Just rinse it quickly in warm water to clean surface dust, then let it drain thoroughly before lightly grilling. After being grilled and gently pounded, the squid will gradually soften as it steams with the coconut water. Soaking for too long can make the squid absorb a lot of water, reducing its richness and natural aroma.
How do I shred squid into tender strands without it crumbling?
To shred the squid into long strands, gently pound the body before steaming and continue to pound it lightly after it is cooked soft. When shredding, pull along the length of the meat fibers instead of across them. In particular, shred while the squid is still warm, because the body is soft and the fibers separate more easily. If the squid crumbles a lot, the cause is usually a body that is too thin, grilling for too long or pounding too hard.
How long can coconut water steamed dried squid be stored?
Coconut water steamed squid is best eaten the same day, when the meat is still tender, fragrant and keeps its good flavor. If there are leftovers, let the squid cool completely, then put it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. Eat it within about 1 – 2 days to ensure quality. When reheating, warm it gently in a pan or microwave, and avoid steaming it again for too long because the squid easily becomes dry and tough.
With the above coconut water steamed shredded squid recipe, you can turn familiar dried squid into a dish that is softer, more fragrant, gently sweet and more flavorful thanks to fresh coconut water. If you want to choose quality dried squid to cook at home, you can browse the dried squid products at Ola Squid with many options in size and body thickness, suitable for enjoying yourself or giving as gifts
