How to Make Deliciously Addictive Spicy Numbing Dried Squid

Dried squid has a distinct rich sweetness and a tender-chewy texture, so when combined with sate, chili, and spicy seasonings, it creates a snack that is both fragrant and appetizing. Making spicy dried squid at home is not overly complicated; you just need to select good squid and carefully control the simmering time so that the squid absorbs the sauce without becoming dry and tough.

In the article below, Ola Squid guides you through 2 simple ways to make spicy dried squid: spicy dried squid with sate and spicy dried squid with Korean chili paste. You can adjust the amount of chili to taste for a perfectly balanced spicy dried squid dish.

Preparing Ingredients and Tools

Before starting the preparation, you should fully prepare the ingredients and tools. Dried squid should be carefully selected because its quality directly affects the fragrance, sweetness, and tender-chewy texture of the dish after simmering.

Ingredients and Tools

Ingredients	Quantity
Whole dried squid	300g
Sate	2–3 tbsp
Chili sauce	1 tbsp
Chili powder	1–2 tsp
Minced garlic	1 tbsp
Sugar	1–1.5 tbsp
Fish sauce	1 tbsp
Water	2–3 tbsp
Cooking oil	1 tbsp
Roasted sesame seeds	1 tsp
Minced lemongrass	1 tbsp

Required cooking tools:

• Non-stick pan or thick-bottomed pan.
• Scissors or a knife to cut the squid.
• Clean cutting board.
• Small bowl to mix the sauce.
• Tongs or chopsticks to stir the squid.
• If you want to make it quickly using an air fryer, you can also prepare an air fryer.

How to Select Good Dried Squid for Spicy Dishes

Good dried squid is a crucial factor for the simmered dish to have natural sweetness, aroma, and not be tough or hard. When purchasing, you should prioritize pure dried squid, unsalted and unseasoned, which makes it easy to adjust the levels of spiciness, saltiness, and sweetness according to the recipe.

When choosing squid, you can rely on the following characteristics:

• Squid body: Choose those with moderately thick bodies, dry surfaces, and no signs of mold or sliminess.
• Color: High-quality dried squid has a natural color, not overly shiny or showing unusual colors.
• Smell: Has the characteristic fragrant aroma of dried squid, with no sour, musty, or strange odors.
• Squid meat: When lightly grilled, the squid has a clear aroma, the meat can be shredded into fibers, and it has a tender-chewy texture instead of being too hard.
• Origin: You should choose squid with clear information regarding its origin, packaging, and preservation.

At Ola Squid, our whole dried squid product lines currently come in various sizes from A1 to A5, corresponding to approximately 15–22 to 61–120 squid per kg. The pure dried squid is unseasoned, making it suitable for grilling, simmering, or preparing many different dishes.

 

See also: How to choose delicious dried squid like a professional fisherman

2 Ways to Make Unbeatably Delicious Spicy Dried Squid

There are many variations of spicy dried squid depending on the spices available in your kitchen. Both recipes below use the simmering method, so the squid easily absorbs the spices, having a rich spicy flavor and making it perfect as a snack or a side dish for drinks.

How to Make Spicy Dried Squid with Sate

Spicy dried squid with sate has a distinct aromatic heat blended with a harmonious sweet and salty taste. Sate combined with garlic and lemongrass helps elevate the aroma of the squid without needing too many different spices.

• Step 1 – Preparing ingredients: Briefly rinse the dried squid with clean water, then soak it in beer for about 30 minutes to soften. Then rinse again and let dry. Remove some seeds from the chili and mince.

• Step 2 – Grilling and shredding the squid: Place a grill rack on the stove, arrange the squid, and grill evenly. Use a pestle to tap lightly to remove any burnt parts, then use scissors or your hands to shred the squid into bite-sized fibers.

• Step 3 – Simmering the dried squid: Dissolve sugar, fish sauce, and a little water. Heat cooking oil in a pan, toss the squid, then add chili, sate, and the fish sauce mixture. Simmer until the sauce thickens and the squid is evenly infused with spices, then turn off the heat.

• Step 4 – Finished product: Simmered dried squid with sate has an eye-catching golden color, an appealing aroma of fish sauce and sate, and a sweet-salty flavor blended with a gentle heat. This dish can be enjoyed with steamed white rice or as a snack with beer.

How to Make Spicy Dried Squid with Korean Chili Paste

If you prefer a rich, slightly sweet spiciness with a beautiful red color, you can try making spicy dried squid with Korean chili paste. This recipe is perfect for those who love the Korean-style sweet and spicy flavor.

• Step 1 – Preparing and grilling the dried squid: Rinse the squid thoroughly, let dry, then grill on a rack over medium-low heat. When the squid starts turning yellow, flip it over and grill until both sides are evenly cooked and golden.

• Step 2 – Making the Korean spicy sauce: Sauté minced garlic in cooking oil until fragrant, then add malt syrup, ketchup, and Korean chili paste, stirring well. Add sugar and a pinch of salt, then simmer over low heat until the mixture thickens.

• Step 3 – Simmering the dried squid: Squeeze a little lime juice into the sauce to prevent sugar crystallization, stir well, then add the squid and toss over medium heat. Simmer until the squid is evenly coated with the sauce, and the sauce becomes sticky and dry, then turn off the heat.

• Step 4 – Finished product: The simmered squid has a rich salty, sweet, and spicy flavor with moderately tender-chewy meat, perfect as a snack, served with rice, or as an accompaniment to drinks. Any leftover squid should be stored in an airtight jar and kept in a cool place or the refrigerator.

See also: What dishes can be made with dried squid? Top 16 delicious and easy homemade recipes

Tips for Making Delicious Spicy Dried Squid Without Becoming Tough or Overly Salty

One of the common mistakes when making spicy dried squid is that the squid becomes hard due to over-simmering, or the sauce becomes too salty because dried squid naturally has a slight saltiness. To keep the dish tender-chewy and moderately spicy, you should pay attention to these tips.

Perfect ratio for spicy sauce: There is no single ratio that fits all types of squid because the saltiness of dried squid can vary. However, for about 300g of squid, you can start with a formula of 2–3 tbsp spicy sauce + 1 tbsp sugar + about 1/2–1 tbsp fish sauce + 2–3 tbsp water.

Do not add all the fish sauce right from the start. You should prepare the sauce, taste it, and then adjust. If the squid is already naturally salty, you can reduce or omit the fish sauce so the dish does not become overly salty.

For those who prefer a higher heat level, you should increase the amount of chili powder or sate instead of increasing fish sauce or other salty seasonings. This method helps the squid have a distinct spiciness while still retaining its natural sweetness.

Simmering technique to prevent squid from getting tough or the sauce from burning: Dried squid has already lost most of its moisture, so if it is cooked at high heat for a long time, the meat can easily shrink and become tough and hard.

When simmering, you should:

• Lightly grill the squid just until fragrant, do not over-grill.
• Simmer the sauce first before adding the squid.
• Simmer over low or medium-low heat.
• Stir continuously to prevent the sauce from burning at the bottom of the pan.
• Only simmer until the sauce is just thickened and evenly coats the squid, then turn off the heat.
• Do not try to simmer until the sauce is completely dry in the pan, because the residual heat will continue to dry out the squid.

If you want the squid to be softer, you can shred it into moderate fibers and add a little water when mixing the sauce. However, you should not soak the squid for too long, as this can reduce its rich flavor and make it crumbly when simmered.

Frequently Asked Questions about Making Spicy Dried Squid

Can you make spicy dried squid with an air fryer?

Yes. The air fryer can be used to lightly grill the squid before shredding and simmering. Grilling squid with an air fryer is suitable for families without a charcoal stove or those who want to limit the smell of squid in the kitchen area.

Is spicy dried squid suitable for children?

With its characteristic spicy-hot flavor, spicy dried squid might be a bit too strong and unsuitable for young children. If you want children to enjoy it, you should adjust the amount of chili or choose a milder type of squid to suit their taste buds and delicate digestive systems, avoiding discomfort or negative health effects.

How long can spicy dried squid be stored?

After preparation, spicy dried squid should be allowed to cool completely, then placed in an airtight container or a clean zip-top bag. You should store it in the refrigerator compartment and consume it early to preserve its flavor, texture, and quality.

The actual storage time depends on the water content in the sauce, the cooking method, and storage conditions. If the squid shows signs of mold, sliminess, discoloration, or a strange odor, you should not continue using it.

Which type of dried squid should I choose to make the best spicy dish?

You should choose whole dried squid without seasoning, with thick meat, a natural aroma, and a suitable dryness level. Pure squid is easier to season according to the recipe, especially when making dishes with sate or chili paste.

The size of the squid can be chosen according to your preference. Large-sized squid has thick meat, suitable if you want to cut it into pieces or large shreds; medium and small-sized squid are easy to turn into snacks, with faster cooking times. Ola Squid currently offers many whole dried squid lines from sizes A1 to A5, allowing users to choose the appropriate size for their cooking needs.

With easily found ingredients and a straightforward cooking method, making spicy dried squid at home is the ideal choice if you love a flavor-packed snack. Just lightly grill the squid, mix the sauce in the right ratio, and simmer over low heat, and you will have a delicious, tongue-numbing, and rich spicy dried squid dish.

If you want the dish to retain the natural sweetness of the squid, start with high-quality ingredients, prioritizing pure dried squid, unsalted and unseasoned, to easily adjust the spiciness and saltiness to your taste. Ola Squid currently offers various sizes of whole dried squid, meeting your needs for grilling, simmering, and snack preparation at home.