How to Cook Delicious & Creamy Squid Curry with Rich Flavors

Squid curry is an appealing dish with crispy, chewy squid blended into a golden, rich, fragrant, and flavorful curry sauce. The mild spiciness of curry powder combined with coconut milk, lemongrass, and lime leaves creates a signature aroma that becomes more irresistible with every bite. In the article below, Ola Squid will guide you on how to cook squid curry that is rich and creamy, with perfectly cooked squid and a flavorful sauce, easy to make at home.

Ingredients for making squid curry

The ingredients below are prepared for about 3 – 4 servings. You can adjust the amount of seasoning to suit your family’s taste.

If you prefer a spicier curry, you can increase the amount of chili or add a bit of sate sauce. If you want the sauce to be less rich, you can adjust the amount of coconut milk to your taste.

Secrets to choosing fresh squid and quality curry powder

Squid is the main ingredient, so the freshness of the squid will determine the flavor of the dish. You should choose squid with a bright body, skin that is still tightly attached, clear eyes, firm and elastic flesh, and no unusual bad or ammonia smell. When cooked, fresh squid will retain its firm, crispy texture and natural sweetness, helping to balance the rich curry sauce.

See more: Tips for choosing fresh, delicious squid from foodies

As for the curry powder, you should choose a product of clear origin, within its shelf life, and with the characteristic aroma of spices. Powder that is naturally golden, smooth, and free from moisture clumping will easily blend into the sauce and create an appealing color for the dish.

How to cook squid curry with rich and creamy sauce

Delicious squid curry needs to retain the crispy, chewy texture of the squid, while the sauce must be rich, fragrant, smooth, and flavorful. To achieve this flavor, you should prep and marinate the squid first, then sauté the aromatics, cook the vegetables, and add the squid last. The method below ensures the squid is perfectly cooked while the sauce retains its distinctive curry taste.

Step 1 – Preparing the ingredients

Clean the squid, removing the ink sac, eyes, and internal organs, then rinse thoroughly with water. Gently rub a little salt over the squid body to clean it, then rinse again, drain well, and cut into bite-sized rings. You can lightly score the squid body in a crisscross pattern to make the pieces look attractive and absorb the seasoning easily.

Peel off the tough outer layers of the lemongrass, wash, crush, and cut into sections. Peel and julienne the ginger; peel and mince the garlic; slice the chili. Wash and gently bruise the lime leaves. Peel, wash, and cut the potatoes and carrots into bite-sized pieces. Peel and cut the onion into wedges.

Step 2 – Marinating the squid

Place the squid in a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of curry powder, 1/2 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning powder, a little ground black pepper, and minced ginger. Mix gently to coat evenly, then marinate for about 10 – 15 minutes.

Step 3 – Sautéing the aromatics

Place a pot on the stove, heat the cooking oil, and add the garlic, ginger, and lemongrass to sauté over medium heat. When aromatic, add the remaining curry powder and stir quickly for about 30 seconds to release the fragrance. Next, add the potatoes and carrots, stirring well to coat the vegetables in the spices. Add enough water and simmer until the potatoes and carrots are just tender.

Step 4 – Cooking squid with curry

Once the vegetables are cooked through, add the coconut milk to the pot and stir gently. Season with palm sugar, fish sauce, and salt to make the sauce rich, with a harmonious sweet and savory taste. Cook over medium heat until the sauce is hot and starts to simmer gently.

Add the marinated squid along with the lime leaves and chili, and cook for about 3 – 5 minutes until the squid is firm and just cooked through. Avoid stirring too many times so the squid doesn’t release too much liquid and become chewy. Finally, add the onion, stir gently for another minute, and turn off the heat.

Step 5 – Finished dish and enjoyment

The finished squid curry has an appealing golden color, with a rich, fragrant, and slightly thickened sauce that highlights the aroma of curry powder, lemongrass, and lime leaves. The squid is perfectly cooked, retaining its crispy-chewy texture and natural sweetness, combined with soft, starchy potatoes, slightly sweet carrots, and fragrant onions.

The dish is best enjoyed hot with bread, white rice, or rice vermicelli. The rich sauce is also perfect for dipping bread, letting each piece of bread soak up the creamy and fragrant flavor of curry and coconut milk.

See more delicious dishes you might be interested in:

• How to make spicy, crispy, and flavorful sautéed squid with sate sauce
• Secrets to making sweet and savory simmered squid with garlic and chili, perfect for rainy days
• How to make fragrant and spicy grilled squid with sate sauce
• How to make fragrant stir-fried squid with garlic butter and rich, irresistible sauce
• The ultimate guide to making crispy, sweet and sour stir-fried squid with a rich sauce

Tips to make delicious, authentic squid curry without any fishy smell

Here are some tips to help prevent the squid curry from smelling fishy and maintain its delicious taste:

• Use thick coconut milk: Thick coconut milk helps the sauce become richer and smoother, while making the curry flavor more balanced.
• Add lime leaves and lemongrass: Crushed lemongrass and gently bruised lime leaves create a clear fragrance, while helping to mask the natural fishy smell of the squid.
• Use palm sugar: The mild sweetness of palm sugar helps balance the spicy, rich, and salty flavors, while adding depth to the sauce.
• Cook the squid over medium heat: When adding the squid, only cook it until it is just done. Do not stir too many times to prevent the squid from releasing excess liquid and to keep its crispy, chewy texture.
• Prep the squid thoroughly: The squid must have its ink sac and internal organs removed, be washed thoroughly, and drained well before marinating. The cleaner and fresher the squid, the more delicious the curry will be.

Frequently asked questions about cooking squid curry

What is squid curry best served with?

Squid curry features a rich, fragrant, and flavorful sauce, making it suitable for many side dishes. You can enjoy it with bread for dipping, or with white rice or rice vermicelli depending on your preference. If you want to balance the richness, you can serve it with fresh herbs or cucumber.

Where to buy curry powder for cooking with squid?

You can buy curry powder at supermarkets, grocery stores, or e-commerce platforms. You should prioritize branded products with clear ingredients and origins, intact packaging, and valid expiration dates.

How long does it take to cook squid curry?

Squid usually cooks quite quickly, especially after being cut into bite-sized rings. Once the squid is added to the hot sauce, you only need to cook it for about 3 – 5 minutes over medium heat until the squid firms up, then you can turn off the heat. Cooking for too long can make the squid meat chewy.

Can frozen squid be used to cook curry?

Yes, frozen squid can be used to cook curry if the product has been stored properly and still maintains its quality. You should defrost it in the refrigerator compartment or under cold water, then wash it thoroughly and drain it completely before marinating. The drier the squid, the easier it is to maintain its texture during cooking and prevent the sauce from being watered down.

See more: What delicious dishes can be made with frozen squid? 10 recipes & prep tips

How long can cooked squid curry be preserved, and how to reheat it?

After cooking, let the curry cool down slightly, then put it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator compartment. When eating again, only take a sufficient amount and reheat it thoroughly before serving, avoiding reheating it multiple times as this can cause the squid to lose its delicious texture and change the structure of the sauce.

We hope that through today’s article, you have mastered how to cook squid curry that is rich and creamy, with crispy, chewy squid and a smooth sauce. Just pay attention to the prep step, cooking time, and spice combination, and you can easily prepare this appealing dish right at home. If you want to change up your taste with dishes made from dried squid, you can refer to dried squid Ola Squid. The product comes with many options in size and thickness of the squid body, making it easy for you to choose according to your needs and cook into many delicious dishes to your liking.