How to Make Addictive Fish Sauce Fried Calamari

In Vietnamese cuisine, mực chiên nước mắm (fried squid with fish sauce) is a dish that is both simple, easy to make, and extremely appealing, perfect with rice. The harmonious salty and sweet taste of fish sauce permeates every crispy piece of squid, with a touch of spicy heat from garlic and chili that makes it unforgettable. If you’re looking for a delicious dish that doesn’t take too much time, check out the recipe below!

1. Ingredients for Fried Squid with Fish Sauce

To make delicious and authentic fried squid with fish sauce, you need to prepare the following ingredients:

• 500g baby squid
• 1 onion
• 1 garlic clove, 30g chili peppers
• 3 stalks green onion
• Cooking oil, fish sauce, salt, chili sauce, seasoning powder, sugar, pepper
• Ginger wine to deodorize the squid

2. How to Make Fried Squid with Fish Sauce

• Step 1 – Prepare the ingredients:

• • Clean the baby squid, remove the ink sac and innards, rinse again with diluted salt water or ginger wine to remove the fishy smell, then drain.
  • Chop the green onions, peel and cut the onion into wedges, remove seeds from chili peppers and cut them into triangle pieces, and mince the garlic.
• Step 2 – Fry the squid until crispy: Heat oil in a deep-fried pan, add a little crispy flour to prevent oil from splattering. Fry the squid over medium heat until golden and crispy. Fry twice to ensure the squid is evenly cooked, golden, and retains its crispiness, then remove and drain on paper towels.
• Step 3 – Make the sauce: Mix the sauce with 2 teaspoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon of seasoning powder and pepper, and 1 tablespoon of chili sauce. Stir well until all seasonings are dissolved.
• Step 4 – Stir-fry squid with fish sauce: Sauté minced garlic and chili until fragrant in the pan, then pour in the sauce and bring to a gentle boil. When the sauce is bubbling, add the crispy fried squid and stir well to coat the squid with the sauce. Continue to add onion, chili peppers, and green onions, stirring gently to combine the ingredients and release their aroma, creating an attractive color.
• Step 5 – Finish: Finally, turn off the heat and arrange the fried squid with fish sauce on a plate. The dish has a chewy texture of squid, a rich, savory, sweet, and spicy flavor, making it very suitable to be served with white rice.

See more: How to make delicious and irresistible sun-dried squid fried with fish sauce

3. Notes When Making Fried Squid with Fish Sauce

Here are some notes when making fried squid with fish sauce that you shouldn’t miss to achieve the perfect flavor:

• Do not over-fry, or the squid will become dry and tough. Frying just enough is best.
• If using crispy flour, coat lightly so the flour adheres evenly without being too thick.
• After each frying session, let the squid drain on paper towels to prevent the coating from becoming soft or re-absorbing oil.
• Choose pure fish sauce with a mild, fragrant flavor to avoid a harsh taste.
• Do not add the sauce too early when the squid is still oily, as this can cause the sauce to separate or burn.
• Prefer small squid or baby squid as they have a natural sweetness and the right chewiness, making them ideal for this dish.
• Sauté garlic and chili just enough to release their aroma without burning and causing bitterness.

4. Tips for Choosing Good Squid for Fried Squid with Fish Sauce

To ensure your fried squid with fish sauce is rich in flavor and retains its appealing crispy texture, choosing fresh and delicious ingredients is crucial. Here are some simple tips to help you easily identify quality squid:

• Fresh squid typically has a shiny skin, a dark reddish-brown body without scratches. The belly should be milky white, not yellowish or pale.
• The squid’s eyes should be clear, bright, and you can see the pupil inside, which indicates freshness. Avoid squid with cloudy, slimy eyes.
• Gently press the squid’s body with your finger. If it feels firm and elastic, it’s fresh. Soft or mushy squid indicates it’s been stored for a long time.
• Fresh squid will have tentacles firmly attached to the body, with small, round suckers clinging to the tentacles. If the suckers are falling off or the tentacles are detached from the body, do not buy it.

The dish of fried squid with fish sauce, with its rich salty-sweet flavor and crispy coating, is irresistibly delicious. We hope the detailed instructions for making mực chiên nước mắm have provided you with a great new dish idea for your family’s menu. And don’t forget to visit our website olasquid.com to discover more information about dried squid, tips for choosing good squid, and recipes for a variety of delicious squid dishes. For premium dried seafood, explore our offerings at Shop, including delightful options like dried squid snacks, flattened dried squid, and whole dried squid.