How to Make Irresistible Sweet and Sour Tamarind Squid

Tamarind Sauce Squid is a captivating dish with a harmonious sweet and sour taste, a hint of spice, and the fragrant aroma of the sea. Each chewy bite of squid coated in rich tamarind sauce makes everyone who tries it exclaim with delight. If you’re looking for a delicious and simple way to make tamarind sauce squid, let’s get started in the kitchen with the detailed instructions in the article below!

1. Secret to Choosing Fresh, Delicious Squid

To make the tamarind sauce squid dish perfectly, choosing fresh squid is the most important factor. You should prioritize cuttlefish or tube squid, as these types have thick, crisp flesh and retain their natural sweetness after cooking. When choosing fresh squid, carefully observe the eyes, body, and tentacles.

Delicious squid usually has clear, not cloudy, eyes, a shiny body with a pinkish-brown or light purple skin, and firm flesh that doesn’t leave an indentation when lightly pressed. The tentacles must be firmly attached to the body, and the ink sac should be intact, with no fishy or strange odor.

2. Ingredients for Tamarind Sauce Squid

To prepare a rich, sweet and sour tamarind sauce squid dish, you need to prepare simple yet flavorful ingredients:

• 400g fresh squid
• 1 small block of tamarind and white wine
• 1 piece of ginger, 1 fresh chili, and a few cloves of garlic
• Basic seasonings including salt, seasoning powder, fish sauce, sugar, ground pepper, and cooking oil.

3. How to Make Delicious Tamarind Sauce Squid

3.1. Preparing Squid and Other Ingredients

Before cooking, you need to prepare the ingredients thoroughly to achieve the most delicious flavor for your tamarind sauce squid. First, soak the tamarind in hot water until soft, then mash it with a spoon and strain it through a sieve to get the pulp, discarding the seeds. Peel the ginger, wash it, divide it into two parts: mince one part and julienne the other. Peel the garlic, wash it, then mince it. Wash the chili and slice it thinly.

For fresh squid, clean out the insides, remove the quill and ink sac, then peel off the thin outer skin. To remove the fishy smell, rinse the squid with minced ginger and white wine, then rinse again with clean water. Finally, drain the squid and cut it into bite-sized rounds. Be careful not to cut them too small, as the squid will shrink when cooked.

3.2. Marinating Squid for Rich Flavor

After preparation, place the squid in a bowl and marinate it with half of the tamarind pulp, add ½ teaspoon of seasoning powder, ½ teaspoon of ground pepper, ½ teaspoon of MSG, and ½ teaspoon of fish sauce. Next, mix well so the squid absorbs the seasoning, then cover it with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes. This step helps the squid become flavorful and retain its natural sweetness during cooking.

3.3. Making the Sweet and Sour Tamarind Sauce

Place a pan on the stove, add about 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, heat it up, then sauté the minced garlic until fragrant. When the garlic is lightly golden, add the remaining tamarind pulp, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, and a little salt. Stir continuously over low heat until the mixture thickens and has a beautiful brown sheen. The rich, fragrant sweet and sour tamarind sauce will make the squid dish more appealing and flavorful.

3.4. Stir-frying Squid and Finishing the Dish

Place a pan on the stove, add cooking oil, heat it up, then add the squid and stir-fry briefly until firm. When the tamarind sauce has thickened and is fragrant, add the squid to the pan, stir-fry evenly to coat each piece of squid with the sauce. Finally, sprinkle with julienned ginger and sliced chili, stir gently, then turn off the heat.

4. Enjoying Authentic Tamarind Sauce Squid

The tamarind sauce squid dish, after preparation, has a beautiful brown sheen, with each piece of squid being chewy and firm, coated in a rich sweet and sour sauce. When you taste it, you’ll experience the fresh, fatty flavor of the squid combined with the slightly sour, refreshingly sweet, and mildly spicy tamarind, creating an irresistible flavor. This dish is delicious served with hot white rice or as a perfect snack.

5. Other Delicious Squid Dishes You Can Try

Besides fresh squid in tamarind sauce, you have many other delicious squid dish options to vary your family’s meals:

• Dried Squid Simmered with Tamarind Sauce: Chewy, naturally sweet dried squid pieces simmered with a rich sweet and sour tamarind sauce, served with a hint of chili, makes a wonderful snack.

• Squid Stir-fried with Sate: Fresh squid is quickly stir-fried with sate, garlic, and chili, retaining its crispness and absorbing the spicy flavor, perfect for hot meals or casual gatherings with friends.
• Crispy Fried Squid: Rings of squid coated in batter and fried until golden brown and crispy, preserving the natural sweetness of the squid. Dipped in mayonnaise or chili sauce, it’s a tempting snack for both adults and children.
• Steamed Squid with Ginger: Fresh squid steamed with ginger, onions, and a little wine, retaining its natural sweetness and chewiness, with a light, refreshing aroma. It’s a nutritious and easy-to-eat dish.

6. Where to Buy Quality Dried Squid for Tamarind Sauce?

Besides using fresh squid for tamarind sauce, you can also use dried squid as the main ingredient for this dish. While fresh squid is often preferred, dried squid can offer a richer flavor and a delightful chewy texture, making the dish more intense and unique.

To ensure quality, you can consider purchasing dried squid from Ola Squid. Ola Squid specializes in supplying dried squid products such as whole dried squid, squid snacks, and seasoned squid. Ola Squid is committed to not using preservatives or artificial colors, and all products are processed according to strict procedures, ensuring food safety.

Furthermore, the pricing policy and purchasing process are reasonable, with attractive discounts for bulk orders. Additionally, with a team of enthusiastic staff providing nationwide delivery, you can be completely assured of purchasing products regardless of your location.

The appealing tamarind sauce squid dish boasts a rich sweet and sour flavor, thanks to the chewy and fragrant dried squid. We hope the detailed instructions in this article have helped you successfully prepare this dish. And to discover more delicious recipes made from fresh and dried squid, or to see more squid products from Ola Squid, don’t forget to visit olasquid.com now!