How to Make Tender and Flavorful Steamed Squid with Lolot Pepper Leaves at Home

Steamed squid with lolot leaves (mực hấp lá lốt) is a rustic dish with its own unique appeal, thanks to the natural sweetness of the squid blending with the distinct aroma of lolot leaves. With a few familiar ingredients and a simple preparation method, you can easily make this delicious dish right at home. In the article below, let’s join Ola Squid to learn how to make steamed squid with lolot leaves that is fragrant, non-fishy, and tender!

Ingredients for steamed squid with lolot leaves

To make the steamed squid with lolot leaves taste balanced, you should prepare fresh squid along with young, green lolot leaves and some basic seasonings.

Preparation time: About 15 minutes

Cooking time: About 10 – 15 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Serving size: 3 – 4 people

Steps to make delicious, non-fishy steamed squid with lolot leaves

Squid tastes best when cooked just right, keeping the meat soft, sweet, and slightly crunchy. Therefore, you should pay attention from the pre-processing and marinating stages to the steaming time so that the squid does not become tough or release too much water.

Step 1 – Pre-processing and deodorizing the squid

Clean the purchased squid by removing the entrails, ink sac, eyes, and the hard inner quill, then rinse gently with water. Rub a little salt lightly on the squid body, then rinse again and let it drain thoroughly. You can crush some ginger, mix it with water, and soak the squid for about 3-5 minutes to remove its natural fishy smell. After preparation, lightly score a few lines on the squid body or cut it into bite-sized rings so that the squid can easily absorb spices and cook evenly when steamed.

See more: How to clean squid quickly and simply for an authentic delicious dish

Step 2 – Marinating the squid and preparing accompanying ingredients

Put the squid in a bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper, some julienned ginger, and crushed, sliced lemongrass. Mix gently so the spices coat evenly, then marinate for about 10 minutes; do not marinate too long as the squid may release water. Wash the lolot leaves and let them drain; cut scallions into segments, slice the chili, and slice the remaining ginger into thin strips to use when steaming.

Step 3 – Steaming the squid for the right time to avoid toughness

Arrange a layer of lolot leaves at the bottom of a plate or steamer basket, place the squid on top, and cover with more lolot leaves, ginger, lemongrass, and scallions. Boil the water in the steamer until it boils vigorously before placing the squid in, then steam for about 7-10 minutes depending on the size of the squid.

When the squid body turns opaque white, firms up, and has the aroma of lolot leaves, turn off the stove. Do not steam for too long because prolonged high temperature will cause the squid meat to lose water, become tough, and lose its sweetness.

See more: How long to boil squid for it to be crispy and plump?

Step 4 – Making the dipping sauce and finishing

Put fish sauce, sugar, and lemon juice into a bowl, stir well until the sugar dissolves, then add minced garlic, chili, and a little finely chopped ginger. Adjust the seasoning so the dipping sauce has a harmonious salty and sweet taste, mixed with a little sour and spicy flavor to balance the natural sweetness of the squid.

When the squid is just cooked, take it out onto a plate, sprinkle with more scallions and a few chili slices, and serve hot with the dipping sauce. The pungent aroma of lolot leaves blends with the soft, sweet squid, creating a simple yet appetizing dish.

Check out now: Top 6 delicious dipping sauces for steamed squid, mixed in 5 minutes with authentic flavor

Tips and notes to make steamed squid with lolot leaves more appealing

To keep the steamed squid sweet, tender, and uniquely fragrant, you should keep a few points in mind during the cooking process:

• Do not steam the squid for too long: The squid only needs to be just cooked; steaming past the time will cause the meat to shrink, become tough, and lose its sweetness.
• Let the squid drain thoroughly before steaming: Squid with excess water easily makes the dish bland, and the released liquid reduces the rich flavor.
• Do not use too many spices when marinating: Lolot leaves already have a characteristic aroma, so seasoning lightly is enough not to overpower the natural sweetness of the squid.
• Steam when the water is boiling: Stable heat helps the squid cook quickly and limits the toughness caused by prolonged steaming.
• Enjoy the dish while it is hot: Hot steamed squid is more fragrant, tender, and delicious than letting it cool for too long.

Steamed squid with lolot leaves can be served with white rice, fresh vermicelli noodles, or raw vegetables. If you prefer a richer flavor, you can also prepare green chili salt or ginger fish sauce to dip along with it.

Similar delicious dish: Recipe for fried squid with lolot leaves that everyone will love

Secrets to choosing fresh and delicious squid and lolot leaves

Fresh ingredients are an important factor determining the sweetness and aroma of the steamed squid dish. When buying, you can rely on some simple characteristics below.

Tips for choosing fresh and delicious squid

To choose fresh and delicious squid, you can rely on the following easily recognizable characteristics:

• Squid body: Firm, shiny skin, good elasticity when pressed lightly, not mushy or slimy.
• Squid eyes: Clear, bright, not cloudy or abnormally discolored.
• Squid head: Firmly attached to the body, not loose or easily detached.
• Smell: Has the natural aroma of seafood, with no unusual sour, foul, or fishy odor.
• Type of squid: Prioritize arrow squid or bigfin reef squid of moderate size for easy even cooking and retaining soft sweetness when steamed.

How to choose fresh green lolot leaves

To choose fresh and delicious lolot leaves, you should pay attention to the following characteristics:

• Color: Leaves have a natural dark green color, not yellowed or showing unusual spots.
• Leaf surface: Leaves are intact, not bruised, torn, or showing signs of insect damage.
• Freshness: Leaves still have elasticity, not mushy or wilted.
• Aroma: Has the characteristic aroma of lolot leaves, with no strange odor.
• Size: Should choose leaves of moderate size, not too old, so that when steamed they easily release their aroma and maintain a nice green color.

See more delicious and flavorful steamed squid recipes:

• How to make delicious, sweet, and non-fishy steamed squid with beer at home
• Summary of 5 ways to make delicious, soft, sweet, and non-fishy steamed squid
• Guide to making delicious and alluring steamed squid with guava leaves
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• Revealing how to make irresistibly delicious sweet and sour Thai-style steamed squid
• How to make fresh squid steamed with coconut water, refreshing and non-fishy

Frequently asked questions about steamed squid with lolot leaves (FAQs)

Can pregnant women eat steamed squid with lolot leaves?

Pregnant women can eat steamed squid with lolot leaves if they are not allergic to seafood and the squid is thoroughly cleaned and thoroughly cooked. It should be eaten in moderation and prioritize fresh squid with a clear origin to ensure food safety.

Can frozen squid be used to steam with lolot leaves?

Frozen squid can definitely be used to steam with lolot leaves if stored properly. You should defrost it in the refrigerator compartment, let the squid drain before marinating and steaming so that the dish is not watery while retaining the delicious taste of the squid.

Can lolot leaves be replaced with other types of leaves when steaming squid?

You can replace lolot leaves with lime leaves, perilla leaves, or some other herbs depending on your preference. However, each type of leaf will create its own flavor, so if you want to keep the characteristic aroma of the dish, lolot leaves remain the most suitable choice.

With the how to make steamed squid with lolot leaves above, you can easily turn familiar ingredients into a delicious, soft, and sweet dish right at home. If you want to change your palate with many delicious dishes from dried squid, please check out more products at Ola Squid to choose the right squid type and freely cook according to your preferences!