Crispy and Colorful Stir-Fried Squid with Bell Peppers Recipe

Stir-fried squid with bell peppers is an appealing dish featuring the combination of crispy, sweet fresh squid and colorful bell peppers, creating a stir-fry that is both eye-catching and rich in flavor. In the article below, Ola Squid will guide you through how to make stir-fried squid with bell peppers simply, deliciously, and nutritiously!

Ingredients for stir-fried squid with bell peppers

With a portion for 3 – 4 people, you need to prepare the following ingredients:

How to choose fresh squid and delicious bell peppers

Fresh ingredients help the stir-fry retain its natural sweetness and minimize any fishy odor. When buying, you should carefully check the external characteristics rather than just choosing by size.

Notes when choosing fresh squid:

• Prioritize those with a bright, shiny skin that glows naturally, without dullness or unusual peeling.
• The squid body should be firm with good elasticity when pressed gently, not mushy or slimy.
• Choose squid with clear eyes, a head firmly attached to the body, intact tentacles, and no sour, foul, or strange odors.

Tips for choosing delicious bell peppers: You should choose fruits with tight, shiny skin, fresh color, thick flesh, and a heavy feel in the hand. A stem that is green, fresh, and tightly attached to the fruit is usually a sign of a fresh pepper. You should also prioritize fruits that are relatively heavy for their size because they usually contain more water, have crisp flesh, and taste sweeter.

Steps to make crispy, sweet, non-fishy stir-fried squid with bell peppers

After fully preparing the ingredients, proceed to make the stir-fried bell pepper dish through the following steps:

Step 1 – Preparing the ingredients and marinating the squid

Clean the squid, wash it with diluted saltwater and then rinse with clean water, let it drain, and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Remove the stems and seeds of the bell peppers, wash and cut them into pieces; finely chop the shallots and fresh chili.

Put the drained squid into a bowl, add 1/2 of the minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper. Mix gently so the spices coat evenly, then marinate for about 10 – 15 minutes. Do not marinate for too long because the squid may release water, affecting its crispiness and causing the stir-fry to become watery.

Step 2 – Stir-frying the squid with bell peppers

Place a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to heat, then add the marinated squid, stir-frying for about 3-5 minutes until the squid firms up. Continue adding the bell peppers, seasoning with 1 more teaspoon of seasoning powder and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Toss quickly for about 2 minutes so the bell peppers are just cooked through while still retaining their crispiness. Adjust the seasoning to taste, sprinkle with ground pepper, and turn off the heat.

Step 3 – Finished dish

The completed stir-fried squid with bell peppers features eye-catching colors from the red, green, and yellow bell peppers, combined with crispy white pieces of squid. The squid is just cooked through so it retains its firm yet tender texture and natural sweetness; the bell peppers are crispy and sweet, not mushy, and the savory sauce is moderately fragrant. Plate the dish, sprinkle a little ground pepper and scallions on top, and enjoy immediately while hot with white rice.

Refer to the detailed instruction video here:

Tips for stir-frying squid and bell peppers without releasing water and keeping a crunchy texture

To make the stir-fried squid with bell peppers deliciously perfect, the most important thing is controlling the temperature and stir-frying time. You can apply some of the following tips:

• Stir-fry over high heat: A sufficiently hot pan helps ingredients cook quickly, limits water release, and maintains crispiness.
• Let ingredients drain thoroughly: Squid, bell peppers, and onions that retain too much water will lower the pan’s temperature, causing the stir-fry to become soft and watery.
• Stir-fry the squid separately: Squid should be quickly stir-fried and removed before cooking the vegetables. This method prevents overcooking the squid.
• Do not overcook the vegetables: Bell peppers only need to be cooked just right to retain their beautiful color, natural sweetness, and crunchiness.
• Combine ingredients at the end: When the squid and vegetables are nearly done, add them together to toss, helping the ingredients absorb the spices evenly without being overcooked.

Check out more delicious stir-fried squid recipes you shouldn’t miss:

• How to make crispy, sweet, and flavorful stir-fried squid with vegetables that everyone loves
• Recipe for making crispy, sweet, and fragrant stir-fried squid with green beans
• How to make crispy, sweet stir-fried squid with garlic, non-watery, and non-fishy
• How to make delicious, crispy stir-fried squid with cauliflower, more addictive with every bite
• How to make delicious stir-fried squid with celery and garlic without a fishy odor
• How to make crispy, delicious stir-fried squid with shiitake mushrooms at home
• Tips for making green, crispy stir-fried squid with water spinach without making it tough
• How to prepare fragrant and super delicious stir-fried dried squid with pineapple

Frequently asked questions when making stir-fried squid with bell peppers

How to completely remove the pungent smell of bell peppers when stir-frying?

The pungent smell of bell peppers is usually more pronounced when the fruits are green or not thoroughly prepped. You should choose fresh bell peppers, cut off the stems, seeds, and the inner white membrane before slicing. When stir-frying, use high heat and toss quickly, combining with onions, garlic, or a bit of oyster sauce to balance the aroma and soften the flavor of the bell peppers.

What ingredients can be combined with stir-fried squid with bell peppers?

You can combine squid and bell peppers with various vegetables such as onions, celery, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, or pineapple. However, you should choose ingredients with relatively similar cooking times or stir-fry each group separately to prevent vegetables from becoming mushy while the squid becomes tough. If you like a rich flavor, you can add oyster sauce, pepper, or a bit of satay sauce according to your taste.

Why does stir-fried squid release a lot of water and how to handle it?

Stir-fried squid releasing a lot of water is usually because the squid was not drained, the pan was not hot enough, or too much squid was added at the same time. Additionally, stir-frying the squid for too long also causes it to release water and become tough. To fix this, you should pat the squid thoroughly dry before cooking, heat the pan on high heat, stir-fry in batches if necessary, and only toss the squid until it just firms up before removing it. Vegetables should also be drained and quickly stir-fried before combining with the squid.

With the above recipe for stir-fried squid with bell peppers, you can easily prepare a crispy, sweet, colorful, and rich dish for your family meal. If you want to change your palate with delicious dishes made from dried squid, you can refer to the products at Ola Squid to choose the appropriate type of squid and cook according to your preference.