What to Cook with Squid Tentacles? 8 Simple, Delicious Recipes

Squid tentacles are a seemingly simple part of the squid but possess an equally rich flavor, with a crunchy and chewy texture that fascinates many people. Not only a nutrient-rich ingredient, squid tentacles are also easy to transform into many attractive dishes, suitable for family meals or small parties. Let’s explore simple yet delicious ways to prepare squid tentacles in this article from Ola Squid!

1. What are squid tentacles?

Squid tentacles are long, soft appendages connected to the head, helping the squid move and hunt in the natural marine environment. Each squid usually has 8-10 appendages, of which 2 longer ones are called the main tentacles, while the shorter ones surrounding them are called arms.

Depending on the type of squid, such as squid, cuttlefish, or bigfin reef squid, the tentacles will have different sizes, toughness, and flavors. Squid tentacles provide a characteristic crunchy and chewy texture, so they are used as ingredients for a wide variety of dishes from grilling and stir-frying to cooking soup, and they go very well with rice.

2. Nutritional value of squid tentacles

Crunchy and delicious squid tentacles are a nutrient-rich food source that is good for health. With just 100g of fresh squid tentacles, you provide your body with many important nutrients:

• High-quality protein: Squid tentacles contain abundant protein content. Protein from seafood is easy to absorb, helps build muscle, regenerates cells, and supports body recovery after exercise.
• B vitamins: Squid tentacles provide many B vitamins, especially B12 and B3, which help support nerve and brain function. At the same time, they also support the process of energy metabolism from food and help keep skin and hair healthy while reducing fatigue.
• Essential minerals: In squid tentacles, there are many important minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc:
  • Calcium and phosphorus help strengthen bones and teeth.
  • Iron supports blood formation and reduces the risk of anemia.
  • Zinc helps strengthen immunity and helps wounds heal quickly.

• Low fat, low calorie: Squid tentacles are very low in fat and calories. This helps you enjoy delicious dishes without worrying about weight gain, suitable for those who prefer a healthy diet or weight loss regime.
• Antioxidants and biological compounds: Some studies indicate that seafood, including squid tentacles, contains biological compounds with antioxidant capabilities, supporting cell protection from oxidative stress and contributing to slowing down the aging process.

3. How to choose to buy fresh squid tentacles

If you don’t choose squid tentacles carefully, you might buy ones that are less fresh, soft, or have an unpleasant fishy smell. Here are tips to help you choose fresh squid tentacles, ensuring the quality of your dish:

• Fresh squid tentacles usually have a slightly ivory white color, are shiny, and have transparent suckers. Avoid buying tentacles that are yellow, brown, or opaque, as these are signs of old squid, which have reduced crunchiness and are easily fishy.
• Touch them with your hand; if the tentacles feel firm, have good elasticity, and are not mushy or crushed, they are still fresh. Tentacles that are soft or excessively slimy have usually been left for a long time or poorly preserved.

• Fresh squid tentacles have a mild, natural seafood scent. Avoid tentacles with a strong fishy or ammonia smell, as this is a sign that the squid has spoiled or been kept too long.
• The skin and suckers on the squid tentacles must be intact, taut, and slightly sticky. If the suckers are torn, the tentacles are easily crushed and will not retain their crunchiness when processed.
• You should buy squid tentacles at reputable seafood markets or supermarkets with clear origins. If buying frozen, check that the packaging is still within the expiration date and has been flash-frozen.

4. Instructions for clean and simple pre-processing of squid tentacles at home

Properly pre-processing squid tentacles is an important step to remove the fishy smell and help the dish become crunchy, delicious, and flavorful. With a few simple steps, you can completely prepare fresh and clean squid tentacles right at home without taking much time.

• First, wash the squid tentacles under clean water to remove slime and sand adhering to the surface.
• Use your hands to gently squeeze the appendages to clean the inside, avoiding tearing the tentacles.
• Squeeze out the squid eyes and the beak located between the appendages, as these are hard parts and inedible. If the tentacles still have a thin membrane or outer skin, you can peel them off to make the dish crunchier and more attractive.

• Soak squid tentacles in diluted salt water or white wine with crushed ginger for about 5-10 minutes to deodorize the fishy smell.
• After washing and deodorizing, remove the squid tentacles to a basket to drain or use paper towels to absorb excess water before processing. Dry squid tentacles ensure that when stir-frying, grilling, or pan-searing, they will not release much water, maintaining crunchiness and flavor.

5. Summary of delicious dishes from squid tentacles easy to make at home

Squid tentacles are a crunchy and chewy ingredient that is easy to combine with many different types of food. Here are 8 delicious dishes from squid tentacles you can try right at home, both simple and full of flavor:

5.1. Spicy stir-fried squid tentacles

Ingredients preparation (for 2 people):

• 200g squid tentacles
• 3 cloves of garlic, 2 slices of fresh ginger
• 4 dried chilies, 2 stalks of celery
• 2 teaspoons of sate, a little sugar, 3 teaspoons of soy sauce, 3 teaspoons of white wine
• Other seasonings like fish sauce, MSG, seasoning powder, soy sauce

How to make spicy stir-fried squid tentacles:

• Prepare ingredients: Wash squid tentacles and celery, cut into sections about 5cm long. Boil a pot of water, add white wine, blanch the squid tentacles for about 1-2 minutes then remove and drain. Finely mince ginger, garlic, and dried chilies.
• Sauté aromatics: Heat a pan with a little cooking oil. Add minced ginger, garlic, and chili and sauté until fragrant. Add sate, stir well, then lower the heat to let the spicy aroma rise.
• Stir-fry squid tentacles and vegetables: Next, add the squid tentacles and celery to the pan, stir-fry over high heat. Add white wine, soy sauce, sugar, and the remaining seasonings. Stir-fry quickly until the squid tentacles are cooked and crunchy, and the celery is just cooked but still retains its crunchiness and sweet flavor.
• Finish the dish: Re-season to taste, then turn off the heat and present the dish on a plate. The finished dish has the beautiful red color of chili, the pungent aroma of sate, ginger, and garlic, along with the perfect crunchiness of the squid tentacles.

5.2. Stir-fried squid tentacles with vegetables

Ingredients for 2 people to perform stir-fried squid tentacles with vegetables:

• 200g squid tentacles
• 1 carrot, 1 chayote
• 20g celery, 5g minced garlic
• A few sprigs of cilantro (coriander)
• Seasoning: seasoning powder, MSG, oyster sauce, cooking oil

Details of how to prepare this dish are as follows:

• Prepare ingredients: Wash squid tentacles, drain and cut into bite-sized sections. Peel carrots and chayote, shred into small strips or use specialized tools. Cut celery into bite-sized sections and wash cilantro, let drain.
• Stir-fry squid tentacles: Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pan, sauté minced garlic until fragrant. Add squid tentacles and stir-fry over medium heat for 5-10 minutes until firm. Add 1 teaspoon of oyster sauce and when the squid tentacles are cooked, set them aside.
• Stir-fry vegetables: Use the pan just used to stir-fry the squid, then add carrots, chayote, and celery and stir well with a little remaining oil. Then, season with 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning powder and a little MSG, stir-fry until the vegetables are just cooked.
• Completion: Finally, add the stir-fried squid tentacles back into the pan, stir well for a few minutes so the ingredients blend their flavors. Turn off the heat, serve on a plate, and garnish with a little cilantro.

5.3. Squid tentacle soup with sweetleaf

Squid tentacle soup with sweetleaf has a refreshing, easy-to-eat flavor, very suitable for summer days or after meals with a lot of grease.

Required ingredients:

• 200g squid tentacles
• 1 bunch of sweetleaf
• 2 shallots, 2 cloves of garlic
• Seasonings: salt, MSG, ground pepper, seasoning powder, and cooking oil

The simple method is as follows:

• Prepare ingredients: First, wash the squid tentacles and cut them into bite-sized sections. Pick the sweetleaf leaves, wash several times with water until clean, and let drain. Peel and finely mince shallots and garlic.
• Sauté aromatics and stir-fry squid tentacles: Then place the pot on the stove, add cooking oil and heat. Sauté minced shallots and garlic then add squid tentacles and stir well for about 2-3 minutes until firm and flavorful.
• Cook the soup: Pour a sufficient amount of water into the pot and bring to a boil. When the water boils, skim off the foam to make the soup clear and add the sweetleaf, season with salt, seasoning powder, and MSG to taste. Cook for another 3-5 minutes until the sweetleaf is tender, re-season to taste then turn off the heat.
• Finish the dish: Ladle the soup into a bowl and enjoy while still hot to feel the natural sweet and refreshing taste of the sweetleaf blended with the sweet crunchiness of the squid tentacles.

5.4. Grilled squid tentacles with salt and chili

Ingredients for grilled squid tentacles with salt and chili are as follows:

• 2kg squid tentacles
• 10 horn chilies
• 5 teaspoons of sea salt and 1 teaspoon of MSG

Detailed implementation method:

• Prepare squid tentacles: Put the squid tentacles in a small basin and add 2 spoons of sea salt, squeeze gently then wash with clean water 2-3 times to remove the fishy smell and slime. Cut the squid tentacles into bite-sized sections and let drain.
• Prepare and marinate with salt and chili: Wash the horn chilies and crush them. Then, mix the chilies with 1 teaspoon of MSG and 5 teaspoons of sea salt to create a pungent salt and chili mixture. Next, add this mixture to the squid tentacles, mix well by hand and marinate for 20-30 minutes to absorb the seasoning.
• Grill the squid tentacles: Heat the oven to 180°C then arrange the squid tentacles on a tray and grill for 15 minutes. Then, take them out to turn the tentacles over and grill for another 5 minutes until all sides are golden brown, the tentacles are firm and release an attractive aroma.
• Enjoy: Place the grilled squid tentacles with salt and chili on a plate; you can garnish with a few slices of chili or fresh lemon. The grilled squid tentacles with salt and chili have a beautiful reddish-orange color and a pungent aroma of horn chili blended with a characteristic salty taste. When eaten, the squid tentacles are crunchy, sweet, and slightly spicy on the tip of the tongue, extremely stimulating the taste buds.

5.5. Stir-fried squid tentacles with baby corn

The ingredients you need to prepare include:

• 200g squid tentacles
• 150g baby corn and 1 bell pepper
• 2 shallots and 2 cloves of garlic
• Seasonings: cooking oil, fish sauce, seasoning powder, MSG, ground pepper

Detailed method:

• Prepare ingredients: Wash squid tentacles, cut into bite-sized sections, let drain. Wash baby corn and cut into sections about 4cm long. Wash bell peppers, remove seeds and cut into bite-sized square pieces. Peel and finely mince shallots and garlic.
• Stir-fry squid tentacles: Next, heat oil in a pan, sauté minced shallots and garlic. Add squid tentacles and stir-fry quickly for 3-4 minutes until the squid is firm. Season with 1 teaspoon of fish sauce and a little seasoning powder then stir well to absorb the flavor.
• Stir-fry vegetables: Add baby corn and bell pepper to the pan, stir well. Stir-fry for about 3-5 minutes until the baby corn is just cooked, maintaining its natural sweet crunchiness. Finally, re-season to taste, sprinkle a little ground pepper, then turn off the heat.
• Presentation and enjoyment: Ladle the dish onto a plate, garnish with a few sprigs of herbs or red chili slices for visual appeal. Serve hot with white rice to fully feel the sweet crunchiness of the baby corn blended with the rich chewy texture of the squid tentacles.

5.6. Stir-fried squid tentacles with sate

Ingredients for stir-fried squid tentacles with sate include:

• 200g squid tentacles
• ½ onion, 2 cloves of garlic
• Seasonings: cooking oil, sate, sugar, seasoning powder, fish sauce
• Cilantro or green onions

The simple steps are as follows:

• Prepare ingredients: Wash squid tentacles, cut into bite-sized sections. Peel onions and cut into wedges. Peel and finely mince garlic, wash herbs and cut into short sections.
• Sauté aromatics and stir-fry squid tentacles: Then, heat the pan with 2 tablespoons of oil, add garlic and onion and sauté until fragrant. Next, add squid tentacles and stir well over high heat for 3-5 minutes until firm.
• Add seasoning: When the squid tentacles are just cooked, pour in the sate and stir well so the squid absorbs the spicy flavor. Season with sugar, seasoning powder, and fish sauce to taste, then add herbs, stir gently and turn off the heat.
• Presentation and enjoyment: Place the stir-fried squid tentacles on a plate and garnish with a few slices of chili or cilantro. The stir-fried squid tentacles with sate are aromatic and spicy, with crunchy squid tentacles blending with the characteristic spicy flavor of sate, making it very good with rice and suitable as a snack.

5.7. Kimchi soup with squid tentacles

Necessary ingredients for kimchi soup with squid tentacles include:

• 200g squid tentacles
• 150g napa cabbage kimchi
• ½ onion and 2 shallots
• 2 cloves of garlic, 1 fresh chili
• Seasonings: cooking oil, fish sauce, sugar, soy sauce, seasoning powder

Detailed step-by-step instructions:

• Prepare ingredients: First, wash squid tentacles, cut into bite-sized sections, let drain. Cut kimchi into small pieces for easier eating. Peel shallots and onions and slice thinly, while mincing garlic and slicing fresh chili.
• Stir-fry kimchi and squid tentacles: Heat the pot with 1 tablespoon of oil then add shallots and garlic and sauté until fragrant. Next, add kimchi and stir-fry briefly then add squid tentacles and stir well for about 2-3 minutes until firm and flavorful.
• Cook the soup: Then, pour a sufficient amount of water into the pot and bring to a boil. When the water boils, season with soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and seasoning powder to taste. Cook for another 5-7 minutes until the squid tentacles are tender and release a characteristic aroma.
• Enjoy: Ladle the soup into a bowl and sprinkle with a few slices of chili or green onions for visual appeal. Kimchi soup with squid tentacles has a bold sour and spicy taste, with crunchy squid tentacles blending with the rich kimchi broth, served with white rice or noodles is extremely delicious.

5.8. Pan-seared skewered squid tentacles

Preparation of ingredients before making pan-seared skewered squid tentacles includes:

• 250g squid tentacles
• 10-12 small bamboo skewers (should be soaked in water for 10 minutes to avoid burning when pan-searing)
• Seasonings: salt, cooking oil, pepper, seasoning powder, fish sauce (or oyster sauce as preferred)
• Raw vegetables, lettuce, sweet and sour sauce for serving

The method of preparing this dish is as follows:

• Prepare squid tentacles: Wash squid tentacles with diluted salt water to remove fishy smell, and drain. Cut squid tentacles into bite-sized sections, about 5-7cm long.
• Skewer and marinate squid tentacles: Skewer each piece of squid tentacle onto bamboo skewers, which helps maintain the shape and prevents shrinking when cooking. Put the skewered squid tentacles into a bowl, marinate with salt, pepper, a little cooking oil, and seasoning powder. Mix well and let absorb the seasoning for 30 minutes.
• Pan-sear squid tentacles: Next, heat the pan with a little cooking oil, put the squid tentacle skewers into the pan and sear over medium heat. Turn both sides until the squid tentacles are golden brown and release an attractive aroma. When the squid tentacles are firm and have a golden brown color, slightly charred on the edges, the dish is finished.
• Presentation and enjoyment: Arrange the squid tentacle skewers on a plate and eat with raw vegetables and lettuce, and dip in sweet and sour sauce or chili sauce. The pan-seared skewered squid tentacles are crunchy and flavorful, extremely suitable for a drinking session or a weekend snack.

See more:

• What delicious dishes can be made from dried squid tentacles? 6 attractive suggestions
• How much is button squid per kg and what delicious dishes to make?

The above article provides suggestions for delicious dishes made from squid tentacles that are rich, crunchy, and attractive. We hope this helps you succeed in your cooking, and if you want to discover more delicious recipes or learn more about quality dried squid products, please visit olasquid.com today!

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