How to Cook Delicious and Easy Stir-Fried Dried Squid with Kohlrabi at Home

Stir-fried kohlrabi with dried squid is a familiar dish in Vietnamese family meals, combining the chewy, sweet flavor of dried squid with the crisp and refreshing taste of kohlrabi. This dish is not difficult to make, but it requires a few small tips to ensure the squid is not fishy or tough and the kohlrabi remains crispy after stir-frying. In the article below, Ola Squid will provide a detailed step-by-step guide, from selecting ingredients to seasoning, helping you quickly prepare a delicious plate of stir-fried kohlrabi with dried squid for your family meal or as a weekend snack.

Ingredients for stir-fried kohlrabi with dried squid

Stir-fried kohlrabi with dried squid tastes much better when the ingredients are fully prepared and properly preprocessed. Alongside dried squid and kohlrabi, you can add carrots to make the dish more visually appealing. Some basic seasonings are also indispensable, making the squid and vegetables rich and flavorful while creating a harmonious balance between salty and sweet notes. Below are the specific quantities for a serving of 3-4 people, which you can adjust depending on the number of family members.

Wine and ginger will eliminate the characteristic fishy odor of dried squid, while alcohol is used to lightly grill the squid to help bring out its natural aroma before processing. If you do not have medical alcohol, you can replace it by grilling the squid on a gas stove over low heat.

How to choose delicious dried squid and kohlrabi

Delicious ingredients will make the stir-fried kohlrabi with dried squid much more flavorful. Choose quality dried squid that is free of mold; kohlrabi should be young, fresh, and firm so that it remains crispy and sweet without being fibrous when stir-fried.

When choosing dried squid, you should pay attention to the following characteristics:

• The body of the squid has a natural light pink color, neither too white nor too dark red – signs of chemical treatment.
• A uniform white powdery layer covers the body, which is natural salt powder secreted during the drying process.
• The squid body is thick, firm to the touch, has slight elasticity when held, and is neither mushy nor brittle.
• It possesses the characteristic aroma of dried squid, with no foul or strange odors.

For kohlrabi, the criteria for choosing good bulbs include:

• The bulb is firm and feels heavy for its size, without being hollow inside.
• The skin is light green, smooth, tight, and free of bruises or cracks.
• Prioritize medium-sized bulbs because they are usually younger, less fibrous, and sweeter than large ones.

Step-by-step guide on how to make stir-fried kohlrabi with dried squid

To achieve the authentic, delicious flavor of the specialty stir-fried kohlrabi with dried squid, the preparation and cooking stages must be done correctly. The squid needs to be treated to reduce its fishy smell and stir-fried over moderate heat so it doesn’t become tough, while the kohlrabi should only be cooked until just tender to retain its crisp sweetness.

Step 1: Preparation and deodorization of dried squid

Mix 2 tablespoons of white wine with 1 crushed branch of ginger, then rub this mixture evenly on both sides of the squid, leaving it for about 10-15 minutes so the squid absorbs the mixture thoroughly. This method will reduce the fishy smell of the squid much more effectively than just washing it with regular water.

Next, use a little alcohol to briefly grill the squid over low heat for about 1-2 minutes per side until the squid body turns light yellow and releases an aromatic scent. You should let the squid cool down a bit before shredding it into small, bite-sized pieces (about 1-2 cm).

Step 2: Preparing kohlrabi and carrots

Peel the kohlrabi and carrots, then wash them thoroughly. For the kohlrabi, slice it thinly or cut it into julienne strips (about 2-3mm thick) according to your preference. Carrots take longer to cook than kohlrabi, so you need to slice them thinly to about 1-1.5mm so that when stir-fried together, both vegetables cook evenly at the same time.

Prepare a diluted saltwater solution with a ratio of about 1 liter of water + 1 teaspoon of salt, and soak the kohlrabi and carrots in it for 5 minutes to help them maintain their crispness when stir-fried. After soaking, take the kohlrabi and carrots out and let them drain.

Step 3: Lightly stir-frying the dried squid

Mince 3-4 cloves of garlic and divide them into 2 equal portions. Place a pan on the stove and add 1.5 tablespoons of cooking oil. Once the pan is hot, add half of the minced garlic and sauté until it turns golden and fragrant.

Next, add the shredded dried squid, stir quickly over high heat for 1-2 minutes until the squid firms up and releases an aroma, ensuring that all fishy odors are completely eliminated. Once done, transfer the squid to a separate plate to prepare for stir-frying with the vegetables.

Step 4: Stir-frying kohlrabi with dried squid and seasoning

Add another 1.5 tablespoons of cooking oil to the pan, sauté the remaining half of the minced garlic until golden and fragrant, then add the kohlrabi and carrots and stir-fry over high heat for 2-3 minutes. Toss quickly until the vegetables are just cooked through while still retaining their crunchiness.

Add the pre-stir-fried dried squid, toss well with the vegetables for about 30 seconds – 1 minute so the squid and vegetables blend together.

Proceed to season the dish with 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper (you can adjust according to your taste).

After seasoning, stir-fry for another 1-2 minutes so the spices are evenly absorbed, then turn off the stove. Finally, dish the food onto a plate, sprinkle a little chopped coriander for garnish, and the dish is complete.

Notes when making stir-fried kohlrabi with dried squid

Some small details during the cooking process can greatly affect the quality of the final product, especially the crunchiness of the kohlrabi and the moderate tenderness of the dried squid.

• Do not stir-fry the squid for too long over heat as it will easily become dry and hard, losing its natural softness.
• Thoroughly remove the fishy odor of the squid using ginger wine before light grilling to completely eliminate any fishy scent.
• Shred the squid into small, bite-sized pieces to help it absorb spices easily and cook evenly when stir-frying.
• Soak the kohlrabi in a diluted saltwater solution before stir-frying so the vegetables retain their natural crispness.
• Stir-fry the kohlrabi over high heat and toss quickly to prevent the vegetables from releasing too much water, which would make the dish soggy.
• Avoid covering the pan with a lid for too long while stir-frying, as trapped condensation will easily make the vegetables soft and lose their crunchiness.

Explore: Authentic and crispy recipe for stir-fried cabbage with dried squid

Good dried squid should have thick meat, be dry, possess a natural aroma, and contain no chemical preservatives. Ola Squid is a trusted address specializing in providing dried squid caught and sun-dried according to standard processes, perfectly preserving the natural sweetness and characteristic aroma of sea squid.

Ola Squid’s dried squid line features thick bodies and firm meat, suitable for stir-fried dishes that require moderate chewiness such as stir-fried kohlrabi with dried squid, stir-fried kohlrabi and carrots with dried squid, or grilled dishes and other snacks. The products are carefully packaged and properly preserved to maintain long-lasting freshness, making it convenient for families to buy and store for gradual preparation.

With the detailed guide on how to make stir-fried kohlrabi with dried squid above, you can completely prepare this dish yourself at home in just about 30 minutes. The secret lies in thoroughly deodorizing the squid, stir-frying the kohlrabi quickly over high heat, and selecting quality dried squid from the beginning. Visit olasquid.com today to choose authentic dried squid, getting ready for delicious family meals.