How to Make Crispy and Delicious Stir-Fried Squid with Bitter Melon, Not Bitter

Stir-fried squid with bitter melon is a dish that combines the natural sweetness of squid with the characteristic mild bitterness of bitter melon, creating a refreshing and easy-to-eat flavor. In the article below, Ola Squid will guide you through how to make stir-fried squid with bitter melon simply, deliciously, and easily at home.

Ingredients for stir-fried squid with bitter melon

For a serving of about 3 – 4 people, you need to prepare the following ingredients:

See more: Distinguishing bigfin reef squid and squid: Which one is tastier?

Secrets to choosing fresh squid and delicious bitter melon

Fresh ingredients help the stir-fry retain its natural sweetness, beautiful color, and minimize fishy odors. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the following characteristics:

• Delicious squid: Prioritize squid with clear eyes, a bright, shiny skin with a natural twinkle, and a body with good elasticity. Fresh squid is not slimy, not mushy, and has no strange odors.
• Delicious bitter melon: Choose fruits with a fresh green color, evenly bloomed ridges or bumps on the skin, a firm body without bruises. Avoid choosing overly mature, yellowish, or soft fruits as they usually have more fiber and a sharper bitter taste.

Watch now: Tips for choosing fresh and delicious squid from gourmets

Steps to make crispy, delicious, authentic stir-fried squid with bitter melon

To prevent the squid from becoming tough and to keep the bitter melon a vibrant green, you should prep each ingredient and stir-fry them separately before combining. The most important thing is to control the temperature and cooking time so that the ingredients are just cooked.

Step 1 – Prepping and removing fishy odors from the squid

Gently pull the head away from the body of the squid, remove the ink sac, quill, and internal organs, then wash it clean. Peel off the outer skin if you want the squid to have a nice white color, then cut it into bite-sized pieces. Use a little crushed ginger along with white wine to gently rub the squid for about 1-2 minutes to eliminate fishy odors, then rinse quickly with water and drain thoroughly.

Reference: How to prep clean squid quickly and simply for an authentic delicious dish

Step 2 – Prepping bitter melon to retain its green color and reduce bitterness

Wash the bitter melon, cut it in half lengthwise, and use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and white pith inside. Slice the bitter melon into bite-sized thin slices or diagonal cuts as you like. Soak the bitter melon in diluted saltwater or ice water for about 10 minutes, then drain. This method helps the bitter melon retain its crispness and helps reduce the bitterness.

Step 3 – Marinating the squid

Put the drained squid into a bowl, add 1/2 of the minced shallots and garlic, seasoning powder, fish sauce, and ground black pepper, then mix well. Marinate the squid for about 10-15 minutes for the flavors to absorb gently; do not marinate for too long as the squid may release water, affecting its crispness when stir-frying.

Step 4 – Stir-frying squid and bitter melon with proper technique

Heat the pan thoroughly, add a little cooking oil, and sauté the remaining shallots and garlic until fragrant. Stir-fry the squid quickly over high heat until the squid body firms up and turns opaque white, then transfer to a separate plate.

Continue by putting the bitter melon into the pan, toss quickly over high heat until just cooked while still maintaining its green color and crispness. Finally, return the squid to the pan, adjust seasonings to taste, and toss quickly for about 30-60 seconds for the two ingredients to blend before turning off the heat. If you like spicy food, you can add a few slices of fresh chili or some minced chili into the pan, tossing well to make the dish more flavorful and attractive. 

Step 5 – Finished product and presentation

Add chopped scallions and culantro, sprinkle a little ground black pepper, and gently toss one last time before turning off the heat. The completed stir-fried squid with bitter melon has an eye-catching green color, crispy and sweet squid, while the bitter melon still retains its crispness and characteristic mild bitterness. The dish is best enjoyed hot with white rice.

Refer to the detailed instructional video:

Secrets for super crispy squid and vibrant green bitter melon without water release

To make a delicious stir-fry, you need to properly control the pan temperature and cooking time. Some tips below will help the squid retain its crispness, while the bitter melon won’t become mushy or release too much water:

• Always stir-fry over high heat: The pan needs to be heated before adding ingredients so that the squid and bitter melon quickly reach doneness, limiting water release.
• Stir-fry each ingredient separately: The squid should be stir-fried until firm and taken out first, then stir-fry the bitter melon. This method helps control doneness better, preventing the squid from becoming tough or the melon from turning mushy.
• Do not stir-fry squid for too long: When the squid just firms up and turns opaque white, take it out immediately. The squid will continue to cook when tossed with the bitter melon in the final step.
• Let ingredients drain thoroughly: Squid and bitter melon with excess water will cause the pan temperature to drop quickly, making the stir-fry prone to releasing water and losing crispness.
• Toss quickly: When returning the squid to the pan, just toss for about 30-60 seconds then turn off the heat to preserve the tender sweetness of the squid.

Frequently asked questions when making stir-fried squid with bitter melon

How to reduce the bitterness when stir-frying bitter melon with squid?

You should choose fresh bitter melon that is not too old and thoroughly remove the seeds and white pith inside. After slicing, you can soak the bitter melon in diluted saltwater or ice water for about 10 minutes, then drain before stir-frying. In addition, do not stir-fry the melon for too long because prolonged high heat can make the melon soft and make the bitterness more pronounced.

Can people with low blood pressure or pregnant women eat stir-fried squid with bitter melon?

People with low blood pressure or pregnant women should consider their specific portion size and health condition before eating bitter melon. For pregnant women, if they want to consume this dish regularly or have special health issues, they should consult a doctor or nutritionist to make an appropriate choice. Squid also needs to be prepped clean and cooked thoroughly to ensure food safety.

Which type of squid should be chosen for the best stir-fried bitter melon?

Squid or bigfin reef squid are both suitable for stir-frying with bitter melon because their meat is firm, sweet, and naturally crispy. Among them, medium-sized squid is easy to cut into rings, cooks quickly, and absorbs spices well. Whichever type you choose, you should prioritize fresh squid with firm bodies and no strange odors so that the stir-fry retains its natural delicious taste.

Above is how to make stir-fried squid with bitter melon, crispy, flavorful with tender sweet squid and vibrant green crispy bitter melon that doesn’t release water. If you want to change it up with many delicious dishes from dried squid, you can refer to the products at Ola Squid to choose the right type of squid and cook according to your preference.