The Secret to Unbelievably Crispy Stir-fried Squid with Onion

Stir-fried squid with onions is a familiar dish in family meals, both delicious and easy to prepare. However, not everyone knows how to stir-fry squid without a fishy smell, without being tough, while maintaining a beautiful color and characteristic aroma. In the article below, let’s explore the ways to stir-fry squid with onions from simple to creative variations with bell peppers, carrots, along with tips for choosing fresh and delicious squid!

1. Delicious Squid and Onion Stir-fry Recipe

To make a crispy, delicious, and flavorful squid and onion stir-fry without a fishy smell, you need to pay attention from the preparation stage to the stir-frying process. Here are the ingredients needed for stir-fried squid with onions:

• 500g fresh squid 
• 1 onion 
• ¼ pineapple and 1 tomato
• Shallots, green onions, chili, ginger, celery
• Pepper, fish sauce, seasoning powder, cooking oil, soy sauce, white wine

Here’s how to make a delicious and attractive squid and onion stir-fry:

• Step 1 – Prepare the ingredients:

• • First, clean the squid and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Boil water with a little white wine and bruised ginger, then blanch the squid quickly for 1 minute to remove the fishy smell, then drain.
  • Marinate the squid with a little minced garlic, minced shallots, minced chili, cooking oil, fish sauce, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon seasoning powder, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Mix well and marinate for 5 minutes.
  • Cut the onion into wedges, and the tomato and pineapple into small pieces. Cut the celery into sections, and slice the chili peppers thinly.

• Step 2 – Stir-fry the squid and vegetables: 

• • Sauté minced shallots in a hot pan with a little cooking oil until fragrant. Add the marinated squid and stir-fry over high heat until firm, then transfer to a plate.
  • Add more oil to the pan, then stir-fry the onions, tomatoes, pineapple, and celery until the vegetables are just cooked. Season with a little salt and seasoning powder to balance the flavor.
  • Add the squid back to the pan and stir-fry all ingredients together for 2-3 minutes. Finally, sprinkle with a little pepper to enhance the aroma and turn off the heat.

2. How to Stir-fry Squid with Onions and Bell Peppers

A little variation with colorful bell peppers will make the stir-fry dish more attractive and nutritious.

Ingredients needed: 

• 500g fresh squid
• 1 onion
• ½ green bell pepper, ½ yellow bell pepper
• Green onions, minced garlic, salt, seasoning powder, sugar, pepper, MSG

The process of stir-frying squid with onions and bell peppers is as follows:

• Step 1 – Prepare the ingredients:
  • First, after cleaning the squid, cut it into bite-sized pieces and marinate with shallots and chili to enhance the flavor. Remove the seeds and stems from the bell peppers and cut them into strips.
  • Peel the onion, remove the root, wash, and cut into wedges.
• Step 2 – Stir-fry the ingredients:

• • Next, sauté minced garlic in hot oil until fragrant. Add the bell peppers and stir-fry quickly for about 3 minutes to maintain their crispness and natural sweetness.
  • Then add the squid and onions, stir-fry over high heat for 3 minutes until the ingredients are cooked evenly but still fresh and delicious.
  • Finally, turn off the heat, plate the dish, and you can sprinkle with a little pepper to enhance the flavor.

3. How to Make Squid Stir-fry with Onions and Carrots

The ingredients you need to prepare are:

• 400g fresh squid
• 1 onion, 1 carrot, and 1 ginger
• Green onions, oyster sauce, fish sauce, cooking oil
• Salt, sugar, pepper, seasoning powder

Steps to follow:

• Step 1: Prepare the squid

• • First, clean the squid, cut along the body to remove the quill, remove the eyes and beak. Peel the skin and wash thoroughly with diluted salt water 2-3 times, then rinse, and drain.
  • Cut the squid into bite-sized pieces and make light scores on the surface so the squid absorbs the seasoning easily and looks more attractive when stir-fried.

• Step 2: Prepare accompanying ingredients

• • Peel, wash, and shape the carrot into flowers by scoring it lengthwise, then slicing it thinly.
  • Peel, wash, and cut the onion into wedges.
  • Shred the ginger and cut the green onions into sections after cleaning them.

• Step 3: Next, marinate the squid with ½ tablespoon of fried garlic oil and 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder for about 5 minutes to let the flavors penetrate. Prepare the sauce by mixing ½ tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, ½ teaspoon of fish sauce, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, and stir well until combined.
• Step 4: 
  • Continue to sauté cooking oil until fragrant, add carrots and onions and stir-fry briefly for about 3 minutes. Add the squid to the pan, increase the heat to high, and stir-fry quickly until the squid firms up. 
  • Then, reduce the heat to medium, pour in the prepared sauce, and stir-fry for another 5 minutes to allow the squid to absorb the flavors evenly. Finally, add the green onions and ginger shreds, stir-fry quickly for 1-2 minutes, adjust seasoning to taste, and turn off the heat.
• Step 5: The finished dish has a mild, aromatic ginger scent, the sweet and crispy taste of squid combined with tender-crisp onions and carrots, creating a harmonious and appealing flavor.

In addition to this dish, you can also refer to how to make squid stir-fried with celery and onions, dried squid stir-fried with onions, familiar variations that always bring a delicious, cơm-pairing flavor and are very easy to make at home.

See more: How to prepare dried squid and 15 delicious dishes from dried squid

4. Tips for Choosing Fresh and Delicious Squid

One of the key factors for a delicious squid and onion stir-fry is the quality of the squid. Here are some tips for choosing squid you should know:

• Fresh squid usually has a distinct dark brown back, while the body is milky white and shiny. If the squid has a pale color, lacks shine, or is dull, it may be a sign that the squid has been stored for a long time.
• Gently press the squid’s body with your hand. If the flesh is firm and elastic, the squid is still fresh. Conversely, soft, mushy, or slimy squid is a sign not to buy.
• Fresh squid eyes are bright, clear, and have visible pupils. If the eyes are cloudy, slightly bulging, or have discharge, it indicates that the squid’s quality has deteriorated.
• Observe the tentacles of fresh squid; they will be firm, tightly attached to the body, and the small suckers will cling tightly to the tentacles. Stale squid often has soft tentacles, and the suckers are easily detached or separated.
• You can buy fresh squid directly at seafood markets, wholesale markets, or reputable frozen seafood stores to make it easier to choose and ensure quality.

The article above provides detailed instructions for 3 ways to stir-fry squid with onions that are rich in flavor and nutritious. Especially, if you don’t have fresh squid, this stir-fry can still be made with dried squid; just soak it until soft and prepare it correctly, the flavor will still be incredibly enticing. 

If you are looking for high-quality, authentic sea-flavored dried squid, don’t hesitate to contact Ola Squid – a place specializing in delicious, safe, and reputable dried squid. With a commitment to high-quality dried squid, carefully selected from clean sea areas and without preservatives, Ola Squid will help you get the authentic ingredients to prepare delicious dishes for the whole family.