Crispy Stir-Fried Squid with Vegetables Recipe: A Crowd-Pleaser

The dish stir-fried squid with vegetables has long been a favorite choice for many Vietnamese families thanks to its sweet flavor, eye-catching colors, and high nutritional value. More than just a regular stir-fry, it is a delicate combination of the fresh crispness of squid and the natural sweetness of seasonal vegetables.

The following article from Ola Squid will help you understand how to choose ingredients, perform proper pre-processing, and cook the dish to be truly attractive and suitable for daily family meals.

Ingredients to prepare for stir-fried squid with vegetables

To have a delicious stir-fried squid with vegetables dish, the ingredients play an extremely important role. You need to prepare full fresh components, ensuring cleanliness and maintaining the inherent nutritional value. Each type of ingredient contributes to creating a harmonious flavor: crispy squid, sweet vegetables, evenly absorbed sauce, and vibrant colors.

• Fresh squid (700g): You can choose tube squid or broad squid depending on your taste.
• Vegetables:
  • Cauliflower
  • Flower-carved carrots
  • Onion
  • Cucumber
  • Pineapple
  • Celery
  • Spring onions
• Seasoning:
  • Minced garlic
  • Minced shallots
  • Oyster sauce
  • Soy sauce
  • Pepper
  • Satay (helps the stir-fry become more aromatic and rich)

The dish is simple but requires fresh ingredients to maintain the crispness, sweetness, and characteristic flavor. That is also why many chefs evaluate the ingredient preparation as equally important as the cooking phase.

Guide to choosing fresh ingredients

To make the stir-fried squid with vegetables reach standard quality, you need to master the technique of evaluating ingredients, from the squid to the vegetables. Only when the ingredients are fresh enough can the dish fully develop its inherent natural flavor.

How to choose fresh squid

Fresh squid is the soul of the dish, as the crispness, chewiness, and sweetness of the squid determine 70% of the stir-fry’s quality.

You can choose tube squid or broad squid, depending on your preference, but the most important thing is the freshness.

• Fresh squid usually has a bright color, a translucent body, and naturally pinkish-white flesh.
• When touched, it feels firm and elastic. In particular, the squid head must be tightly attached to the body, not loose, which is an extremely clear sign that the squid is still alive or has just been caught.
• In addition, the eyes of the squid must be clear, black, and bright. If the squid eyes are blurry or have cloudy fluid, it is a sign that the squid has been left for a long time or is stale.
• You can try smelling it; fresh squid always has a light sea scent, not a strong fishy smell.

Remember to prioritize large-sized squid if you want to score it for beautiful shaping, whereas if you like crispy squid, choose medium-sized tube squid which will maintain its natural crispness when stir-fried.

How to choose fresh green vegetables

For vegetables, the deciding factors are color and freshness.

• For cauliflower, you should choose thick heads with tight florets, not bruised or yellowed.
• Carrots must be hard, bright orange, and not cracked.
• For cucumbers, choose long, slender ones with dark green skin and no wrinkles.
• Onions should be round, firm, with a dry outer skin.
• For pineapple, choose small, slightly yellow fruits; the natural aroma when stir-fried will create a gentle sweetness without being harshly sour.
• Celery and spring onions should be freshly picked: firm stalks, dark green leaves, and not crushed. These aromatic herbs contribute to making the stir-fried squid both lightly fragrant and refreshing.

Notes when choosing other spices

Seasoning determines the harmony of the dish. You should choose premium oyster sauce, with a rich and thick flavor. Soy sauce should not be too salty to avoid overwhelming the sweetness of the vegetables and squid.

Additionally, satay plays a role in creating aroma and beautiful color. You should use shrimp satay or traditional satay to make the dish more fragrant. Garlic and shallots must be firm, aromatic, and not sprouted to avoid bitterness.

Pre-processing squid and various vegetables

Proper pre-processing helps stir-fried squid with vegetables achieve crispness and avoid a fishy smell. This is the part many people do wrong, leading to mushy squid or loss of natural aroma.

First, the squid must be washed with cold water, then use all-purpose flour, tapioca starch, or cornstarch to scrub, helping to remove the slime, making the squid clean while increasing clarity and crispness. Then rinse again with cold water and let it drain.

Next, cut the squid into large pieces and score for shaping if you want it to look attractive. When stir-fried, the score lines bloom evenly, creating an appealing and professional feel.

To increase crispness, you marinate the squid with 2 tablespoons of sugar and leave it in the refrigerator for about 15–20 minutes. This is a tip restaurant chefs often use, helping the squid not to become chewy and maintaining a special crispness. Don’t worry, the sugar won’t make the squid sweet.

As for the vegetables, wash them clean and cut into suitable sizes: not too small to avoid becoming soggy, and not too large so they can cook through.

Detailed steps for processing stir-fried squid with vegetables

To make the stir-fried squid with vegetables taste perfect, you need to follow these steps correctly:

• Step 1: Prepare the stir-fry sauce

The sauce helps the dish blend flavors. The standard formula includes:

• 1.5 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/3 teaspoon MSG
• A pinch of five-spice powder
• 1 tablespoon fried garlic
• 1/3 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2/3 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• Satay to taste
• 4 tablespoons filtered water

Stir well until the sauce is blended and taste it before marinating.

• Step 2: Blanch the vegetables

Boil water, add cauliflower first because it takes longer to cook. Next, add carrots, cucumber, pineapple, and onion. When the vegetables are just cooked through, remove them immediately.

While the vegetables are still hot, marinate them with 3 tablespoons of the sauce to help the vegetables absorb the flavor while still maintaining their natural crispness.

• Step 3: Blanch the squid to maintain crispness

Prepare a bowl of cold water with 1 tablespoon of sugar. Heat a pan of water, add the squid to blanch over high heat for less than 2 minutes. When the squid has just firmed up, remove it and soak immediately in the cold sugar water for 5 minutes.

This method helps the squid be crispy, beautifully white, and not chewy.

Then remove the squid and marinate it with 3 tablespoons of sauce along with the remaining minced garlic and shallots.

• Step 4: Stir-fry the squid and vegetables

Place the squid on a plate, then add the vegetables on top. Sprinkle with fried shallots, celery, onion, spring onions, and shredded chili. Pour the remaining sauce (about 2–3 spoons) over. Use a little filtered water to rinse the sauce bowl and pour it on to help the dish not be dry.

Place on the stove, turn on high heat and stir-fry quickly for 5 minutes. When the squid is just cooked through, turn off the stove immediately to maintain crispness and avoid chewiness.

Tips to help stir-fried squid with vegetables be more delicious and attractive

• Stir-frying on high heat helps the vegetables be crispy and the squid maintain its sweetness.
• Do not stir-fry the squid for too long.
• Do not marinate the vegetables too early to avoid saltiness.
• Add sesame oil last to bring out the characteristic aroma.
• Prioritize fresh tube squid to achieve natural crispness.
• Use the right amount of satay so the dish is both lightly spicy and fragrant.

Popular variations of stir-fried squid with vegetables

Stir-fried squid with celery, garlic, and onion

This is a variation that brings a very familiar flavor to Vietnamese family meals. Crispy and fragrant celery, sweet onion, plus aromatic fried garlic highlight the natural sweetness of the squid. Stir-fried squid with celery, garlic, and onion has the advantage of being easy to process, with simple ingredients, and a harmonious, refreshing taste that does not cause boredom. This dish is especially suitable when eaten with hot white rice.

Stir-fried squid with cucumber and tomato

This variation is for those who like light, cool dishes. Cucumber creates a cool crispness, while tomato brings a light sweet and sour taste that helps the dish be more balanced and not oily. Stir-fried squid with cucumber and tomato is suitable for summer meals or for those who want to eat low-calorie but still nutritious dishes.

Stir-fried squid with satay and bell pepper

If you love a light spicy flavor, this is the perfect choice. Satay blends with the sweetness of the squid to create a rich flavor, while bell peppers not only make the dish more vibrant but also provide abundant vitamin C. This dish is very “rice-consuming” and suitable for chilly days or those who prefer a bolder palate.

Stir-fried squid tentacles with vegetables

Squid tentacles have a more distinct crispness than the body, so they are even more delicious when stir-fried with vegetables. Just blanch them slightly so the tentacles firm up, then stir-fry quickly with vegetables like carrots, green beans, baby corn, or bell peppers; the dish will retain its full sweetness and crispness. This is also an effective way to utilize squid tentacles, avoiding wasted ingredients.

Stir-fried squid with mushrooms and vegetables

Combining squid with mushrooms like shiitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, or enoki mushrooms brings a soft, crispy, and naturally sweet dish. Mushrooms help maintain moisture and create a characteristic umami flavor, making the squid dish even more attractive. This is also an ideal choice for people who like light but nutrient-rich dishes.

See more:

• Guide to making simple and irresistibly delicious mixed stir-fried squid

• How to make delicious and attractively rich stir-fried squid with onion and celery

• How to make fragrant stir-fried squid with celery and garlic without a fishy smell

How to store stir-fried squid with vegetables

If storage is needed, let the dish cool completely then store in an airtight container. Keep in the refrigerator for a maximum of 24 hours to ensure quality.

When reheating:

• Stir-fry quickly on high heat
• Do not cook for a long time
• You can add a little sauce or a few drops of sesame oil so the dish does not become dry

The stir-fried squid with vegetables dish is not only easy to make but also brings a sweet, nutrient-rich flavor, suitable for all family meals. Just master how to choose fresh ingredients, perform standard pre-processing, and apply the quick stir-fry tips on high heat, and you can create a dish that is both beautiful and well-rounded like at a restaurant.

If you want to change the daily menu or find a stir-fry dish that is both delicious and healthy, stir-fried squid with vegetables is definitely an option not to be missed. Follow Ola Squid’s Culinary Corner now to discover more fresh seafood recipes and expert cooking secrets! Besides fresh recipes, if you are looking for high-quality seafood gifts, explore our whole dried squid collection for more premium choices.