What is Bigfin Reef Squid? What Delicious Dishes Can You Make?

Broad squid is one of the most beloved types of squid thanks to its thick flesh, natural sweetness, and appealing crispiness when cooked. So, what delicious dishes can be made from broad squid? In the article below, let’s explore with Ola Squid how to choose, buy, and prepare delicious recipes using broad squid, making it easy to freshen up your family meals!

What is broad squid? How is it different from arrow squid?

Broad squid has an oval, flattened, and thick body with well-developed, wide fins running almost entirely along the body, giving it a distinctive leaf-like shape. The squid meat is thick, crunchy, and naturally sweet, suitable for various preparation methods such as grilling, steaming, stir-frying, frying, or simmering. This species is mainly distributed in tropical waters, commonly found in the Central and Southern regions of Vietnam.

Compared to arrow squid, broad squid features a flattened body and thicker flesh, whereas arrow squid has an elongated, tubular body and is usually more tender when cooked.

Criteria	Broad squid	Arrow squid
Shape	Oval, flattened, and thick body	Elongated, tubular body
Color	Opaque white or natural bright white	Translucent white, sometimes with a pinkish tint
Weight	Usually has thick flesh, quite diverse in size	Usually has an elongated body, diverse in size
Flesh characteristics	Thick, crunchy, naturally sweet	Tender, mildly crunchy, easily absorbs spices
Suitable dishes	Grilling, steaming, stir-frying, frying, simmering	Steaming, stir-frying, frying, stuffing, hot pot cooking

See more:

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• What is neon flying squid? Why is neon flying squid so cheap?
• What is cuttlefish? How to choose and selling price

How to choose and buy fresh, delicious broad squid

To ensure your broad squid dish retains its crunchiness, natural sweetness, and aroma, you should carefully check its freshness right at the time of purchase. You can recognize fresh squid through the following characteristics:

• Observe the color: Prioritize squid with a glossy body, natural translucent white color, without dullness or abnormal signs.
• Check the eyes: The eyes should be clear, bright, and distinct, not cloudy or covered with a hazy film.
• Check the tentacles: The tentacles should be firmly attached to the head, with all feelers intact and not falling apart.
• Test elasticity: Press gently on the squid’s body with your hand; if the flesh is firm and quickly returns to its original shape, the squid is fresh.
• Smell: Fresh squid has a characteristic seafood scent, without any unusual foul or strong fishy odors.

What delicious dishes can be made from broad squid? Suggestions for 8 appealing recipes

Broad squid has thick, crunchy, and sweet flesh, so it can be transformed into many dishes ranging from simple to rich and savory. If you are wondering what delicious dishes can be made from broad squid, try these 8 suggestions below:

Broad squid grilled with satay

Broad squid grilled with satay appeals with its spicy, fragrant, and rich flavor on the outside, combined with the crunchy and sweet squid meat on the inside. This dish is perfect for gatherings or simply for changing up the taste of your family meals.

Ingredients to prepare: 

Ingredients	Quantity
Broad squid	500 g
Satay sauce	1 tablespoon
Fish sauce	1 tablespoon
Sugar	1 teaspoon
Minced garlic	1 tablespoon
Ground black pepper	1/2 teaspoon
Cooking oil	1 tablespoon
Green chili salt	1 small bowl

Preparation method:

Step 1: Clean the squid, let it drain, and gently score the body so that the seasonings can easily penetrate.

Step 2: Marinate the squid with satay sauce, fish sauce, sugar, minced garlic, and pepper for about 15-20 minutes.

Step 3: Grill the squid over a charcoal stove or in an air fryer until both sides are lightly browned and the flesh firms up.

Step 4 – Finished product: Cut the squid into bite-sized pieces, serve hot with green chili salt or your favorite dipping sauce.

See more: How to make aromatic and spicy restaurant-style satay grilled squid

Broad squid steamed with ginger

Broad squid steamed with ginger is simple to make while retaining the natural sweetness and crunchiness of the squid. Sliced ginger creates a warm aroma and helps reduce the fishy odor of the dish.

Ingredients to prepare: 

Ingredients	Quantity
Broad squid	500 g
Fresh ginger	1 tuber
Carrot	1/2 tuber
Onion	1/2 tuber
Scallions	2 stalks
Celery	50 g
Seasoning powder	1 teaspoon
Salt	1 teaspoon
Ground black pepper	1/2 teaspoon
White wine	1 tablespoon

Preparation method:

Step 1 – Prepping: Clean the squid with white wine or ginger, rinse again, and let it drain. Finely chop ginger, carrot, onion, scallions, and celery; marinate the squid with salt, seasoning powder, and pepper for about 20 minutes.

Step 2 – Steaming the squid: Arrange the vegetables and ginger on a plate, place the squid on top, and steam for about 15 minutes until the squid is just cooked through.

Step 3: Completion: Transfer the squid to a plate, garnish with ginger and chilies, and serve hot with ginger fish sauce.

See more: Top 3 simple ways to make ginger steamed squid that everyone loves

Broad squid steamed in spicy sauce

Broad squid steamed in spicy sauce is a rich dish featuring crunchy, sweet squid combined with a savory and spicy sauce. This dish tastes best when served hot with white rice or fresh greens.

Ingredients to prepare: 

Ingredients	Quantity
Broad squid	500 g
Ginger	1 small tuber
Minced garlic	1 tablespoon
Chili peppers	2 fruits
Chili sauce	2 tablespoons
Fish sauce	1 tablespoon
Sugar	1 tablespoon
Cooking oil	1 tablespoon
Water	3 tablespoons

Preparation method:

Step 1 – Prepping and steaming the squid: Clean the squid, cut into bite-sized pieces, and let drain. Arrange the squid with a few slices of ginger on a plate and steam for about 5-7 minutes until just cooked.

Step 2 – Making the spicy sauce: Sauté garlic and chilies until fragrant, then add chili sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and a little water into the pan.

Step 3 – Coating the squid with sauce: Add the squid and toss quickly for 1-2 minutes so the sauce coats evenly, then turn off the heat.

Step 4 – Finished product: The broad squid is cooked just right, with crunchy, sweet meat coated evenly in a thick, rich, and aromatic spicy sauce. Serve hot with white rice or fresh greens to make the dish even more complete in flavor.

See more: Irresistible recipe for sweet and sour Thai-style steamed squid

Deep-fried battered broad squid

Deep-fried battered broad squid features a crispy golden outer crust while maintaining the natural chewy sweetness of the squid inside. This easy-to-make dish is great served with chili sauce or mayonnaise.

Ingredients to prepare: 

Ingredients	Quantity
Broad squid	500 g
Crispy frying flour	150 g
Water	120-150 ml
Salt	1/2 teaspoon
Seasoning powder	1/2 teaspoon
Ground black pepper	1/4 teaspoon
Cooking oil	500 ml
Chili sauce	2 tablespoons
Mayonnaise	2 tablespoons

Preparation method:

Step 1 – Prepping the squid: Clean the squid, cut into bite-sized pieces, and let them drain thoroughly.

Step 2 – Mixing the batter: Put the crispy frying flour into a bowl, add water according to the package instructions, and stir well until the mixture is smooth and not too thick.

Step 3 – Battering: Dip each piece of squid into the batter mixture, tossing gently to coat all sides evenly.

Step 4 – Frying the squid: Heat cooking oil, add the squid and fry until the batter turns golden brown all over, then remove and let drain.

Step 5 – Finished product: The broad squid is golden and crispy, chewy and sweet inside, served hot with chili sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.

See more: How to make deliciously irresistible crispy fried or breaded squid at home

Broad squid stir-fried with curry

Broad squid stir-fried with curry has a distinctive aroma, rich flavor, and eye-catching color. You can combine it with onions, bell peppers, or celery (depending on personal preference) to help balance the dish’s flavors and make it more appealing.

Ingredients to prepare: 

Ingredients	Quantity
Broad squid	500 g
Curry powder	1 tablespoon
Minced lemongrass	2 tablespoons
Minced garlic	1 tablespoon
Minced chili	1 fruit
Oyster sauce	1 tablespoon
Sugar	1 teaspoon
Ground black pepper	1/2 teaspoon
Cooking oil	2 tablespoons
Onion	1/2 tuber
Bell pepper	1/2 fruit

Preparation method:

Step 1 – Prepping the squid: Clean the squid, remove internal organs and the ink sac, wash with white wine, and cut into bite-sized pieces.

Step 2 – Prepping other ingredients: Finely chop lemongrass, garlic, and chili.

Step 3 – Marinating the squid: Marinate the squid with 1 spoonful of oyster sauce, ½ spoonful of pepper, 1 spoonful of sugar, and 1 spoonful of curry powder for about 15 minutes.

Step 4 – Stir-frying the squid: Sauté lemongrass, garlic, and chili until fragrant, then add the squid and stir-fry over high heat for 2-3 minutes. If using additional vegetables, add them now and readjust the seasoning.

Step 5 – Finished product: The squid is cooked just right, fragrant with the aroma of curry, lemongrass, and chili, featuring deliciously crunchy and sweet meat.

Broad squid simmered in sweet and salty sauce

Broad squid simmered in sweet and salty sauce features crunchy, sweet meat drenched in a thick, rich sauce with a well-balanced salty and sweet flavor. This simple, easy-to-make dish goes exceptionally well with hot rice.

Ingredients to prepare: 

Ingredients	Quantity
Broad squid	500 g
Fish sauce	2 tablespoons
Sugar	1 tablespoon
Caramel sauce	1 teaspoon
Minced garlic	1 tablespoon
Chili	1 fruit
Seasoning powder	1/2 teaspoon
Ground black pepper	1/2 teaspoon
Cooking oil	1 tablespoon
Water	1/2 bowl

Preparation method:

Step 1 – Prepping and marinating the squid: Clean the squid, remove internal organs, wash with ginger or white wine, and cut into bite-sized pieces. Marinate the squid with a little fish sauce, sugar, pepper, and seasoning powder for about 10-15 minutes.

Step 2 – Searing the squid: Sauté garlic until fragrant, add the squid, stir-fry quickly over high heat until just firm, then remove.

Step 4 – Simmering the squid: Add fish sauce, sugar, caramel sauce, and a little water into the pan, bring to a boil, then return the squid. Simmer over low heat until the sauce thickens and coats evenly around the squid.

Step 5 – Finished product: The simmered broad squid has a beautiful brownish-yellow color, crunchy and sweet meat, absorbing a well-balanced salty and sweet flavor

See more: How to make deliciously rich sweet and salty simmered squid at home

Broad squid stir-fried with assorted vegetables

Broad squid stir-fried with assorted vegetables combines the crunchy sweetness of squid with fresh vegetables, creating a dish that is both delicious and visually appealing. Stir-frying quickly over high heat helps the squid retain its crunchiness and keeps the vegetables fresh.

Ingredients to prepare: 

Ingredients	Quantity
Broad squid	500 g
Carrot	1/2 tuber
Onion	1/2 tuber
Bell pepper	1/2 fruit
Celery	50 g
Broccoli	100 g
Minced garlic	1 tablespoon
Oyster sauce	1 tablespoon
Seasoning powder	1 teaspoon
Ground black pepper	1/2 teaspoon
Cooking oil	2 tablespoons

Preparation method:

Step 1 – Prepping: Clean the squid, cut into bite-sized pieces. Wash carrot, onion, bell pepper, celery, and broccoli, and cut into bite-sized pieces.

Step 2 – Stir-frying squid and vegetables: Sauté garlic until fragrant, stir-fry the squid over high heat for 2-3 minutes, then remove. Continue stir-frying the vegetables and season to taste.

Step 3 – Completion: When the squid and vegetables are just cooked through, adjust seasonings to taste, sprinkle with a little ground black pepper, and turn off the heat.

See more: Guide to making simple and delicious mixed stir-fried squid

Broad squid sashimi

Broad squid sashimi allows you to clearly experience the natural sweetness and characteristic crunchiness of the squid. This dish requires using extremely fresh squid that is properly processed and stored to ensure safety when consumed raw.

Ingredients to prepare:

Ingredients	Quantity
Ultra-fresh broad squid, suitable for raw consumption	300-400 g
Soy sauce	3 tablespoons
Wasabi	1 teaspoon
Pickled ginger	30 g
Perilla leaves	5-7 leaves

Preparation method:

Step 1 – Prepping the squid: Clean the squid, remove internal organs, eyes, squid teeth, and the backbone, then wash thoroughly and pat completely dry.

Step 2 – Slicing the squid: Keep the squid cold, use a sharp knife to slice it into thin, even, bite-sized strips.

Step 3 – Completion: Arrange the squid on a plate, serve with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger as desired.

Some notes for properly preparing broad squid

To ensure broad squid retains its crunchiness, sweetness, and does not become tough, you should keep the following in mind:

• Do not cook for too long: Steam, stir-fry, or cook until just done; avoid overcooking the squid, which causes the flesh to shrink, become tough, and lose its natural sweetness.
• Prioritize high or medium heat: When stir-frying, use high heat so the squid cooks quickly, minimizes water release, and retains its crunchiness.
• Cut into bite-sized pieces: Broad squid has thick flesh, so it should be cut into moderate pieces, neither too large nor too small, so that the squid cooks evenly and absorbs flavors better.

Tips for properly prepping broad squid without fishiness

Prepping squid correctly helps keep broad squid clean, reduces fishy odors, and preserves its natural sweet crunchiness. You can follow these steps:

• Separate the head and body: Gently pull the head away from the body, taking care not to rupture the ink sac.
• Clean the inside: Remove the ink sac, eyes, squid teeth, and internal organs, then wash thoroughly.
• Deodorize fishiness: Rub the squid with crushed ginger and a little white wine or diluted vinegar for 5-10 minutes.
• Wash and drain: Rinse the squid again with clean water, then let it drain thoroughly before cooking.
• Score or cut the squid: For the thick body parts, you can score them lightly in a diagonal pattern or cut them into bite-sized pieces so the squid easily absorbs spices and cooks evenly.

Hopefully, through this article, we have helped answer your question at the beginning about what delicious dishes can be made from broad squid, giving you more meal ideas for your family dinners. If you have any further questions or want to explore more recipes using fresh squid and dried squid, don’t forget to visit the website Ola Squid right away!