Tiếng Việt
ไทยWhat to cook with cuttlefish is a familiar question for many homemakers whenever they hold a bag of fresh cuttlefish in their hands without knowing how to prepare it. Cuttlefish has thick, naturally sweet flesh, suitable for various cooking methods from steaming, stir-frying, and grilling to deep-frying. In the article below, Ola Squid synthesizes how to choose cuttlefish, properly prepare it, and 6 easy-to-make dishes right in your kitchen, helping to enrich family meals without spending too much time.
What is cuttlefish?
Cuttlefish, also known as broad squid, is a type of squid with a hard internal shell running along the body, completely different from other squid species that only have a thin cartilage layer inside. The body of cuttlefish is usually oval and thicker, with firm flesh, providing a rich sweetness and a characteristic crunchy texture when cooked. This is why this type of squid is favored by many families for both daily meals and guest-welcoming feasts.
Compared to squid and bigfin reef squid, cuttlefish has distinct differences in shape and suitable preparation methods. The table below provides a quick summary for easy differentiation when going to the market or shopping online:
| Criteria | Cuttlefish | Squid | Bigfin reef squid |
| Shape | Oval body, flat, with a hard shell | Long, slender body, hollow tube | Flat body, wide fin margins like a leaf |
| Flesh thickness | Thick, firm | Thinner, tender | Moderately thick, tender and sweet |
| Suitable preparation | Steaming, stir-frying, grilling, deep-frying, making cakes | Frying, quick stir-frying over high heat | Steaming, grilling, making salad |
Regarding nutritional value, cuttlefish is a source of high-quality protein, low in fat, suitable for those who prefer bland diets or weight management. According to data from Long Chau Pharmacy, in 85g of cuttlefish, there are:
- Protein: 27.6g (55% daily value)
- Selenium: 76.2mcg (138% daily value)
- Vitamin B12: 4.6mcg (191% daily value)
- Vitamin B2: 1.5mg (113% daily value)
- Iron: 9.2mg (51% daily value)
- Phosphorus: 493mg (39% daily value)
- Zinc: 2.9mg (27% daily value)
- Fat: 1.2g (2% daily value)
Thanks to this balanced nutritional profile, cuttlefish frequently appears in the menus of families with both young children and the elderly.
How to choose and prepare fresh cuttlefish
The quality of the dish depends heavily on ingredient selection and initial preparation. Fresh cuttlefish when cooked will retain its natural sweetness, with a moderate crunch and chewiness without becoming mushy or fishy. Conversely, if you choose stale cuttlefish or prepare it incorrectly, no matter how skillfully seasoned, the dish will hardly achieve its full flavor.
Tips for choosing fresh cuttlefish
When going to the market or supermarket, you can recognize fresh cuttlefish through several direct visual and tactile characteristics. Below are some recognizable features:
- Shiny skin, naturally dark brown or light pink, not slimy
- Clear eyes, not cloudy or abnormally protruding
- Good body elasticity, feels firm when pressed, leaving no indentation
- Natural ivory-white flesh, characteristic mild seafood fishy smell, no pungent or spoiled odor
With small cuttlefish, you should choose evenly sized ones so that the dishes cook through at the same time, avoiding mixed large and small sizes that make it difficult to gauge cooking time.
How to properly clean and prepare cuttlefish
Proper preparation largely determines the deliciousness and chewiness of the cuttlefish after cooking. Basically, the cuttlefish cleaning process includes the following steps:
- Pull out the hard shell inside the body, use your hands to peel off the thin outer membrane covering the skin
- Remove internal organs, ink sac, and eyes, being careful not to break the ink sac to prevent the flesh from turning black
- Wash multiple times with clean water, drain before marinating
To remove the fishy odor, many home chefs often use a mixture of salt, crushed ginger, and a little white wine, rub it evenly over the cuttlefish for a few minutes, and then rinse it off. This method helps the cuttlefish flesh smell better without losing its natural sweetness.
Additionally, for stir-fried or grilled dishes, you should score a diamond pattern on the cuttlefish body before processing. The scores help the cuttlefish absorb seasonings quickly and evenly, and when exposed to high heat, the flesh will curl up nicely instead of shrinking into hard toughness.
See more: Revealing how to clean squid, odor-free and super fast
How to thaw cuttlefish when using frozen goods
With frozen cuttlefish, improper thawing will make the cuttlefish tough, release a lot of water, and lose its natural sweetness. The safest way is to move the cuttlefish from the freezer to the refrigerator’s chill compartment for 8-12 hours to thaw it gradually.
If needed urgently, you can submerge the cuttlefish package in its airtight packaging in a bowl of cold water, changing the water every 20-30 minutes until the cuttlefish softens completely. Absolutely avoid the following methods:
- Thawing with hot water or soaking in warm water will cause the surface of the cuttlefish to partially cook while the inside is still frozen
- Using a microwave on quick defrost mode makes the cuttlefish flesh dry and tough, losing its elasticity
- Leaving the cuttlefish to thaw naturally at room temperature for too long will easily breed bacteria, affecting freshness and food safety
After thawing, you should cook the cuttlefish within the day and not refreeze it, as it will make the flesh mushy and lose its sweetness.
What to cook with cuttlefish?
This is the core section that most homemakers care about when searching for delicious cuttlefish dishes for family meals. Cuttlefish can be transformed into many different dishes, suitable for both everyday meals and weekend drinking parties. Below are 6 suggestions loved by many Vietnamese families, with uncomplicated preparation methods that still ensure standard flavors.
Steamed cuttlefish with ginger
Steamed cuttlefish with ginger helps retain the natural sweetness of the cuttlefish, suitable for those who prefer bland diets or are on a diet. The preparation is simple, taking only about 15 minutes from preparation to the finished product.
| Ingredients | Quantity |
| Cuttlefish | 500g |
| Fresh ginger | 1 tuber |
| Lemongrass | 2 stalks |
| White wine | 1 tbsp |
| Fish sauce, salt | Adequate amount |
After preparation, the cuttlefish is placed on a plate with julienned ginger and crushed lemongrass, double-boiled for about 8-10 minutes until the flesh turns opaque white, meaning it is just cooked. Dipping it in ginger chili fish sauce will enhance the flavor even more.
Stir-fried cuttlefish with lemongrass and chili
Stir-fried cuttlefish with lemongrass and chili is a familiar dish in daily meals, with a quick preparation and easily accessible ingredients. The spicy flavor of lemongrass and chili combined with the crunchiness of the cuttlefish creates a dish that stimulates the taste buds.
| Ingredients | Quantity |
| Cuttlefish | 400g |
| Minced lemongrass | 2 tbsp |
| Fresh chili | 2-3 chilis |
| Onion | 1/2 tuber |
| Fish sauce, sugar, cooking oil | Adequate amount |
Sauté lemongrass and chili with hot oil until fragrant, add the cuttlefish and stir-fry over high heat for 2-3 minutes, add seasonings at the end, and turn off the heat immediately to avoid making the cuttlefish tough.
Grilled cuttlefish with satay
Grilled cuttlefish with satay is suitable for outdoor parties or weekend get-togethers. The spicy and aromatic flavor of satay penetrates each fiber of the cuttlefish meat, creating a rich and attractive taste.
| Ingredients | Quantity |
| Cuttlefish | 500g |
| Satay | 2 tbsp |
| Minced garlic | 1 tbsp |
| Honey | 1 tsp |
| Cooking oil | 1 tbsp |
Marinate the cuttlefish with the seasoning mixture for 20-30 minutes, grill over charcoal or in an oven at high temperature for 5-7 minutes per side, brushing with more oil to keep the cuttlefish from drying out.
Deep-fried crispy cuttlefish
The deep-fried crispy cuttlefish dish is loved by both children and adults thanks to the crispy outer crust enveloping the sweet cuttlefish flesh inside. This is also a suitable suggestion when quick preparation is needed for family meals.
| Ingredients | Quantity |
| Cuttlefish | 400g |
| Crispy frying flour | 100g |
| Chicken egg | 1 egg |
| Tapioca starch | 2 tbsp |
| Frying oil | Adequate amount |
Cut the cuttlefish into bite-sized rings, dip them in egg and then roll them in flour, deep-fry in hot oil over medium heat until golden brown on both sides.
Cuttlefish cakes
Cuttlefish cakes are a more elaborate dish but highly rated for flavor, often appearing during Tet holidays or weekend family feasts. Hand-pounded cuttlefish meat retains its characteristic chewiness and crunch, completely different from industrially machine-minced squid.
| Ingredients | Quantity |
| Cuttlefish | 500g |
| Minced pork | 100g |
| Shallots, pepper | Adequate amount |
| Fish sauce, sugar | Adequate amount |
The cuttlefish and pork are pounded or minced together, mixed with seasonings, and then shaped into flat patties, fried until golden on both sides to immediately have fragrant cuttlefish cakes.
Cuttlefish salad
Cuttlefish salad is an ideal choice for days when you want a light, refreshing meal. The sweet and sour taste of the salad dressing blends with the crunchiness of the cuttlefish and fresh vegetables, bringing a delicious and non-greasy sensation.
| Ingredients | Quantity |
| Cuttlefish | 300g |
| Green mango or cucumber | 1 fruit |
| Carrot | 1/2 tuber |
| Vietnamese coriander, roasted peanuts | Adequate amount |
| Fish sauce, lime, sugar, garlic chili | Adequate amount |
Boil the cuttlefish until just cooked, slice into bite-sized pieces, mix with shredded vegetables and sweet-sour fish sauce, sprinkle with roasted peanuts to complete the dish.
Secrets to prevent cuttlefish from becoming tough when cooking
The biggest concern when cooking cuttlefish is the flesh becoming tough and shrinking after cooking. The main reason stems from overcooking or inadequate preparation. To overcome this, you can apply some principles during the cooking process:
- Heat the pan or grill before adding the cuttlefish, avoiding gradual temperature increases that cause the cuttlefish to release water and become tougher
- Do not stir-fry too much cuttlefish at once in a pan, as the large amount of released water will cause the cuttlefish to boil instead of stir-fry
- Add seasonings at the end of the cooking process, limiting salt marination for too long before high-temperature processing
- Thaw cuttlefish properly in the refrigerator’s chill compartment, avoiding rapid thawing with hot water or a microwave
- Prepare carefully, peeling off the thin outer membrane before cooking so that the cuttlefish cooks evenly and becomes more tender
Just by paying attention to these small points, the cuttlefish dish, regardless of how it is prepared, will retain its natural crisp sweetness and will not shrink into hard, unappealing toughness.
Frequently asked questions about cuttlefish
Can cuttlefish roe be eaten?
Cuttlefish roe is completely edible and rated by many as the best part of the cuttlefish thanks to its characteristic fatty and nutty flavor. Roe is usually kept when steaming or stir-frying with the cuttlefish body, requiring no complicated separate preparation.
How long can cuttlefish be stored?
Fresh cuttlefish should be cooked within the day to retain its full flavor. If storage is needed, thoroughly cleaned cuttlefish can be kept in the freezer for about 1-2 months, packed tightly to prevent odor absorption and dehydration.
Which is better, cuttlefish or squid?
There is no absolute answer because each type suits different dishes. Cuttlefish has thick flesh, suitable for steaming, stir-frying, grilling, and making cakes; squid is thinner and more tender, ideal for frying or quick stir-frying over high heat. Depending on personal preference and the intended dish to cook, choose the appropriate type.
What to cook with cuttlefish is no longer a difficult question once you grasp the selection, preparation, and 6 recipes above. From light steamed dishes, flavorful stir-fries, to appealing grilled and deep-fried dishes, each cooking method brings a unique sensory experience for family meals. If you are looking for a source of fresh, high-quality, and stable cuttlefish to cook with peace of mind, Ola Squid is a reliable address with careful selection and preparation processes right from the input stage. Visit olasquid.com to refer to more squid products and cooking recipes updated regularly.
