Tender & Delicious Stir-Fried Squid (Ready in 8 Minutes!)
Tender & Delicious Stir-Fried Squid (Ready in 8 Minutes!)
How to Make Perfectly Stir-Fried Squid Without Excess Sauce? The Secret is an 8-Minute Cook!
Do you often end up with a pan full of watery sauce after making stir-fried squid? Some people parboil the squid to avoid this, but that can make it tough and less flavorful. Today, I’ll share the secret to making incredibly delicious stir-fried squid without any excess liquid, keeping the squid tender and flavorful. It’s a fantastic main dish that comes together in just 8 minutes!
Main Ingredients- 3 cleaned squid (body and tentacles)
- 400g garlic scapes
- 1 small onion
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Seasoning Ingredients- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 3 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp agave syrup (or corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (like mirin)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
- 3 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp agave syrup (or corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (like mirin)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the squid. Don’t peel off the skin; instead, slice the squid body into rings. This will make the finished dish look more appealing and retain a pleasant chewy texture.
Step 2
Wash the garlic scapes thoroughly. Blanch them in boiling water for just 2 minutes. Be careful not to overcook them, as they can become mushy. Immediately drain and rinse them under cold water.
Step 3
Now, let’s make the delicious sauce! Combine the gochugaru, gochujang, agave syrup, sugar, cooking wine, and minced garlic in a bowl. Mix well. (Tip: Mixing the sauce beforehand helps the flavors meld better!) Heat 1 Tbsp of cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the prepared sauce and stir-fry for about 1 minute. This step mellows the spiciness and brings out a rich umami flavor. (I use a heavy, uncoated pan to retain heat better!)
Step 4
Once the sauce is lightly sautéed, add the sliced onion and stir-fry for another minute over medium heat until it starts to turn translucent.
Step 5
Next, add the blanched garlic scapes and continue stir-frying for another minute, still over medium heat. The vegetables will start to meld together, releasing a wonderful aroma.
Step 6
Don’t worry if the vegetables still seem a bit undercooked. Overcooking the vegetables can release too much water, which can dilute the flavor of the stir-fried squid. It’s key to move to the next step at this point.
Step 7
Now it’s time for the star of the show: the squid! Add all the sliced squid to the pan at once. Turn the heat up to high. While maintaining high heat, use two spatulas to stir and toss the ingredients evenly for about 5 minutes. Cooking for no more than 5 minutes is the secret to tender squid. This quick, high-heat cooking helps to lock in the squid’s delicious juices, keeping it moist and tender.
Step 8
Visually check if the squid is cooked. It will be cooked through by its own heat and the residual heat from the pan, so you don’t need to keep cooking it on the stove. Let the residual heat finish it off gently.
Step 9
Finally, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and drizzle with sesame oil to finish. Your delicious stir-fried squid, ready in just 8 minutes, is complete! Remember, squid gets tough if overcooked, so quick cooking is essential. (*^^*)
