Spicy and Sweet ‘Rice Thief’ Stir-Fried Squid Recipe
Chef Eonam’s Signature Stir-Fried Squid – A Must-Try Recipe!
Feeling uninspired for dinner? Let’s whip up the ‘rice thief’ stir-fried squid, a dish so deliciously spicy and sweet that it’ll have you finishing a whole bowl of rice! This recipe comes from Chef Eonam, who spent 1.5 years perfecting it. It’s a recipe you can trust for guaranteed deliciousness. With such dedication put into its development, how could you not try it? Get ready to make a fantastic meal!
Main Ingredients
- 1 Squid (cleaned)
- 1 stalk Green Onion
- 1/2 Onion
- 20g Carrot (optional)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
Spicy & Sweet Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 4 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 3 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 4 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 3 Tbsp Sugar
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, rinse the fresh squid thoroughly under running water. Inside the squid’s body, remove the transparent quill (spine) and the hard, nail-like suckers from the tentacles. For the best texture and flavor, it’s recommended to leave the skin on. Score the inside of the squid body in a diamond pattern with your knife, then slice it into bite-sized pieces, about medium thickness. This scoring helps the sauce penetrate better and ensures a tender bite after cooking.
Step 2
Next, prepare the vegetables. Slice the green onion diagonally, about 0.5cm thick. Slice the onion into strips of similar thickness. While not strictly in the original recipe, if you have leftover carrots, you can use about 20g, sliced into half-moons or thin strips. Shiitake mushrooms would also be a great addition if you have them; slice them thinly. Once your vegetables are prepped, the main preparation is complete!
Step 3
Now, let’s start stir-frying. Heat a wok or large pan over high heat. Add a generous amount of cooking oil, about 4 swirls. Stir-fried dishes often benefit from a good amount of oil. For an extra layer of aroma, add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Ensure the oil is properly heated before adding ingredients.
Step 4
Add the sliced green onions to the hot pan. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the green onions until they release their fragrant oil (this is called ‘pa-기름’ or green onion oil). Cooking the green onions until fragrant is key to building a flavorful base for the dish.
Step 5
Once the green onion oil is fragrant, add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and stir-fry briefly. Be careful not to burn the garlic. When the garlic starts to become fragrant and slightly golden, reduce the heat to low. (The TV show used sliced garlic, but minced garlic works just as well!) Now, add 3 tablespoons of gochugaru (chili flakes) and stir-fry over low heat for 2-3 minutes to create chili oil. Stir gently to prevent burning. After making the chili oil, add 3 tablespoons of sugar and continue to cook for another 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly. Cooking the sugar deepens its sweetness and enhances the sauce’s flavor.
Step 6
Once the chili oil base is fragrant and shimmering, it’s time to add the sauce ingredients sequentially and let them meld.
Step 7
Pour 4 tablespoons of soy sauce around the edges of the pan. Increase the heat back to high and let the soy sauce bubble and caramelize slightly. This step is said to deepen the flavor and impart a smoky ‘wok hei’ aroma. While the soy sauce is bubbling, add 1 tablespoon of gochujang (chili paste). Add the prepared onion and carrot (if using) and mix everything well with the sauce. Stir-fry until the sauce coats the ingredients evenly, being careful not to let it burn.
Step 8
Add the prepared squid, along with any optional vegetables like shiitake mushrooms, to the pan. Stir-fry over high heat just until the squid is coated in the sauce and begins to curl and change color. Avoid overcooking, as this can make the squid tough. Quick cooking over high heat is essential to maintain a tender texture and crisp vegetables.
Step 9
Finally, sprinkle some sesame seeds over the stir-fried squid. Your delicious, spicy, and sweet ‘rice thief’ stir-fried squid is now complete! Serve it over hot rice for a perfect meal, or enjoy it with fresh lettuce wraps. We hope you enjoy this fantastic recipe from Chef Eonam!
