Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Squid (Baek Jong-won Style)
Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Squid (Baek Jong-won Style)
Deliciously Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Squid, Baek Jong-won’s Recipe
Enjoy a delicious spicy and sweet stir-fried squid at home with this recipe from Baek Jong-won. This dish is simple yet boasts a deep flavor, making it perfect as a side dish for rice or as a satisfying appetizer with drinks.
Main Ingredients- 1 squid (mainly body, with tentacles)
- 20 small shrimp (instead of baby octopus) (optional)
- 1/2 onion
- 1 stalk green onion
- 1 chili pepper (like Korean Cheongyang pepper for spice)
- 1 red bell pepper (for color)
- 1/4 carrot
- 3 Tbsp cooking oil (generous amount)
Seasoning Sauce- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, adjust for spice)
- 5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 cup water (approx. 100ml)
- 1.5 Tbsp sugar (adjust for sweetness, added during cooking)
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, adjust for spice)
- 5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 cup water (approx. 100ml)
- 1.5 Tbsp sugar (adjust for sweetness, added during cooking)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s make the essential seasoning sauce for the stir-fried squid. In a large bowl, combine 1 Tbsp gochujang, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 5 Tbsp soy sauce, 3 Tbsp gochugaru, and 1/2 cup water (approx. 100ml). Mix well until smooth and no lumps remain. This sauce will enhance the flavor of the squid and vegetables.
Step 2
Now, let’s prepare the vegetables. Thinly slice the onion. Cut the green onion stalk into diagonal pieces or chop it finely. Finely chop the Cheongyang chili pepper for spiciness and the red bell pepper for color. Julienne the carrot for a nice texture when cooked. Tip! For a more substantial dish, you can add about 3 large leaves of cabbage, thinly sliced, or soaked glass noodles or rice cakes.
Step 3
Prepare the main ingredient, the squid, by cutting it into bite-sized pieces. You can score the squid body in a criss-cross pattern or cut it into rings; this helps the sauce penetrate better. I’m using 1 squid and 20 small shrimp (as a substitute for baby octopus). If you’re only using squid, about 2-3 pieces would be a good amount.
Step 4
Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add 3 Tbsp of cooking oil. Add the sliced green onions to create infused green onion oil. Sauté slowly over medium-low heat until the fragrant aroma of the green onions fully permeates the oil. This is a key step for building flavor.
Step 5
Once the green onions become slightly golden brown and release a delicious aroma, adjust the heat slightly and continue to cook. Sauté until the green onions are evenly light brown. This will deepen the flavor of the stir-fried squid.
Step 6
Now, add the prepared squid to the pan and stir-fry. The squid will start to turn red as it cooks. Be careful not to overcook it, as it can become tough. Cook just until it’s almost done.
Step 7
Once the squid is partially cooked, add 1.5 Tbsp of sugar and stir-fry together. Sugar, unlike syrups or honey, has a larger molecular structure, so adding it first allows it to caramelize and develop a deeper, richer sweetness. This is why it’s added during cooking rather than in the sauce. Stir the sugar in with the squid until well combined.
Step 8
Next, pour all the prepared seasoning sauce into the pan. Stir constantly to prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Mix the sauce well with the squid.
Step 9
Increase the heat to high and stir-fry quickly, ensuring the squid and sauce are thoroughly combined. It’s important to keep stirring to prevent the sauce from burning. Continue to cook until the sauce clings to the squid.
Step 10
Now, add the prepared carrots, onion, red bell pepper, and chili pepper to the pan. Stir-fry quickly over high heat. The key is to cook the vegetables so they remain slightly crisp, not mushy. Stir everything together quickly until the sauce is evenly distributed.
Step 11
Finally, just before turning off the heat, drizzle in a swirl of sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds to finish. The nutty aroma of the sesame oil will further enhance the deliciousness of the stir-fried squid.
Step 12
And there you have it – a perfectly spicy and sweet stir-fried squid, Baek Jong-won’s style! It’s perfect served over hot rice or enjoyed with a cold beer. Enjoy your meal!
