Spicy and Sweet Stir-Fried Squid: The Ultimate Korean Comfort Food
Revitalize Your Appetite with This Flavorful and Chewy Stir-Fried Squid
Once considered a simple dish for when there was nothing else to cook, squid has now become a rather precious ingredient! Yet, Stir-Fried Squid remains a beloved classic. It’s delicious wrapped in fresh kimchi, perfect served over rice as a flavorful bowl, or even tossed with chewy udon noodles. This incredibly versatile dish is a winner no matter how you serve it. Let’s make this irresistible Squid Stir-Fry today!
Main Ingredients
- 1 whole squid, cleaned
- 1/2 onion
- 1/6 carrot
- 1/2 green onion (scallion)
- 1 Korean chili pepper (optional, adjust to your spice preference)
Spicy & Sweet Sauce
- 1.5-2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1.5 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (or oligodang)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (or 2 Tbsp corn syrup if plum extract is unavailable)
- 1.5-2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 3 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1.5 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (or oligodang)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (or 2 Tbsp corn syrup if plum extract is unavailable)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the vegetables that will add flavor to your squid stir-fry. Thickly slice the onion, cut the carrot into attractive half-moon shapes, and cut the green onion into roughly 5cm pieces, then halve them lengthwise. If you prefer it spicier, thinly slice the Korean chili pepper on an angle. (You can omit the chili pepper if you don’t like spicy food.)
Step 2
Julienne the onion thickly. Slice the carrot into thin half-moon shapes. Cut the green onion into 5cm lengths and then halve them lengthwise. If desired, thinly slice one Korean chili pepper diagonally for added heat. (Feel free to omit the chili pepper if you prefer less spice.)
Step 3
The key to a delicious stir-fried squid is the sauce! In a bowl, combine 2 Tbsp gochujang, 1 Tbsp gochugaru, 1.5-2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1.5 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp corn syrup, 1 Tbsp plum extract (or 2 Tbsp corn syrup), 1 Tbsp minced garlic, and 3 Tbsp cooking wine. Whisk everything together until well combined to create your flavorful sauce.
Step 4
Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add the prepared vegetables and the cleaned squid together and stir-fry. Once the vegetables start to wilt and the squid turns opaque, reduce the heat to medium. When the squid is almost cooked through, add all the prepared sauce. Reduce the heat to low and stir-fry gently until the sauce coats everything evenly. If you prefer a saucier dish, you can add 3 Tbsp of water to the sauce before adding it to the pan. Finish by sprinkling with toasted sesame seeds for a beautifully presented and delicious Spicy Squid Stir-Fry!
