Spicy & Sweet Stir-Fried Squid: Chef Baek’s Golden Recipe
Spicy & Sweet Stir-Fried Squid: Chef Baek’s Golden Recipe
Master the Nation’s Favorite: Baek Jong-won’s Stir-Fried Squid!
Squid is a beloved seafood in Korea! Traditionally affordable and delicious, it has always been a favorite. While prices have risen, the love for squid dishes remains strong, especially for stir-fries. Today, we’re bringing you a perfected version of the classic stir-fried squid, inspired by the renowned Chef Baek Jong-won’s recipe. This dish offers a delightful balance of spicy and sweet flavors, featuring tender squid and crisp vegetables that will have you reaching for more. It’s a simple yet incredibly satisfying recipe, perfect as a side dish with rice or as a delightful accompaniment to your favorite drinks. Let’s dive into Chef Baek’s irresistible stir-fried squid!
Main Ingredients- 2 squids (frozen or fresh), cleaned
- 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 carrot, thinly sliced
- 100g cabbage, roughly chopped
- 2 Korean green chilies (cheongyang peppers), diagonally sliced
- 1 green onion, cut into long pieces
Chef Baek’s Special Sauce- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1.5 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- A pinch of black pepper
- A little sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1.5 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 3 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- A pinch of black pepper
- A little sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the vegetables to be stir-fried with the squid. Chef Baek’s recipe typically includes cabbage, onion, carrot, chilies, and green onions, but feel free to use any vegetables you have on hand to create your own delicious version! If using frozen squid, make sure to thaw it and pat it dry.
Step 2
Score the cleaned squid with diagonal cuts and then cut it into bite-sized pieces. Scoring helps the sauce to penetrate better and adds a pleasing texture.
Step 3
Slice the prepared vegetables. Cut the green onion into long pieces, and thinly slice the onion and carrot. Roughly chop the cabbage and diagonally slice the Korean green chilies for a bit of heat. Arranging them in the order you’ll use them (e.g., green onion, onion, carrot, cabbage, chilies) can make the stir-frying process smoother.
Step 4
Chef Baek’s tip! While it’s best to add sauces directly during cooking, for convenience, we’ll mix the base sauce ingredients now: combine gochujang, soy sauce, and minced garlic. We’ll add the sugar and gochugaru later. This allows the base flavors to meld beautifully.
Step 5
Let’s start stir-frying! Heat the cooking oil in a wok or large pan. Now, for Chef Baek’s signature move: infuse the oil with green onion. Add the sliced green onions and sauté over medium-low heat until fragrant and lightly golden, releasing their aromatic oils into the cooking oil.
Step 6
Once the green onions are fragrant and slightly golden, add the prepared squid. Increase the heat to high and stir-fry quickly. Cooking squid over high heat for a short time prevents it from becoming tough and keeps it wonderfully chewy.
Step 7
As the squid begins to cook, add the sugar first! This is a key technique from Chef Baek. Adding sugar early allows it to caramelize slightly, infusing the squid with sweetness without becoming sticky. When sautéed with the green onion oil, it creates a subtle ‘wok hei’ or smoky flavor reminiscent of burnt sugar.
Step 8
With the sugar incorporated, add the prepared vegetables. Continue to stir-fry over high heat. The goal is to cook the vegetables just enough to retain their crispness – about 1 to 2 minutes is ideal.
Step 9
When the vegetables are slightly tender-crisp, add the mixed sauce (gochujang, soy sauce, minced garlic), gochugaru, and black pepper. Stir-fry vigorously to coat everything evenly. Chef Baek’s original recipe includes 50ml of water, but we’ve omitted it here for a richer, less watery sauce. The natural moisture from the ingredients should be sufficient. If you prefer a saucier consistency, feel free to add a little water.
Step 10
Finally, add the diagonally sliced Korean green chilies for a spicy kick and a drizzle of sesame oil for nutty aroma. Give it a final quick toss to combine everything. Your delicious stir-fried squid is ready!
Step 11
This stir-fried squid recipe, following Chef Baek Jong-won’s method, guarantees a delicious outcome! It’s perfect as a flavorful side dish with rice or as an impressive appetizer. Enjoy making and savoring this fantastic dish!
