Spicy and Sweet Stir-fried Squid with Smoky Flavor
A Mildly Spicy Stir-fried Squid Recipe Everyone Will Love! Achieve a Smoky Flavor with This Golden Ratio Sauce
This stir-fried squid dish features tender squid and crisp vegetables coated in a perfectly balanced sweet and savory sauce, infused with a delightful smoky aroma. It’s a hearty main dish that’s perfect for dinner, guaranteed to make you crave two bowls of rice! To prevent the stir-fried squid from becoming too watery, it’s crucial not to overcook the squid. The key tip is to prepare the sauce in advance and then quickly stir-fry the squid. We’ve created a mild spicy flavor using a soy sauce base with a small amount of gochujang (Korean chili paste) and gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), making it suitable for children, including elementary schoolers. This is the golden recipe for stir-fried squid that both adults and children can enjoy together! If you prefer a spicier kick, feel free to adjust the ratio of gochugaru and gochujang to your liking.
Main Ingredients
- 2 pieces of cleaned squid
- 1 onion
- 1 stalk of green onion
- 3 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
Sauce
- 1/2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- Pinch of black pepper
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp corn syrup (or oligodang)
- 1/2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- Pinch of black pepper
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp corn syrup (or oligodang)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Thoroughly wash the 2 pieces of cleaned squid under running water. Separate the body from the tentacles. Thinly slice the onion and cut the green onion into large pieces. Score the squid bodies with a knife. Be gentle when scoring, as cutting too deep might cause the squid to fall apart.
Step 2
Cut the scored squid bodies in half, then slice them into bite-sized pieces.
Step 3
In a small bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients: 0.5 Tbsp gochujang, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp gochugaru, a pinch of black pepper, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp sugar, and 2 Tbsp corn syrup. Mix well to create the sauce.
Step 4
Heat a pan over medium heat and add 3 Tbsp of cooking oil. Add the large-cut green onions and stir-fry until they turn golden brown and release their aroma. Then, proceed to the next step.
Step 5
Add the prepared squid to the pan and stir-fry.
Step 6
Continue stir-frying until the squid is coated in the green onion-infused oil and turns mostly white. Once the squid is partially cooked, add all the prepared sauce. Toss in the sliced onions at this stage as well.
Step 7
Increase the heat to medium-high and stir-fry quickly to ensure the sauce is evenly distributed among the squid and vegetables. Cook until the onions are crisp-tender. Finally, sprinkle with sesame seeds to complete the delicious stir-fried squid.
Step 8
Taste the finished stir-fried squid. If it’s not salty enough, add about 1 Tbsp more soy sauce to adjust the seasoning to your preference. Enjoy your meal!
