Spicy Stir-Fried Squid Delight
Mouthwatering Spicy Stir-Fried Squid
A deliciously spicy stir-fried squid dish that will have you breaking a light sweat! Perfect for a warming meal on a chilly winter day, let’s get your body heated up with this flavorful dish!
Main Ingredients- 4 small fresh squids
- 1/4 medium cabbage
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1/3 medium carrot
- 1 king oyster mushroom
- 2-3 spicy red chilies (adjust to your preference)
- 1/2 stalk green onion
- 7 cloves garlic (approx. 1.5 Tbsp minced)
Spicy & Sweet Seasoning Sauce- 2 Tbsp canola oil
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar (white sugar can be used as a substitute)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (maesilcheong)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (mulyeot)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 0.5 tsp toasted sesame seeds
- 2 Tbsp canola oil
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar (white sugar can be used as a substitute)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 2 Tbsp fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp plum extract (maesilcheong)
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 0.5 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (mulyeot)
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 0.5 tsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Thoroughly wash the fresh squid. Trim off and discard the two long tentacles. Cut the squid body into bite-sized pieces, about 2-3 cm wide.
Step 2
Score the squid body with diagonal cuts in a criss-cross pattern. This technique prevents the squid from curling up excessively when cooked and allows the sauce to penetrate better, making it more flavorful.
Step 3
Prepare all the vegetables by chopping them into bite-sized pieces, similar in size to the squid. This includes cabbage, onion, carrot, king oyster mushroom, spicy chilies, and green onion. Adding a variety of vegetables enhances the texture and overall flavor profile.
Step 4
Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons of canola oil. Add the prepared squid and stir-fry it first. Cook until the squid just begins to turn opaque.
Step 5
In the middle of stir-frying the squid, add the minced garlic and continue to cook together until the garlic is fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 6
Once the squid is partially cooked, add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Brown sugar provides a subtle sweetness and a nice sheen to the dish. Regular white sugar is also acceptable.
Step 7
After adding the sugar, sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) and stir quickly to combine. Coating the chili flakes in the oil helps to deepen their color and flavor.
Step 8
Now, add 2 tablespoons of fish sauce for seasoning. Fish sauce adds a deeper, umami flavor compared to regular soy sauce. Stir well to coat the squid and the seasoning.
Step 9
Add all the chopped vegetables to the pan and stir-fry them with the squid and sauce. Continue to cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until the onions and cabbage release their moisture and become slightly tender. This process helps to bring out the natural sweetness of the vegetables.
Step 10
Add 1 tablespoon of plum extract (maesilcheong) and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to further enhance the flavor. Taste the dish at this point and adjust with more soy sauce or fish sauce if needed.
Step 11
Stir in 0.5 tablespoon of gochujang (Korean chili paste) and cook for another minute until the sauce is well combined. Gochujang adds a richer, spicier dimension to the dish.
Step 12
Finally, sprinkle in 0.5 teaspoon of black pepper and immediately turn off the heat. Pepper helps to eliminate any potential fishy smell from the squid and adds a pleasant aroma.
Step 13
After turning off the heat, let the dish cool slightly for a moment, then stir in 1 tablespoon of corn syrup (mulyeot). Corn syrup adds a glossy finish and balances the overall flavors.
Step 14
In the very last step, add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and 0.5 teaspoon of toasted sesame seeds. Give it a final gentle toss. The aromatic fragrance of sesame oil and seeds will make the dish even more appealing.
Step 15
Your delicious and perfectly spicy stir-fried squid is now ready, guaranteed to make you break a light sweat! It’s incredibly satisfying served over a bowl of hot white rice, perfect for relieving stress. To balance the heat, enjoy it with a refreshing cabbage salad!
