Buzz
1. Ingredients
- Fresh squid (whole or sun-dried): 1 large
- Garlic: 5 cloves
- Dried shallots: 4 - 5 bulbs
- Ginger: 1 small knob
- Fresh red chili peppers: 2
- Seasonings: Black pepper, sugar, chili sauce/chili powder, cooking oil
- Pink salt or Tây Ninh shrimp salt
2. Necessary Tools
Air fryer, grinder
3. Step-by-step Guide to Making Spicy Salted Squid
- Step 1: Clean the Squid
For fresh squid, use a knife along the body to remove the squid pouch, internal organs, and the squid pen (the internal bone). Then, peel off the squid skin, cut off the eyes and squid beak. Rinse the squid thoroughly to remove all the slime inside. Eliminate any fishy odor by washing the squid with a bit of white wine and rinsing it again with water.
For sun-dried squid, wash it with a bit of white wine and rinse with water to eliminate any odor.
After cleaning, cut the squid body into square pieces for even spice marination.
- Step 2: Grind Garlic, Dried Shallots, Ginger, and Chili
Peel the garlic and dried shallots, thinly slice the fresh ginger and rinse the fresh chili. Then, grind garlic, shallots, ginger, chili, and peppercorns in a mortar until smooth.
- Step 3: Prepare the Spicy Marinade
Mix finely ground garlic, ginger, and chili in a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, 1 tablespoon of pink salt (or substitute with shrimp salt), 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of chili sauce or chili powder for color. Stir well before marinating the squid.
- Step 4: Marinate the Squid
Rub the spice mixture evenly on both sides of the squid. Allow it to marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour for the flavors to penetrate evenly.
- Step 5: Grill the Squid
After marinating for the required time, place the squid in the air fryer. Set the cooking mode to 180 degrees and grill for 15 minutes in the first round. After the first round, open the fryer, flip the squid, and grill for an additional 5 minutes at 200 degrees for perfectly delicious and moist squid.
4. Final Product
This air-fried spicy salted squid is quickly prepared using a non-oil fryer, ensuring even cooking without excessive charring. The squid turns out uniformly tender, crispy, and not overly dry. The mildly spicy and salty flavor, complemented by the aroma, pairs exceptionally well with a dipping sauce of sweet and sour fish sauce, making it irresistibly delicious.
Above is the recipe for making delicious air-fried spicy salted squid. Wishing you a successful cooking experience!
