Thai Chili Squid Recipe

Bowl of squid with stir fried veggies in a broth

panida wijitpanya / Getty Images

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 6 mins
Total: 26 mins
Servings: 2 to 4 servings

This Thai chili squid recipe is super yummy, and easy to make. And if you serve it with glass or rice noodles (as in this recipe), it makes a one-pot meal complete with plenty of vegetables. The squid is stir-fried briefly, so it is very tender and never rubbery. You can also simply serve the stir-fried squid with plain rice. Makes a terrific seafood dish for any occasion, even in the winter (frozen squid works just as well as fresh). Includes gluten-free instructions.

Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 squid tubes, frozen or fresh, the kind you would use for calamari

For the Stir-Fry Sauce:

  • 1 heaping tablespoon ground bean sauce, or ground soybeans

  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar

  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce, or wheat-free tamari

  • 1 to 2 teaspoons chili sauce, or 1 to 2 fresh red or green chiles, minced, or 1 to 2 teaspoons dried chile flakes

For the Vegetables:

  • 1 carrot, sliced

  • 1/2 to 1 cup green beans, cut into 2-inch lengths

  • 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

  • 3 cloves garlic

  • 1 (thumb-sized piece) galangal, or ginger, sliced into matchstick-like pieces

  • 2 tablespoons oil, for for stir-frying

  • 1 handful fresh coriander leaves, optional

  • 1 handful shiitake mushrooms, chopped, optional

  • 1 small eggplant, chopped

For the Noodles:

  • 1/2 (9-ounce) package glass noodles, or rice noodles

  • 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock

  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, or for gluten-free diets, 2 tablespoons wheat-free soy sauce

  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Steps to Make It

  1. Place noodles in a bowl or pot, and cover them with warm water. Allow them to soften while you prepare the squid.

  2. If squid is frozen, quickly thaw by dunking squid in a bowl of warm water.

  3. Place squid on a cutting board. Slide your knife along one side of the squid to open each tube. Lay the pieces of squid flat.

  4. Optional: score the squid with diagonal slices. Score first one way, then the other to create diamond-shaped cuts. Tip: When scoring, try to cut through half the thickness (If your scores are too superficial, they won't be apparent when cooked.) These cuts will "open up" while cooking and give the squid extra visual interest and texture.

  5. Slice the [scored or unscored] squid into smaller, bite-sized pieces (e.g., triangular and rectangular pieces). Put aside.

  6. In a pot or bowl, mix stock with oyster sauce (or wheat-free soy sauce) plus sesame oil. Heat to near-boiling. Remove from the burner and add the drained noodles. Stir well. Cover and set aside. (Noodles will absorb this sauce and still be warm when you're ready to serve them).

  7. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons oil in a wok or frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, carrots, beans, mushrooms, and eggplant (or other vegetables of your choice). Stir-fry 2 to 3 minutes, or until vegetables are soft. Stir-frying tip: Add a little water to the wok/pan when it becomes too dry instead of more oil.

  8. Now add the squid plus the stir-fry sauce. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes, or until squid curls up and the meat is tender. Do not over-cook, or squid will become rubbery (3 minutes maximum).

  9. Do a taste test for salt, adding 1 to 2 more tablespoons fish sauce if not salty enough. If too sour for your taste, add a little more brown sugar. If not spicy enough, add a little more chili.

  10. To serve, slide noodles onto a serving platter. Top with the stir-fried squid and vegetables. Add sprinklings of fresh basil and coriander, and enjoy.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
349 Calories
11g Fat
45g Carbs
20g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 349
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 1g 6%
Cholesterol 199mg 66%
Sodium 975mg 42%
Total Carbohydrate 45g 16%
Dietary Fiber 9g 32%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 20g
Vitamin C 13mg 65%
Calcium 83mg 6%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 755mg 16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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