How to Make Vietnamese Steamed Squid with Ginger and Lemongrass
Discover how to make tender and flavorful steamed squid, along with the perfect dipping sauce, in this detailed recipe shared by Cookbeo. Check it out now.
Ingredients
- 1kg fresh squid
- 3 stalks lemongrass, 1 ginger root
- 1/2 onion
- 3-4 celery stalks
- 4-5 scallions
- 1 chili pepper
- Dipping sauce: fish sauce, sugar, lime, garlic, chili, lemongrass, ginger, ground pepper
- Herbs, wild betel leaves, cucumber on the side
Ingredient Notes
To ensure your steamed squid is tender and crunchy, choose fresh squid. Look for thick, firm squid where the head and body are intact. Press the squid with your hand— it should feel firm and elastic. The skin should be bright and smooth, without a slimy texture or any foul smell.
Instructions
Prepare the Ingredients
For the squid, gently remove the ink sac. You can keep the backbone of the squid to prevent it from curling during steaming. Rinse the squid with diluted salt water, then wash with clean water and let it drain.
Peel off the dry outer layers of lemongrass, clean it, crush, and cut it into sections.
Keep the skin on the ginger, wash it, crush part of it, and thinly slice the rest to use for garnish and as a side condiment.
For the chili pepper, slice half into diagonal pieces and cut the other half into thin strips.
Other ingredients like onions should be cut into small wedges, and celery stalks should be soaked in salt water, cleaned, and cut into 6-7 cm pieces. Clean the scallions and keep them whole. Adding celery and onions during steaming will help the squid retain freshness, crispness, and aroma.
Pick and wash the fresh herbs in salt water, then drain. In this recipe, Cookbeo suggests serving steamed squid with wild betel leaves, Vietnamese coriander, mint, and cucumber, which pair very well with the squid.
How to Steam Squid
Pour water into a pot, filling it about halfway up to the steaming rack. Add crushed lemongrass and ginger to the water and bring it to a boil.
Once the water boils, arrange the squid on the steaming rack. Cover the pot. Steam the squid for about 5-6 minutes over medium-high heat, just until cooked and tender.
About 2 minutes before turning off the heat, sprinkle the onions, celery, scallions, and chili strips over the squid to keep them crisp, vibrant, and to enhance the overall flavor of the dish.
How to Make the Dipping Sauce
There are many types of dipping sauces for steamed squid, including ginger fish sauce, lime-pepper chili salt, chili sauce, soy sauce with mustard, or seafood dipping sauce. In this recipe, Cookbeo shares a simple but flavorful ginger fish sauce for steamed squid, made from the following ingredients:
- 5 tablespoons fish sauce
- About 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- Minced lemongrass, garlic, chili, and ginger
Mix the ingredients well to create a dipping sauce that has a balanced blend of salty, sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors. This sauce is the perfect accompaniment for steamed squid.
Final Product Requirements
Once steamed, transfer the squid to a plate. Serve with dipping sauce, fresh herbs, and cucumber on the side.
The fresh squid, perfectly steamed, remains crunchy and sweet. Lemongrass, ginger, scallions, and celery not only enhance the flavor but also create a beautiful presentation.
The ginger fish sauce enhances the flavor of the squid, making the dish incredibly delicious. Enjoy this dish while it's hot—serve the squid whole or cut it into smaller pieces.
Besides steaming with lemongrass and ginger, you can also try squid steamed with beer, coconut water, guava leaves, wild betel leaves, or scallions for equally delicious variations.
