Recipe for Soft Stir-fried Dried Squid Strips, Making the Golden Sauce (Just One Secret)

The golden ratio for the seasoning in the recipe for soft stir-fried dried squid is 2 tablespoons of gochujang, 2 tablespoons of red pepper powder, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, and 3 tablespoons of water.

If you add a mayonnaise seasoning, it adds an umami flavor that makes it a real rice thief :)

If you rinse the dried squid strips in water, they become softer and the seasoning adheres much better.

It takes exactly 5 minutes to stand in front of the stove, and even including the seasoning, it is finished in 15 minutes.

STEP 1. Wash dried squid strips in water

Put the dried squid strips in cold water and rinse them lightly.

💡 This process determines the texture of the stir-fried dried squid strips. Wetting them with water softens the hard strips. If you use them in their dry state, they remain a bit stiff even after cooking.

STEP 2. Marinade with Mirin + Sugar + Mayonnaise

Put dried shredded squid, 2 tablespoons of cooking wine, 1/2 tablespoon of sugar, and 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise into a bowl and mix well.

Letting it sleep for about 5 minutes is enough.

💡 Mayonnaise is the hidden secret of this recipe. It eliminates the fishy smell of dried squid strips and significantly enhances the savory umami flavor.

Mirin acts as both a remover of unwanted odors and a sweetener.

You won't waste time if you make it while seasoning.

STEP 3. Add seasoning ingredients to the pan

Add 2 tablespoons of gochujang, 2 tablespoons of red pepper powder, 1 tablespoon of brewed soy sauce, 1/2 tablespoon of minced garlic, 3 tablespoons of water, and 1 tablespoon of corn syrup to a pan and mix well.

It is convenient to put everything in and mix it before turning on the heat. This prevents one side from burning while adding ingredients over the heat.

STEP 4. Boil the sauce (medium heat)

Stir over medium heat until it boils vigorously.

Once it starts bubbling from the edges, wait until it rises to a full boil, then turn off the heat immediately.

Boiling it once like this removes the characteristic bitterness of gochujang and allows the ingredients to blend well.

But if you boil it for just 30 more seconds, it will reduce and become salty, so the key is to turn off the heat the moment it starts boiling.​

STEP 5. Turn off the heat and add the dried squid strips.

Please add the seasoned dried squid strips with the heat turned off.

It gets thoroughly mixed by the residual heat of the pan.

This is the most important part. If you stir-fry with the heat on, the dried squid strips will harden and the seasoning will stick to the pan. Make sure to turn off the heat before adding them. The residual heat from the pan is sufficient.

STEP 6. Mix thoroughly

Mix thoroughly with a spatula or chopsticks.

The seasoning coats the skin tightly in the residual heat, and it starts to become glossy.

If it feels like every single strand of dried squid is coated, that's the perfect description.. haha

STEP 7. Finish with sesame oil and whole sesame seeds.

Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of whole sesame seeds, and the stir-fried dried squid strips are complete.

You know, I love this moment the scent of sesame oil rises the most :) Haha

One line of this recipe:

Boiling the sauce, turning off the heat, and tossing—that's the foolproof secret to stir-fried dried squid strips.

Storage method: It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7 days. If you microwave it for 30 seconds before eating, it will become moist again.

Application: If you omit the red pepper powder and add 2 tablespoons of ketchup, it becomes a sweet version that even children will like.

Side dish: If you serve it with rolled omelets and seasoned bean sprouts, the rice will disappear in no time.

One downside — the saltiness varies by dried squid brand, so it is recommended to taste the brewed soy sauce first and adjust the seasoning.

When making stir-fried dried squid strips, do you add mayonnaise or not? Which side are you on?

Please let me know in the comments!

Next time, I'll post a recipe that's great to have as a side dish with rice!