Yum Cha Squid Tentacles

A Classic Dim Sum Squid Recipe

Aside from frying with salt and pepper, steaming with garlic paste is another common method of preparing squid. This is the Cantonese method of preparing squid, and this dish is known as yum cha squid tentacles. It is easy to learn and simple to make.

How to Judge the Freshness of Squid

Fresh ingredients are a must for making delicious yum cha squid tentacles. Use the following three methods when purchasing squid to ensure it is fresh:

Press: press on the membrane of the squid. It should be taught and elastic.
Pull: pull on the head of the squid. It should be difficult to stretch.
Look: a light brown color denotes freshness.

Ingredients

8.81 ounces (250 grams) squid

Seasonings

0.07 ounce (2 grams) fresh ginger
0.17 ounce (5 grams) garlic
1 red chili pepper
1 scant teaspoon (3 grams) salt
1 teaspoon (5 millimeters) light soy sauce
1 teaspoon (5 millimeters) cooking oil
2 teaspoons (10 millimeters) seasoned soy sauce for seafood
a bit of scallion
oyster sauce to taste

Please see measurements in grams to be more exact for all ingredients and seasonings.

Cooking Directions

Preparations

Peel and wash garlic. Mince. Wash and peel ginger. Shred. Wash and shred scallions. Wash red chili pepper and cut into ringed strips.

How to clean and cut fresh squid

Holding the squid's head firmly, remove its eyes, internal organs, cartilage, and the black membrane covering its body. Wash thoroughly. Cut open squid. Cut crosses along the inside walls of its skin. Then chop into small pieces of equal size. Place in bowl.

Tip: When cutting crosses, make sure you do so on the inside walls of squid's skin, not the outside. This is the only way to achieve the pleasing curled shape when it is cooked.

Marinate the squid

Add salt, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, and half of the minced garlic to squid. Stir evenly. Marinate in refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes.

Steam the squid

Lay shredded ginger on plate. Placed marinated squid pieces on top of ginger.

Add appropriate amount of water to steamer pot. Bring to boil over high heat. Add squid. Steam over low heat for approximately 10 minutes.

Tip: Make sure the water is brought to a boil first before adding squid. Do not exceed 10 minutes when steaming squid, or it will be overdone.

How to make squid sauce

Heat pan. Add appropriate amount of cooking oil. Heat oil to medium heat, then add remaining minced garlic. Add seasoned soy sauce for seafood. Fry until aromatic over high heat. This is the squid sauce.

Put it all together

Sprinkle a bit of shredded garlic and red chili pepper rings over steamed squid. Drizzle squid sauce from step 6 on top. Serve.

Tip: The seasoned soy sauce for seafood must be fried with hot oil, and it must be drizzled over steamed squid while it is still hot.