Salted squid is squid preserved in salt. In Indonesia, whole baby squid is used for salted squid. It is soft, chewy, salty, savory, and umami in every bite.
What is Salted Squid?
Salted squid is squid that has been preserved or cured with salt. It is prepared by dry-salting or brining the squid. Salted squid is commonly found in coastal Asian countries, especially Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southern China, South Korea, and Japan.
In Indonesia, salted squid is called “cumi asin“. It is usually made with baby squid. Since baby squid is small, the whole squid can be eaten. Indonesian salted squid is different than the ones you can find in East Asian countries, such as Japan and China, which use bigger squid that is gutted, flattened, and sun-dried.
How Does Salted Squid Taste Like?
Salted squid in Indonesia tastes just like a super salty squid with a more intense umami flavor. You will need to soak and rinse the salted squid before cooking to reduce its saltiness.
How to Choose
Small salted squid tends to have a saltier taste. If you prefer it salty, choose smaller ones. And if you prefer it less salty, choose bigger ones. Avoid choosing soft and slimy squid because this is a sign that the salted squid has gone bad. In addition, try smelling its aroma. Good quality salted squid has a strong salt smell. If it smells rotten, it means the salted squid is spoiled
How to Prepare
- Soak salted squid in hot water for 10-15 minutes. To rehydrate and soften the squid texture. Soaking in hot water also helps reduce saltiness.
- Clean the squid. If your salted squid is small in size, you can skip this step and eat the whole squid. However, if your salted squid is quite big in size, you will need to clean the squid first. To clean the squid, detach the body and the legs. Remove the ink sack and cartilage from the tail tube.
- Rinse and rub the squid a few times. Rinse the squid to remove any impurities. Do this a few times until the soaked water becomes clear.
- Drain the water. Pat dry the squid with a paper towel if necessary.
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