The samples shown in the picture been baked or grilled and pressed so a small piece can become a large piece.
Some resturants also soak dried squid in soda so they can be twice or more of its orginal size. They are used in stir fry. When you palce on order in restaurant, you have to mention "dried squid stir fry"
There are also dried octopus sold in Asian store.
Dried octopus mainly used in soup, to add favour to soup, just like MSG.
To eat dried squid, you need to re-hydrate the dried squid in fresh water over night until it plumps. Some add a dash of salt in the water and I was told some add a dash of baking soda in the water. I just use plain fresh water.
Once the squid is soften, you can cut it into small piece and best way to eat it is stir fried it with celery.
The first picture of the dried squid strips in plastic bag is "squid jerky" and is a ready-to-eat snack without any preparation. I think Glen was referring to the whole dried squid used in Asian cooking.
This is my first post to this site but i must admit that i have taken a lot of information from it in the past. This is probably the first time I have been able to contribute anything valuable though.
I love eating dried squid but i cook it a bit different to the way you guys have mentioned. I have a lot of Philo mates and the way we do it by using the whole dried squid you get from asian grocery stores. We prefer the bigger ones that havn't been scoured (criss cross cut in the meat). We cut it up into peices about 2cm x 5-6cm and fry them in oil. we then dip them in a mix of vinegar, soy and sliced hot chillies. we then dip them in the sauce and eat them as is.
they stink out the house but they taste great if you like that sort of thing.
good one yeeros! thanks for the tip! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':ink' />
Yeah, one can also fry a whole dried squid directly on a grill/stove (like you do with nori/seaweed that you use to wrap sushi) using one of those wire grid skillet thingies. The first picture is like squid jerky, as someone said - you can eat it out of the bag.
[quote name='ugen64' date='May 9 2004, 10:24 AM']Yeah, one can also fry a whole dried squid directly on a grill/stove (like you do with nori/seaweed that you use to wrap sushi) using one of those wire grid skillet thingies. The first picture is like squid jerky, as someone said - you can eat it out of the bag.
I am half chinese and grew up in Hong Kong, one of the favoiate ways to enjoy dried squid is to buy them already reconstituted and make squid curry. You can find them in an asian supermarket or just reconstitute them your self by soaking in water or soda overnight. Here Is the recipe:
1. Rinse squid, remove membrane, cut into three portions lenthwise, score, then cut diagonally into small section; cut onion into small pieces.
2. Bring half pot of water to a boil, add 1T. cooking wine, blanch squid until it curls, remove, rinse under cold water.
3. Heat 2 tbsp. oil, stir-ry garlic and onion until fragrant, stir in squid, add the remainder seasonings, mix well and remove to plate. Serve with rice.