Stir Fried Squid with Black Bean Sauce and Chilli
Scored squid flash fried with peppers and chilli in black bean sauce. Tender, glossy and ready in minutes.
Made with Black bean sauce and Chinese chilli oil. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.73 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Cook the rice following the packet instructions, then cover and keep warm.
- 2
Slit the squid tubes open and lay them flat, inside facing up. Score a fine criss cross pattern with a sharp knife, then cut into 4 cm pieces. Pat very dry.
- 3
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok over the highest heat. Add the squid and stir fry for 1 minute until it curls and turns white. Tip onto a plate straight away.
1 min - 4
Add the remaining oil, then the onion, pepper and garlic. Stir fry for 3 minutes until just tender.
3 min - 5
Return the squid to the wok with your ready made black bean sauce (see the base recipe). Bubble for 1 minute only, until the sauce coats everything.
1 min - 6
Take off the heat, stir in your ready made Chinese chilli oil (see the base recipe) and the spring onions, and serve with the rice.
Tips
- Squid goes rubbery if cooked for more than a couple of minutes. Cook it very hot and very briefly, or long and slow, never in between.
- Scoring helps the squid curl and hold the sauce.
- Pat the squid very dry, or the wok temperature will drop and it will release water.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten at once. Keeps up to 1 day in the fridge if chilled within 1 hour, though the squid will be chewier when reheated.
Questions
Why is my squid chewy?
It was cooked too long. Squid needs either under 2 minutes on a very high heat or about 40 minutes of gentle simmering. In between it turns tough.
Can I use frozen squid?
Yes. Defrost fully in the fridge, drain well and dry thoroughly before cooking.
Can I use cuttlefish or octopus?
Cuttlefish works the same way. Octopus needs long cooking first so it is not suitable for a quick stir fry.
More made with black bean sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.