Japanese Squid Salad with Onions is an easy dish to prepare by simply tossing boiled squid with onions, mayonnaise, and soy sauce. The flavor of the squid, the texture of the onions, and the richness of the mayonnaise blend together perfectly.
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What is Japanese Squid Salad?
Japanese Squid Salad is a well-loved dish in Japan that features squid. While there are various types of squid salad, the one with Japanese mayonnaise is particularly popular. The flavor of the squid pairs wonderfully with the creamy mayonnaise. In this recipe, I have added onions for extra crunch.
Although it is easy to make, this salad allows you to fully appreciate the distinctive flavors of each ingredient in harmony. It is definitely worth adding to your menu.
How to clean a squid
To make this salad, you need to prepare cleaned squid. Can you find it in your local area? Even if you can't, cleaning squid is surprisingly easy, so give it a try. Here is how to clean it:
- There is a part where the mantle and tentacles of the squid are attached just above the eyes, so separate it with your fingers.
- Grasp the mantle and tentacles with your hands and carefully pull them apart.
- Remove the cartilage from inside the mantle and wash the interior.
- Cut off the portion below the squid's eyes.
- Using your fingers, remove the beak located in the middle of the tentacles' base and the tough parts of the suckers.
- Cut open the tube-like part at the base of the tentacles.
- Align the tentacles and cut off their tips to match the length of the shortest one.
That's it for the squid preparation. For cooking, the mantle and tentacles are used. Please note that it is not necessary to remove the skin from the squid for this dish (although you may do so).
If you find cleaning squid to be a hassle, you can also use pre-cut or frozen squid available in grocery stores.
The benefits of adding onions
Japanese squid salad becomes even more nutritious and texturally interesting when vegetables are added. Onions are especially recommended, as their texture and slight pungency complement the squid's flavor and the richness of the mayonnaise. While you can use any type of onion, milder varieties like red onions or sweet onions are preferred.
In the recipe, onions are sliced, sprinkled with salt, and massaged before being rinsed under running water. This process reduces the pungency of the onions while adding a subtle saltiness. There are several ways to reduce the sharpness of onions, but adding a touch of saltiness is a good tip for making this salad delicious, so be sure to follow the recipe for the best results.
Customization options
Japanese squid salad with onions can be adapted by adding various ingredients. Adding ham, cabbage, or carrots can make it more colorful and enjoyable. Using cucumbers instead of onions can also be a nice variation (if you use cucumbers instead of onions, be sure to season them lightly with salt, just as you would with onions). It might also be interesting to try incorporating local vegetables from your area.
📋Step-by-step recipe
Ingredients
- 1 squid (cleaned with the skin and fins intact. For instructions on how to prepare squid, please refer to the section above.)
- ½ red onion (or other mild varieties)
- - ¼ tsp salt (for the onion)
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Japanese mayonnaise (such as Kewpie Mayo, 0.53 oz/15 g per 1 Tbsp. For a homemade version, please refer to the linked article.)
Instructions
🕒 Total: 15 mins
Step 1
Slice squid into rings about ⅖ inch (1cm) wide, including the fins. Separate the tentacles individually.
Step 2
Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add the squid and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then, drain the squid in a colander, cool it under running water or in ice water, and pat it dry with paper towels.
Step 3
Slice onion very thinly. Sprinkle salt over the slices and massage them. Arrange them so that they overlap as little as possible, and let them sit for 5-10 minutes. Then, rinse them in a colander under running water and squeeze them with your hands to remove any excess water.
Step 4
Put the cooked squid and onion slices in a bowl and toss them with soy sauce and Japanese mayonnaise.
To Store
You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Recipe card
Japanese Squid Salad with Onions
Ingredients
- 1 squid (cleaned with the skin and fins intact. For instructions on how to prepare squid, please refer to the section above.)
- ½ red onion (or other mild varieties)
- - ¼ tsp salt (for the onion)
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Japanese mayonnaise (such as Kewpie Mayo, 0.53 oz/15 g per 1 Tbsp. For a homemade version, please refer to the linked article.)
Instructions
- Slice squid into rings about ⅖ inch (1cm) wide, including the fins. Separate the tentacles individually.
- Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add the squid and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then, drain the squid in a colander, cool it under running water or in ice water, and pat it dry with paper towels.
- Slice onion very thinly. Sprinkle salt over the slices and massage them. Arrange them so that they overlap as little as possible, and let them sit for 5-10 minutes. Then, rinse them in a colander under running water and squeeze them with your hands to remove any excess water.
- Put the cooked squid and onion slices in a bowl and toss them with soy sauce and Japanese mayonnaise.
Notes
- You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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