Korean
Ojingeo-sundae — Squid Stuffed with Rice and Vegetables (오징어순대)
Ojingeo-sundae (오징어순대) is a specialty of the coastal regions — most notably Sokcho and the Gangwon coast — where whole squid tubes replace the pig intestine casing of standard sundae. The squid tube is cleaned, the tentacles reserved, then stuffed tightly with a mixture of glutinous rice, glass noodles, mung bean sprouts, and sesame-seasoned vegetables before being sewn shut (or toothpick-sealed) and steamed until the squid cooks and the filling sets. When sliced, the cross-section reveals a ring of orange-pink squid casing around the filling — visually dramatic and texturally dual: the chew of the squid against the soft, fragrant filling.
‹Swipe for the next dish›
One elsewhere in British Columbia · eight not yet within reach.
How the 9 are reached
- Elsewhere in British Columbia
- 1 · glass noodles (dangmyeon)
- Not yet within reach
- 8 · whole squid, glutinous rice, mung bean sprouts, ganjang (Korean soy sauce), perilla leaves, wooden toothpicks, cho-ganjang, doenjang-salt mixture
I
The Market List
The benchmark for each ingredient, and who stocks it near you. Tap a stockist to go straight to the product.
4
whole squid
tubes cleaned, tentacles reserved
Not yet within reach of Sechelt · each reach is counted
For the filling
200 g
glutinous rice
soaked for 1 hour, par-steamed 15 minutes before use
Not yet within reach of Sechelt · each reach is counted
80 g
glass noodles (dangmyeon)
soaked in warm water until pliable, cut into short lengths
Origin · KoreaElsewhere in British Columbia · Crazy Korean Cooking →
100 g
mung bean sprouts
blanched and squeezed dry
Not yet within reach of Sechelt · each reach is counted
2 tbsp
sesame oil
divided: for filling and finishing
Your own market
1 tbsp
ganjang (Korean soy sauce)
Not yet within reach of Sechelt · each reach is counted
10 g
perilla leaves
finely shredded
Not yet within reach of Sechelt · each reach is counted
For sealing
8
wooden toothpicks
or food-safe thread and needle
Not yet within reach of Sechelt · each reach is counted
To serve
60 ml
cho-ganjang
soy sauce with vinegar, for dipping
Not yet within reach of Sechelt · each reach is counted
1 tsp
doenjang-salt mixture
light doenjang thinned with fine salt, alternative dipping condiment
Not yet within reach of Sechelt · each reach is counted
Within reach counts in town, delivered, shipped and the nearest city. A staple counts once it has a local seller. Charted from each shop's own pages; not yet vouched by a cook who shops here.
The larder of Sechelt →Each tap is counted, so the stockist sees the demand Provenance sends them.
II
The Method
1
Soak the glutinous rice in cold water for 1 hour so the grains absorb enough moisture to steam evenly without turning chalky at the centre. Drain, then steam over high heat for 15 minutes to par-cook — the grains should be tender at the surface but retain a firm core, as they will finish cooking inside the squid.
2
Soak the glass noodles in warm water until fully pliable, then drain and cut into short lengths. Blanch the mung bean sprouts briefly, drain, and squeeze them dry in a cloth so they release no water into the filling — excess liquid would make the rice gummy and weaken the seal during steaming. Combine the par-cooked rice, noodles, and sprouts in a bowl, add the ganjang, 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil, and the shredded perilla leaves, and mix until the seasoning is evenly distributed, since the sealed squid casing will trap every flavour inside and there is no way to adjust once it is closed.
3
This is where the dish lives or dies. Pack the filling into each cleaned squid tube to no more than 80% of its capacity, because the filling expands during steaming and an overfilled tube will split at the seal, losing everything into the steaming water. Seal the open end by threading closely spaced toothpicks across the opening, or by sewing shut with food-safe thread, making sure the closure is firm and without gaps.
4
Arrange the sealed squid tubes in a steamer basket in a single layer so the steam circulates around each tube and cooks them at the same rate. Steam over high heat for 20–25 minutes — the squid is done when the exterior has turned fully opaque and orange-pink and the tube feels firm but yields slightly under finger pressure. Do not reduce the heat partway through, as a faltering steam will toughen the squid wall before the filling has time to heat through.
5
Remove the squid from the steamer and, while still hot, brush the exterior lightly with the remaining sesame oil so the surface does not dry and tighten as it cools, and to give a finishing sheen. Allow to rest for 2 minutes before slicing, so the filling settles and holds its shape cleanly when cut.
6
Remove the toothpicks or thread, then slice the squid into rounds approximately 1.5 cm thick. Arrange cut-face-up on a plate so the cross-section — the orange-pink squid ring encircling the filling — is fully visible. Serve immediately with cho-ganjang and the doenjang-salt mixture alongside.
III
Quality Hierarchy
01
Reserve — Fresh whole squid from the day's catch, tubes supple and translucent, with no ammonia odour; glutinous rice from the current season's crop; hand-torn perilla from a kitchen garden.
02
Estate — Squid purchased live or same-day from a coastal fish market; named-variety glutinous rice; fresh perilla from a market vendor.
03
Market — Fresh squid from a reliable fishmonger, cleaned to order; good-quality glutinous rice; market-bought perilla and sprouts.
04
House — Cleaned squid tubes from a supermarket fish counter; standard glutinous rice; packaged mung bean sprouts; dried perilla if fresh is unavailable.
IV
Sensory Tests
◇Touch. Par-cooked glutinous rice grains are tender at the surface but retain a firm core before stuffing.
◇Touch. Sealed squid tube feels plump and taut but not drum-tight — if it is rigid, the tube is overfilled.
◇Touch. After 20–25 minutes of steaming, the tube feels firm yet yields slightly under a fingertip — fully cooked through.
◇Sight. The exterior has turned fully opaque and orange-pink with no remaining translucency; sliced cross-sections show a clean ring of squid casing around a set, cohesive filling.
◇Where it lives or dies. Fill the squid tube to no more than 80% capacity and seal the open end firmly; an overfilled or poorly sealed tube splits during steaming and the filling is lost.
Pillar V
Cross-cuisine parallels are part of membership.
The dishes this one teaches you, across the cuisines — on every recipe.
Enter · from $49 a year
VI
What to Pour
The pairing
Shochu
From Washington
Nothing from Washington holds against this yet.
Without alcohol
No pour without alcohol holds against this yet.
Why each one works is part of membership — Enter · from $49 a year →
The whole pairingPillar VII
Origin and lineage are part of membership.
Where the dish comes from and how it came to be — on every recipe.
Enter · from $49 a year
The working kitchen
Sourced through Provenance