Crispy Squid Bites (Print-Friendly Version)
Lightly battered squid that's fried to a golden crunch, served fresh with warm marinara sauce for dipping.
# Ingredients:
01 -
1 lb fresh squid, cleaned and sliced into rings.
02 -
1/2 cup whole-fat milk or use buttermilk as a lighter option.
03 -
3/4 cup plain flour for coating.
04 -
1/2 cup of gritty cornmeal for texture.
05 -
1 tsp of salt to enhance flavor.
06 -
1/4 tsp ground black pepper for a touch of heat.
# Steps:
01 -
Pull out the head and remove the insides from the tube. Pop out the beak from the tentacles and rinse everything really well.
02 -
Soak the squid rings in salted milk for 15-20 minutes to tenderize them.
03 -
Warm up your oil until it reaches a hot 365-375°F. Set up a draining rack by layering paper towels over a wire rack.
04 -
Combine cornmeal, flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Work in batches to toss the drained squid in the mixture, making sure they’re fully coated.
05 -
Drop them into the oil in small amounts and fry for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Transfer to your prepared rack to drain off extra oil.
06 -
Serve it up right away with either marinara sauce or a zesty lemon aioli for dipping.
# Notes:
01 -
Keep cooked batches warm in an oven set at 150-170°F if you're making a lot.
02 -
If you're using whole squid, buy around 1.25-1.5 lbs since some weight is lost during cleaning.
03 -
Make your own lemon aioli: mix mayonnaise with minced garlic, some grated lemon peel, and its juice.