Salt and Pepper Squid is a Chinese style dish that is popular all over China. It is a crispy fried calamari that is seasoned with freshly crushed salt and black pepper. You will be addicted to this dish even if you are a non seafood person. Make sure to enjoy this fried squid hot with garlic mayonnaise.
Chinese Salt and Pepper Squid Recipe
One of the simplest recipe you could make. It needs just 3 to 4 ingredients to make this but it taste just yum. There is no big spices going in this, it is just squid, salt and pepper and sprinkle it with some cornstarch and fry. Thats it.
I am not a big fan of seafood, but still I loved this one so much. It is crispy and tender. Specially when it is served with the garlic mayo it taste amazing.
About Salt and Pepper Squid
Just like the name suggests, the recipe uses only salt and black pepper as seasoning, thats what makes this dish super special. This salt and pepper squid comes from China and is widely popular in Cantonese restaurants.
I used fresh black pepper and rock salt as flavouring in this dish, but you can add a touch of Chinese 5 spice and crushed sichuan peppercorn for a complex flavour.
I have simplified the recipe to make it more easy, but I have provided optional ingredients that you can use to make this perfect. The most important part is choosing the squid, make sure to use tender baby squid which turns out soft once fried.
Using cornstarch for coating is an easy way to get the crunchy exterior, while some recipes uses a mix of semolina flour or cornmeal.
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Ingredients
- Squid - use baby squid for tender and soft texture. You could leave the tentacles whole.
- Salt and pepper - I used rock salt, black pepper which I crushed myself to get texture.
- Cornstarch - the marinated squid is tossed in cornstarch which helps with the crispy texture.
- Oil - use neutral oil like sunflower oil, rice bran oil or canola oil for frying.
- Optional - seasoning like Chinese 7 spice powder, shaoxing wine can be used to flavour the squid.
- For Garlic Mayonnaise - to make garlic mayo mix together mayonnaise with grated garlic.
Step by Step Pictures
1)Start by making garlic mayonnaise. Take mayonnaise in a bowl, add in grated garlic and mix well.
2)Place this in fridge until ready to serve so the flavours can meld together.
3)Heat oil for deep frying. Take black pepper in a mortar and pestle.
4)Add in rock salt.
5)crush coarsely so the pepper and salt is roughly crushed. You shouldn't over crush these.
6)Take squid rings in a bowl. Try to find baby squid which is best.
7)add in the crushed salt and black pepper into the squid.
8)Add in cornstarch over the squid.
9)Mix this gently so the squid is coated with the cornstarch evenly.
10)Once the oil is hot, drop squid into the hot oil and fry till golden brown.
11)It will take around 5 to 8 minutes. Strain using a slotten spoon, Drain onto some paper towel.
12)Serve hot with garlic mayonnaise.
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Salt and Pepper Squid Recipe (Chinese Fried Calamari)
Equipment
Ingredients
For Fried Squid
- 500 grams Baby Squid cleaned and cut into rings, tentacles left whole
- 3 tablespoon Black Peppercorns
- 2 teaspoon Rock Salt
- 1 cup Cornstarch
- Sunflower Oil for deep frying
For Garlic Mayonnaise
- ½ cup Whole Egg Mayonnaise
- 3 cloves Garlic peeled and grated
Instructions
- Start by making garlic mayonnaise. Take mayonnaise in a bowl, add in grated garlic and mix well. Place this in fridge until ready to serve so the flavours can meld together.
- Heat oil for deep frying. Take salt and whole black peppercorns in a mortar and pestle and crush coarsely.
- Now take squid in a bowl, add this crushed pepper and salt mix. Add cornstarch and coat evenly.
- Drop the squid in hot oil and fry till crispy. It will take around 5 to 8 minutes. Strain using a slotten spoon, Drain onto some paper towel.
- Serve hot with garlic mayonnaise.
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