Fried Calamari
Yield: 2 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
¼ cup milk
½ teaspoon table salt
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon pepper
8 ounces squid, bodies sliced crosswise ¾ inch thick, extra-long tentacles trimmed to match length of shorter ones
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
Lemon wedges
Directions
Set wire rack in rimmed baking sheet. Set second rack in second sheet and line with triple layer of paper towels. Heat oven to 200 degrees.
Whisk milk and salt together in medium bowl. Combine flour, baking powder, and pepper in second medium bowl. Add squid to milk mixture and toss to coat. Using your hands or slotted spoon, remove half of squid, allowing excess milk mixture to drop back into bowl, and add to bowl with flour mixture. Using your hands, toss squid to coat evenly. Gently shake off excess flour mixture and place coated squid in single layer on unlined rack. Repeat with remaining squid. Let sit for 10 minutes.
While squid rests, heat oil in large saucepan over high heat to 350 degrees. Carefully add half of squid and fry for exactly 3 minutes (squid will be golden brown). Using slotted spoon or spider skimmer, transfer calamari to paper-towel lined rack and transfer to oven to keep warm. Return oil to 350 degrees and repeat with remaining squid. Transfer calamari to platter and serve immediately with lemon wedges.
