Salt and Pepper Calamari

Sometimes the simplest things in life at the most delicious. This salt and pepper calamari has all the makings of the perfect holiday lunch by the sea.

📝 Ingredients

• 600 g calamari or chokka (with tentacles), cleaned
• The Seasoned Flour
• 100 g rice flour
• 1 tsp (5 ml) salt
• 1 tsp (5 ml) white pepper
• 1 tsp (5 ml) black pepper
• pinch cayenne pepper
• oil for deep frying
• To Serve
• lemon wedges
• chilli mayo (make your own by combining a drizzle of your favourite chilli sauce with this homemade mayo)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1To Prepare Calamari
2. 2Cut the tubes of calamari or chokka in half lengthwise, score the inside in a criss-cross pattern – make sure the cuts are on the inside of the squid, because it curls from inside out. Cut into bite sized pieces – not too small, take into account that it will curl and shrink.
3. 3Combine the rice flour, salt, white, black and cayenne pepper together and mix.
4. 4Toss the scored calamari and tentacles into the seasoned flour mixture in batches, shaking off the excess and setting aside before adding the next batch.
5. 5To Make The Calamari
6. 6Heat the oil to 180 °C in a deep fat fryer or a deep sided saucepan.
7. 7Place the calamari pieces into the hot oil in batches and allow to cook until crisp light and golden.
8. 8Remove and place onto sheets of kitchen towel to drain the excess oil.
9. 9To Serve
10. 10Serve with lemon wedges and your favourite dipping sauce.
11. 11Tip: Make your own chilli mayo by adding a generous drizzle of your favourite chilli sauce and a little lemon to this easy homemade mayo. Alternatively, roast garlic bulbs whole and then add the soft roasted garlic flesh to the mayo ro make a delicious garlic dipping sauce.