Calamares

Calamares which is the Spanish word for squid is what the Filipino Deep Fried Squid dish is called. It is another most favorite dish in the Philippines, either with rice or with ice cold beer (as pulutan that is). It is very easy to cook. Perhaps this explains the increasing number of street vendors selling calamares nowadays.

This is usually served as an appetizer but in the Philippines, it is considered as a main dish. Calamares is delicious, simple, and really easy to cook. Try it!

Prep Time: 15 mins          Cook Time: 5 mins           Servings: 4-6                                   

Ingredients:

• 12 pcs medium-sized squid, cleaned, innards removed and sliced into rings (You can include cleaned tentacles as well. Just remove the beak and eyes.)
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ cup panko bread flour
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ Tbsp fresh lemon extract
• 2 Tbsp fish sauce
• 1Tbsp garlic powder
• Salt
• blackpepper
• 1 pc lemon, cut into wedges for garnishing
• 2 cups vegetable oil for frying

Procedure:

1. Sprinkle squid with ½ tsp blackpepper.  
2. In a bowl, mix lemon extract,  fish sauce and garlic powder. Add the squid. Mix well. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Drain. Pat dry the squid with paper towels. This is necessary so the breading won't fall off when frying.

3. Beat the eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper.

4. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to the flour. Mix well.

5. Lightly dust each squid ring with flour. Dip in beaten eggs then to the Panko breadcrumbs.

6. Using a deep fryer or chip pan, deep fry the squid rings until the color of the outer part turns medium brown (about 5 minutes).

7. Remove the fried squid rings from the pan and drain on paper towels.

8. Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with lemon wedges

9. Serve with tartar sauce or your favorite dip!

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