Crispy Fried Calamares

Ingredients:

1 lb frozen squid rings, thawed

½ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup cornstarch

2 large eggs

⅛ tsp cayenne pepper (add more if you want it spicier)

½ tsp salt

⅛ tsp ground black pepper

1 cup Panko bread crumbs (Japanese-style)

2 cups vegetable oil for frying

Procedure:

1. Pat squid rings with paper towels to dry.

2. In a small bowl, crack the eggs and lightly beat using a fork.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, salt, ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper.

4. In a separate plate, place Panko bread crumbs.

5. Now with the breading. Coat individual rings with flour-cornstarch mixture. Use a chopstick to dredge
the rings and also to pick them up.

6. Dip flour-coated squid rings one at a time in beaten eggs. Use the other chopstick for this task. When
the ring is fully coated with the egg, dredge it with Panko bread crumbs and place on a plate. Make
enough for batch frying.

7. Heat oil over medium high heat till very hot (shimmering but not smoking).

8. Drop individual squid rings onto hot oil and fry for 30 seconds on each side till golden brown.

9. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.

10. Fry up another batch till done.

11. Serve warm with favorite dipping sauce.