Salt and Pepper Squid
Squid tubes does the heavy lifting here, with cornstarch rounding it out. A Chinese dinner that takes 25 minutes, start to finish.
✓ USDA-verified nutrition data
183 calories
6g protein
22g carbs
9g fat
1g fiber
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb Squid tubes
- 0.5 cup Cornstarch
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp White pepper
- 0.5 tsp Five-spice powder
- 2 Jalapenos
- 5 cloves Garlic
- 3 Scallions
- 0.5 cup Peanut oil
Steps
- Score the squid tubes in a crosshatch on one side and cut into 2-inch pieces; they curl into pretty shapes when fried. Pat very dry.
- Toss with cornstarch, salt, white pepper, and five-spice. The coating should be thin and even.
- Fry in 375-degree oil 90 seconds — no longer. Squid goes from tender to rubber in under a minute, so work in batches and watch the clock.
- Drain, then toss in a hot wok with the sliced jalapenos, garlic, and scallions 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Serve immediately with extra white pepper at the table. Crisp, peppery, and dangerously easy to inhale.