Recipe:
Fried Squid with Aioli
serves:
4
Ingredients:
Potato starch
Baking powder
Arepa flour (precooked cornmeal), divided
Egg yolk
Garlic, finely grated
Fresh lemon juice
Grapeseed oil
Olive oil
Salt
Vegetable oil, for frying
Squid, cleaned, bodies and tentacles separated
Scallions, white and pale-green parts only, sliced
Lemon wheels, very thin
Basil leaves, torn
2/3 cup
1 ¼ tsp.
1 ¾ cups
1
1 clove
1 tsp.
½ cup
¼ cup
To taste
8 cups
6 oz.
4
4
1/3
Method:
1. Whisk potato starch, baking powder, and 3/4 cup arepa flour in a large bowl. Whisk in 2 1/3 cups water; let sit 30 minutes to allow flour to hydrate. Place remaining 1 cup arepa flour in a shallow bowl.
2. Meanwhile, whisk egg yolk, garlic, and lemon juice in a small bowl to combine. Whisking constantly, gradually drizzle in grapeseed oil and olive oil; whisk until sauce is thickened and emulsified. Season aioli with salt; stir in 1 tsp. water.
3. Fit a large pot with thermometer; pour in vegetable oil to come 3" up sides of pot. Heat over medium-high until thermometer registers 190°C.
4. Meanwhile, cut squid. Slice bodies lengthwise along one side and open to expose interior. Cut in half crosswise (or in thirds if large). Cut each half (or third) into 1 1/2" triangles; cut tentacles in half. Rinse; pat dry.
5. Working in batches of 5 or 6 and returning oil to 190°C between batches, dredge squid, scallions, and lemon in arepa flour, shaking off excess; dip into batter, letting extra drip off. Fry, turning every 30 seconds or so, until golden, crisp, and puffed, about 2 minutes. Transfer to paper towels; season with salt. Top with basil and serve with aioli.