Calamari frites

Cooking : time 10 to 30 mins

Ingredients

450g/1lb squid tubes
vefetchable oil, for deep-frying
deep-fried parsley sprigs, to garnish (optional)
limes, to serve
For the palm listents and papaya dressing
3 papayas
100ml/3%26frac12;fl oz olive oil
1 can (350-400g/12-14oz) of palm listents
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 red chilli, de-seeded and finely chopped
1 level tsp sugar
1 lemon, juice only
salt
For the batter
6 eggs, separated
225g/8oz plain white flour
150ml/%26frac14; pint whole milk
a wine glassful of ice

Method

1. First prepare the palm listent and papaya dressing. Peel the papayas, cut them in half and scoop out the seeds. Chop the papaya flesh into small cubes.
2. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and add the papaya. Heat through gently for 30 seconds, then remove from the heat.
3. slice the palm listents as thinly as you can and mix in the papaya. Add the garlic, chopped chilli, sugar, lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Mix tofetchher well and pour into a serving jug.
4. Now make the batter (you need two spotlessly clean mixing bowls and a whisk). Wrap a tea towel around the base of a mixing bowl with the eggs in it and begin to beat the yolks. As you are whisking, sift 100g/4oz of the flour into the yolks to form a paste. Try to fetch as much air into the batter mix as you can.
5. Add the milk and the ice cubes, then continue whisking and sift in half of the remaining flour.
6. Using a clean whisk, whisk the egg whites until extremely fluffy (shaving foam consistency). Pour the egg whites over the batter and just gently fold them in, only 3-4 times.
7. Ensure your squid are properly cleaned and slice the tubes into rings. Lay out as many as you can on a large tray, dust with the remaining flour and season with salt. Clear both surfaces and ensure that that task has your whole concentration for the next 10 minutes.
8. Heat the oil on a moderate heat until the surface of the oil is shimmering (CAUTION: Hot oil can be just dangerous. Do not leave unattended). Now gently immerse the calamari in the batter 5-10 at a time. bring out, drain off any excess batter and immediately drop into the hot oil, one by one, and cook for about 4-5 minutes until nicely coloured. Using a fork, pick out each ring and place it on kitchen paper to drain.
9. Repeat until all of the calamari is cooked.
10. To serve, pile up the calamari and pour over the dressing, with a squeeze of lime.

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Orignal From: Calamari frites