EXTRA-CRISPY FRIED CALAMARI With Cheat SAFFRON AIOLI

Step 1

To make the saffron aioli, add 2 cloves roughly minced garlic into a mortar, pinch in 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads and using a pestle pound down until you form a paste, then add in 1/2 cup mayonnaise into the mortar, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and season with sea salt & black pepper, whisk together until well combined, cover with seran wrap and set aside

Step 2

Pat down 3 cleaned tubes of squid (I bought mine frozen and thawed them out) with paper towels, then cut each tube of squid into 1/2 inch thick rings

Step 3

Add a generous 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour into a bowl, a 1/4 cup of cornstarch and season with sea salt & black pepper, mix together, in a seperate bowl crack in 2 eggs, season with sea salt and whisk together

Step 4

To coat each squid ring, dip each one into the flour mixture, then into the egg wash and then back into the flour mixture, continue until all the squid rings are coated

Step 5

Heat a large fry pan with a medium-high heat and add in 1 cup of sunflower oil, after 4 minutes and the oil is very hot, start adding the coated squid rings into the pan, cook in batches to not over-crowd the pan, after 60 to 90 seconds flip the squid rings to fry the other side, after a total cooking time of 2 1/2 to 3 minutes remove the fried calamari from the pan and transfer to a dish with paper towels, continue to cook in batched until done

Step 6

Add the fried calamari into a serving dish, transfer the saffron aioli into a serving bowl and add to the plate with the fried calamari, sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley, enjoy!