Crispy Calamari & Orange Chili Gremolata

Sweet, hot, crispy strips of calamari, deep fried and then covered in a sweet orange-chili gremolata that has the perfect hint of spice.

Ingredients

• Herbies Pepper Sichuan ground spices  ·  1 tablespoon 
• calamari tubes and tentacles  ·  1 pound 
• buttermilk  ·  1/2 cup 
• flour  ·  3 cups 
• (730mL) bottle Mae ploy  ·  1 
• oranges, sliced  ·  2 
• vegetable oil  ·  2 tablespoons 
• garlic, minced  ·  2 tablespoons 
• parsley, minced  ·  2 tablespoons 
• Herbies Chives Freeze-Dried  ·  1 tablespoon 
• Salt and pepper to taste  ·   

Instructions

Preparing the Calamari

1. Cut calamari into thick circles or strips and soak in buttermilk for about an hour to tenderize.

Preparing the Orange-Chili Gremolatai

1. Heat the pan and pour in the vegetable oil and wait for it to get warm, then add the chopped garlic and sauté until it’s brown and not burnt - about 3 minutes.
2. Add in the chili sauce and stir it all together with the garlic.
3. Then add the sliced oranges with a squeeze before they drop in and continue to stir.
4. Now add the Herbies Pepper Sichuan ground spices and bring to a slow simmer for about 10 minutes, then set aside.

Frying the Calamari

1. Heat you frying oil to 360°F
2. Add your green beans to the raw calamari buttermilk mix and cover with the buttermilk. .
3. Once soaked, remove from of the buttermilk and coat the beans and the calamari in a separate bowl of flour.
4. Take out of the flour, make sure they’re nicely coated but shake off excess flour, drop into the frying basket
5. Place the basket straight into the oil and fry until golden brown in 360°F oil.
6. Once golden brown, take them out, place them in a bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Spoon over two scoops of the orange chili sauce, add your chopped parsley and chives and give it all a few tosses in the bowl.
8. Plate it in your favorite bowl, garnish with cilantro and - Yum Yum Yum - enjoy with a glass of Frolic Viognier.

Jenny's Tip: - Mae ploy is a brand name sweet chili sauce and readily available.