Salt-and-Pepper Squid with Chinese Five-Spice Powder

By LaLaCooks

Wendy Leon gives this classic Chinese squid dish a fun twist by flavoring it with five-spice powder (typically a ground mixture of cinnamon, star anise, black peppercorns, fennel and clove). "It's her version of a Super Bowl snack," says her son Humberto. "Most kids eat chips; we grew up eating squid."

Ingredients

• 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
• Kosher salt
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 2 large eggs
• Cornstarch, for dusting
• 1 pound cleaned squid—bodies cut into 1/2-inch rings, tentacles halved
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 scallions, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons minced red onion
• 1/2 red jalapeño, seeded and minced
• Lime wedges, for serving

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400°. Set a large rack over a large rimmed baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine the five-spice powder with 1 teaspoon of salt.
In a large saucepan, heat 1 inch of vegetable oil to 350°. In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs. Spread cornstarch in another shallow bowl. Working in four batches, dip the squid in the egg; squeeze out any excess egg. Dredge the squid in the cornstarch, shaking off any excess. Add the squid to the hot oil and fry until golden and crisp, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the squid to the rack. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Repeat with the remaining squid.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the scallions, garlic, onion and jalapeño and stir-fry over high heat until fragrant, 2 minutes. Add the squid and stir-fry until just heated through. Sprinkle with the five-spice mixture. Transfer to a platter or shallow bowl and serve right away with lime wedges.