Squid fritters (kanava fish pakora/pakoda)

Servings: 2-3
Preparation time: 15 minutes.
Frying time: 7-8 minutes(each batch).
Total time: 23 minutes.

The simple way to romance your love bird on the occasion of valentine evening, the “Squid fritters (kanava fish pakora/pakoda)” and piping hot flavoured chai (tea).it’s just and fare that raises the temperature of love.

Squid Fritters are a crispy, flavourful seafood snack that I first enjoyed making with fresh squid brought from Trivandrum. The tender squid, coated in a spiced batter and deep-fried to golden perfection, turned into a delightful treat that quickly became a family favorite. Crunchy fritters capture the true taste of coastal cooking.

Back in those days, whenever we got fresh squid from Trivandrum, it felt like a little coastal feast at home. The freshness of the seafood added a unique charm; every bite of the fritters carried the flavour of the sea. Paired with Green Chutney or enjoyed just on their own, squid fritters became part of our memorable meals, reminding us of the simple joys of living close to the coast and what the sea offered.

Ingredient:

Squid (kanava fish): 200 gm.
Ginger paste: ½ teaspoon
Garlic paste: ½ teaspoon
Salt: 1 teaspoon
Ajwain (carom seeds): ¼ teaspoon
Besan (gram flour): 1 cup
Turmeric powder: ½ teaspoon
Rice flour: 1 tablespoon
Chilli powder: 1 teaspoon
Water: 1 cup
Mustard oil: for deep frying

Preparation:

Cleaning and cutting Squid (kanava fish):
Wash the squid, hold the tentacles and pull the inner part of the squid body, the head part get detached. Discard the inner part. As shown in the photo.
You will see the transparent quill (cuttle bone) like structure inside the body, pull out and discard this.
Grab the two fins(wings) of the squid, strapping the skin(membrane) off, it comes out very easily as shown in the photo, wash and clean inside if there is any left over. Cut the fish in ring shape. Again wash it and keep aside.
Take a bowl. Put Besan, rice flour, salt, chilli powder, Ajwain and ginger garlic paste in it. Make a smooth batter with the help of water. Keep aside for couple of minutes.

Method:

Take fry pan, heat oil in it. Let oil to smoke. Pour a drop of batter into the oil; If batter comes up slowly, it means right temperature of oil otherwise wait for a while and test again.
After getting right temperature of oil, dip the squid ring into batter. (Either direct by hand or spoon)
Deep fry all rings, when they start to come up slowly turn over, Fry till it becomes golden brown on both sides.
Serve hot Squid fritters (kanava fish fritters) with Green Chutney to be followed with tea or coffee.