Salt and Pepper Squid

Salt and pepper calamari is a Chinese Cantonese cuisine-inspired dish that’s so popular in Australia it might even be considered one of Australia’s national dishes. The calamari, or squid in some cases, is covered in salt-and-pepper batter, then deep-fried to crispy perfection. It is similar to Greek fried  calamari but are tossed in a mixture of crunchy stir-fried garlic and salt. There is also a version without liquid batter. The squid is just coated in cornstarch and then fried.

The dish is often prepared and served as a bar or pub snack, and it often comes garnished with garlic, fried chili, and spring onions. Salt and pepper calamari is so widely available in the country that it can be found everywhere from cafés to pubs, restaurants, and bistros.