Crispy Squid With Beetroot Sauce

• 3 1/2 ounces raw red beets, whole
• Pinch of saffron threads
• 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or to taste
• 3 1/2 ounces squid bodies and tentacles
• Generous 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• vegetable oil, for frying
• lemon wedges, to serve

1. Preheat the oven to 400F.
2. Wrap the beetroots in foil and place in the oven for 1 hour, or until tender to the point of a knife.
3. Remove from the foil and allow to cool.
4. When cool enough to touch, rub off the skins with your thumbs.
5. Place the saffron in a cup and add 5 tablespoons of hot water.
6. Leave to steep for 10 minutes.
7. Strain, reserving the liquid, and blend it with the cooked beets and yogurt, using a food processor or hand-held blender.
8. Taste the sauce and add a little salt and lemon juice, to taste.
9. Meanwhile, slice the squid into rings and the tentacles into manageable pieces.
10. Mix the flour, baking powder and some salt and pepper together and place it all in a sandwich bag.
11. Add the squid to the bag and holding the opening shut give it a good shake.
12. Let the squid sit in the flour for a couple of minutes.
13. Remove the squid from the bag, shaking off excess flour.
14. Heat 1 1/4 inches of vegetable oil in a large saucepan to 350F on a pan thermometer, or until a cube of bread browns in the oil in 30 seconds.
15. Carefully drop the squid into the oil and fry quickly until golden brown, after just 30 seconds or so (otherwise it will be chewy).
16. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
17. Serve the squid straightaway, with wedges of lemon to squeeze over and the beetroot sauce.

red beets, threads, greek yogurt, salt, lemon juice, bodies, generous, baking powder, salt, vegetable oil, lemon wedges

Taken from www.foodrepublic.com/recipes/crispy-squid-with-beetroot-sauce/ (may not work)