There’s something about Sundays that invites a special meal, and last weekend, I decided to make one of my favorite calamares. I have been thinking about it for days, so I asked my partner if we could have it. He said yes, and then invited me to buy from the market.
My calamares adventure began early in the morning at the Castillejos public market, where we planned on buying fresh. The market was busy with vendors and shoppers. As I walked through the seafood section, I spotted a vendor selling fresh squid at an amazing price. I got only 100 pesos for a good squid. I bought it without a second thought, of course!
The secret to crispy, golden calamares is in the breading. I coated my squid rings first in flour, then dipped them in beaten egg, and finally rolled them in the seasoned flour again.
With the oil heated and ready, I started frying small batches until each ring was perfectly crisp and lightly golden. According to most cooking videos, I must cook them for just 2 minutes to keep them tender. While cooking, the kitchen filled with a delicious aroma that instantly made me hungry.
No calamares meal is complete without a tangy dipping sauce! I whipped up a quick vinegar sauce—just a blend of vinegar, minced garlic, chopped onions, a bit of chili, salt, and pepper. The sharp, savory flavors of the sauce paired perfectly with the crispy calamares.
After cooking for a few minutes, I already served the calamares with the vinegar sauce on the side. I put them on the table, and I called the whole family to eat our lunch together. Each bite was a mix of crunchy coating and tender squid, the flavors balanced by the vinegar dip. It was simple, satisfying, and truly delicious. This is exactly what I pictured for our Sunday lunch as a family.
Hive Blog No. 412 | Date Published: July 8, 2026
About the Author:
She is a career-driven Filipina from the province of Zambales, paving the way for her career in blog content writing through sharing her experiences, reflections, and daily life happenings. She is currently an Internal Auditor at Puregold Price Club, Inc., and a Freelance Writer at Upwork Global, Inc., specializing in SEO Writing.
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