Fried Calamari, Italian Hot Green Peppers with Lemon Aioli

Fill a Dutch oven 2/3 of the way full with vegetable oil.

In a large bowl, combine the calamari, scallops, 2 teaspoons hot sauce and 2 cups buttermilk and marinate for 30 minutes. In another bowl, combine the flour, masa, Essence, salt and pepper.

Heat oil to 350 degrees F

Remove the calamari from the buttermilk and place into the flour mixture in batches. Shake to remove any excess flour and fry in vegetable oil until golden brown, about 3 minutes.

Fill another large bowl with the remaining 2 cups buttermilk. Dip the hot peppers into the buttermilk and then into the flour mixture and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes.

For the aioli:

In a food processor, combine the garlic, salt, egg yolks, and lemon juice. Once that is combined, slowly add the olive oil. If the aioli is too thick, thin with a couple of tablespoons cold water.

*RAW EGG WARNING
Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs
Due to the slight risk of salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.

Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Yield: 2/3 cup

Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch
Published by William Morrow, 1993.