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Fried Calamari


Crispy rings of tender calamari are great as an appetizer served with a spicy tomato sauce or garlicky mayonaise. Calamari need to be either cooked quickly on high heat, or cooked for a long period on a slow simmer. Anything in between can lead to a chewy result.

Fried for just under a minute in hot oil as in this recipe results in tender, crispy rings of calamari. Use your favorite dipping sauce to serve, although I like to use a simple tomato sauce spiced up with a pinch of red pepper flakes. If you have never cleaned squid before, you might find their appearance a bit intimidating, however they are actually quite easy to clean.

Cooks Note: A great way to serve fried calamari, is to put a handful on top of a dish of spaghetti already dressed with a good spicy tomato sauce. If you prefer a crispier crust to your calamari, dip them in beaten egg before dropping them into the coating.

Buon Appetito!
Deborah Mele 

Fried Calamari

Fried Calamari

Yield: Serves 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Fried calamari are very easy to prepare at home. For best results, make sure your oil is 375 degrees F.

Ingredients

  • 2 Pounds Cleaned Squid (Instructions Below)
  • 1 Cup Flour
  • 1 Cup Cornmeal
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
  • Vegetable Oil For Frying

Suggestions For Dipping Sauce:

  • Quick Tomato Sauce, Or Garlic Mayonnaise

Instructions

  1. To clean the squid, first pull out the tentacles and head, and set these aside.
  2. Remove the cartilage that runs down the back, and anything that is inside the tube, then run under cold water.
  3. Pull off the two wing pieces, and remove the skin.
  4. Slice the cleaned tube into 1 inch rings.
  5. Take the tentacles and cut off the head just below the eyes, and discard this, removing the hard beak inside.
  6. Place the cleaned calamari in the freezer for 5 minutes before cooking.
  7. Put 2 inches of oil into a pot, and heat to 375 degrees F.
  8. Mix the flour, cornmeal and spices together in a plastic bag.
  9. Drop in the calamari and shake well to cover with the coating.
  10. Drop the calamari into the hot oil, and cook for just under a minute, until they are golden brown, then drain on paper towels.
  11. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1/2 pound
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 848Total Fat: 49gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 39gCholesterol: 552mgSodium: 1175mgCarbohydrates: 57gFiber: 4gSugar: 2gProtein: 42g

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