Appetizers
Fried Calamari
Makes about 3 servings
Fried Calamari
Makes about 3 servings
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds cleaned calamari, including some tentacles vegetable oil for frying
- 1 1⁄3 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped parsley
- ¾ teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon each: kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- marinara sauce for dipping
- fresh lemon wedges for garnish
Preparation
- Rinse and drain the calamari; place on thick layers of paper towels, pressing and blotting them completely dry with another layer of paper towels on top.
- Cut the bodies into ½-inch rings, and cut tentacles into halves or quarters if large.
- Heat oil to 360°F in the Cuisinart® 3.4- Quart Deep Fryer. Preheat the oven to 500°F.
- Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Put the flour, parsley, granulated garlic, salt and pepper into a jumbo, resealable food storage bag. Working with about a quarter of the calamari at a time, drop calamari into the bag, seal and shake. Squeeze the sides of the bag to completely coat the calamari. Take care that the pieces are individually coated and not stuck together. \
- Remove from the bag and place on a baking sheet lined with plastic wrap. Repeat until all the calamari have been coated evenly with flour mixture.
- Gently add calamari to hot oil, about 1 to 1½ cups at a time, trying to let all the pieces drop in
- separately. Do not crowd the calamari, because crowding will drop the temperature of the oil. The calamari will be pale golden and just cooked in about 40 to 60 seconds. Do not overcook – they will become tough. Lift the calamari out, using a slotted spoon or metal skimmer, and drain in a single layer on prepared cookie sheets. Repeat with the remaining calamari.
- When all the calamari have been fried, reheat them in the 500°F oven for several minutes.
- Sprinkle lightly with a little more salt,and serve with warm marinara sauce for dipping.
