A perfectly made seafood dish is hard to come by, but with the right recipe, you can easily make an incredible plate of fried calamari at home. This is the perfect appetizer for lunch and dinner, or it can be the ideal snack to share while enjoying the warm weather. Below you’ll find a fantastic calamari recipe that is both easy to make and irresistible to eat.
Ingredients
- 3 cups vegetable oil
- 1 pound squid (including tentacles)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon paprika
- Kosher salt
- 1 lemon, sliced into wedges
Rinse and cut the squid
Rinse the squid off and cut it into circular tubes, a little under an inch thick. Each piece should be able to hold onto the buttermilk and flour coating without breaking up.
Batter the squid
Battering the squid takes a couple steps. First, you should soak the squid in buttermilk for 10-30 minutes. Add a teaspoon of salt into the buttermilk before adding the squid. Once the squid has been sufficiently soaked, you can dredge each tube in a mixture of flour, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
Heat the oil
Pour your 3 cups of oil into a 2.5 quart pot or a large cast iron. Heat up the oil to 365 degrees. You can check the temperature with a thermometer or by sticking a wood spatula into the oil and pressing it lightly against the bottom of the pot. If you notice bubbles, then the oil is ready for frying.
Fry the calamari
Once the oil is nice and hot, you can begin frying the calamari. Drop each calamari tube into the oil carefully, preferably using tongs. Fry the calamari for about 3 minutes total.
Pat calamari dry and season accordingly
After frying, place the calamari on a plate lined with paper towels and lightly pat dry to remove any excess grease. You can season the hot calamari with a light sprinkle of salt and pepper to taste.
Garnish, serve, and enjoy!
To create the best plate, squeeze a couple lemon wedges over the calamari. You can also add arugula and warm marinara sauce for dipping. Consider frying sliced garlic and sprinkling it over the calamari for an extra crisp burst of flavor.
Make a Dinner Reservation at Strega Today!
Dinner with your friends and family in Boston, MA has never been so delicious! Strega has an assortment of menu items that appeal to any taste, taking the traditional flavors and recipes of Italy and bringing them right to your table. We’re happy to accommodate large parties for celebrations, anniversaries, and more. Reservations can be made via OpenTable. For questions about large parties and gatherings, give us a call at (617) 523-8481.
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