Cook Calamari

You can cook calamari, or squid, in several ways. If you want a crunchy appetizer or snack, make fried squid. Make a main course by preparing calamari steaks. You can also Sautée the calamari in a bit of oil and spices and serve it with pasta or rice or grill the calamari for an outdoor meal. Making calamari will be easier if you use pre-cleaned squid.

Steps

Make Fried Squid

  1. Cut the calamari into 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) thick rings.
    • If the squid still has tentacles, leave them intact when you cook calamari this way.
  2. Put a Dutch oven or pan on the stove and fill it with about 3 inches (7.62 cm) of oil.
    • Heat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176.67 degrees Celsius) to make fried squid.
  3. Mix 2 cups (500 ml) flour with salt, pepper and parsley to taste in a mixing bowl.
  4. Dredge the calamari rings through the flour mixture.
  5. Cook calamari by dropping the rings into the hot oil.
    • Fry the calamari for about a minute or until the rings turn a golden brown color.
  6. Remove the fried squid from the oil with tongs.
    • Put the calamari on paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve on a plate with cut up pieces of lemon and tomato sauce for dipping.

Cook Calamari Steaks

  1. Mix 3 tbsp. (44 ml) flour, 1/4 cup (59 ml) grated Parmesan cheese and 1 egg in a mixing bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  2. Coat the calamari steaks with the egg and flour mixture.
  3. Heat oil in a skillet.
  4. Place the steaks in the skillet and cook calamari for about 1 minute on each side or until golden. Flip the squid and cook it on the other side.
  5. Set the steaks on paper towels to drain excess oil.
  6. Prepare a vegetable, such as broccoli, to go along with the calamari steaks.
    • Sauté the broccoli in the skillet with a minced garlic clove and red pepper flakes.
  7. Combine 2 tbsp. (29 ml) of butter, the juice of a lemon and a few capers in the skillet. Heat until the butter melts.
  8. Pour the sauce on the calamari steaks and serve.

Sauté Calamari

  1. Cut the cleaned calamari in 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) rings.
  2. Cook calamari by heating a small amount of oil in the skillet and adding garlic and red pepper.
  3. Add the calamari to the skillet and Sauté for a minute.
  4. Pour 3/4 cup (177 ml) dry white wine over the calamari.
  5. Continue to cook calamari for another minute or 2, until the wine evaporates and leaves a thick sauce.
  6. Add more salt and pepper to the calamari, if you think it needs more flavor.
  7. Serve the sauteed calamari over angel hair pasta or rice.

Grill Calamari

  1. Cut the tentacles off the body of the squid and slice it down the center to open the body.
  2. Press the body flat and poke holes all over the calamari. You do not need to poke the holes completely through the squid.
  3. Combine 2 oz (56.7 g) olive oil with 1/2 oz (14.17 g) lemon juice, 2 smashed garlic cloves, 2 tsp. (10 ml) Italian seasoning and a pinch of salt in a shallow dish.
  4. Add the calamari body and tentacles to the shallow dish and let it sit for up to 1 hour.
    • Turn the calamari in the marinade and allow it to sit for another hour.
  5. Turn the grill on to high when the calamari finishes marinating.
  6. Cook calamari on the grill.
    • Grill the calamari until it is no longer translucent. Turn it often. It should take about 3 minutes to cook.



Tips

  • If you don't buy pre-cleaned calamari, you will have to clean it yourself. Pull out the beak on the underside of the body and then remove the intestines and ink sac from inside the body. Slice the suction cups off the tentacles and peel the skin from the body. Rinse the squid under running water.

Warnings

  • The oil can splatter when you drop the squid into it. Exercise caution and keep small children away from the pot of oil.

Things You'll Need

  • Cleaned calamari, 1 to 1 1/2 lbs (.45 to .68 kg)
  • Knife
  • Dutch oven or pan
  • Oil
  • Flour
  • Salt and pepper
  • Parsley
  • Tongs
  • Paper towels
  • Plates
  • Lemons
  • Tomato sauce
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Egg
  • Mixing bowl
  • Skillet
  • Vegetable
  • Butter
  • Lemon juice
  • Capers
  • White wine
  • Angel hair pasta or rice
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic cloves
  • Dried Italian seasoning
  • Shallow dish
  • Grill

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Sources and Citations

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