Fried Calamari

Photographs copyright © 2005 by Victoria Pearson

Calamari means “squid” in Italian. Italians love squid and they prepare them in lots of different ways, but one of their favorites is fried, either eaten alone or as part of a fritto misto (a selection of fried seafood). Below is the traditional Italian way to make them, the way I grew up eating them. It’s all about the calamari itself, not about the thick, gooey coating that they are often covered with. But best of all they are super-duper easy.

6 APPETIZER SERVINGS

Ingredients:
Vegetable oil (for deep-frying)
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1 pound clean squid with tentacles, bodies cut into ½-inch-thick rings
2 lemons, cut into wedges
1½ teaspoons salt
1 cup Marinara Sauce, warmed

Preparation:
In A Large, Heavy Saucepan, add enough oil to reach the depth of 3 inches and heat over a medium flame to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix the flour and parsley. Working in batches, toss the squid into the flour mixture to coat. Carefully add the squid to the oil and fry until crisp and very pale golden, about 3 minutes per batch. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fried calamari to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.

Place the fried calamari and lemon wedges on a clean plate. Sprinkle with salt and serve with the marinara sauce.

Tip: If you don’t have a thermometer to check the oil temperature, there are two ways to test the oil. One is by dropping a small piece of bread into the oil. If it sinks to the bottom of the pan, the oil is too cold, and if it burns immediately, the oil is too hot; but if the bread sizzles slowly, the oil is just right. The other is to place the end of a wooden spoon into the oil; if the end sizzles, the oil is ready.

This Recipe was published in 'Everyday Italian, 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes by "Giada De Laurentiis"