Fried Calamari

There are few things that are as simple and sophisticated as fried calamari.  It may seem like a daunting thing to make at home, but this recipe will calm your calamari fears! My recipe for fried calamari is so simple, it’s absolutely foolproof!  It’s got the perfect crunch, and you don’t have to worry about messy breading that falls off.

All you need to make this recipe work is the right equipment.  In my opinion, anything fried should be done in an electric fryer.  It guarantees that your food cooks evenly, and avoids the ambiguity that comes with frying things on the stovetop.  Now let’s fry some calamari!

2 pounds cleaned calamari, cut into rings
1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon old Bay seafood seasoning
1 cup cornstarch
1 cup corn meal
1 teaspoon salt
Canola oil, for frying
Lemon wedges, for serving
Marinara sauce, for serving

Cut the calamari bodies into rings, and trim the tentacles, if necessary.

Cover the calamari with the milk, and add the Old Bay seasoning.  Stir to combine, then refrigerate overnight.

Why soak the calamari in milk?  The lactic acid in the milk actually helps tenderize the calamari, keeping it from becoming rubbery when you cook it.

In a separate bowl, combine the corn starch, corn meal, and salt.

Dredge the calamari and fry them in batches in oil that’s been heated to 375 degrees F.  Cook each batch for 3-4 minutes, until lightly golden brown and crispy.

Drain the calamari well, then sprinkle with salt and serve hot, with lemon wedges and marinara sauce.

Print Fried Calamari

Ingredients

• 2 pounds cleaned calamari, cut into rings
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 tablespoon old Bay seafood seasoning
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 1 cup corn meal
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Canola oil, for frying
• Lemon wedges, for serving
• Marinara sauce, for serving

Instructions

1. Cut the calamari bodies into rings, and trim the tentacles, if necessary.
2. Cover the calamari with the milk, and add the Old Bay seasoning. Stir to combine, then refrigerate overnight.
3. Why soak the calamari in milk? The lactic acid in the milk actually helps tenderize the calamari, keeping it from becoming rubbery when you cook it.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the corn starch, corn meal, and salt.
5. Dredge the calamari and fry them in batches in oil that's been heated to 375 degrees F. Cook each batch for 3-4 minutes, until lightly golden brown and crispy.
6. Drain the calamari well, then sprinkle with salt and serve hot, with lemon wedges and marinara sauce.

Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by ZipList Recipe Plugin2.5http://delishdlites.com/gluten-free-recipes/perfect-easy-fried-calamari-recipe/Recipe by Jannese Torres of Delish D\'Lites