Fried Calamari Salad Recipes

FRIED CALAMARI

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together the milk and 2 teaspoons salt. Cut the squid tubes 3/4-inch thick, then add to the milk mixture along with the tentacles. Let sit for 5 minutes or up to 1 hour. (Refrigerate if soaking for more than 15 minutes.)
• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and paprika or black pepper (if using). Use your hands to shake excess milk from the squid, then transfer to the flour mixture. Toss until well coated; you may need to open up the tubes to ensure their insides are coated in flour.
• In a large (12-inch) cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven over medium, heat ½ inch of oil to 375 degrees. Line a plate or sheet pan with paper towels. Add a handful of the squid to the oil and cook until golden brown, 1 to 3 minutes. Stir only after the coating seems to have set. (Any sooner and the coating could fall off.) Use a slotted spoon or tongs to transfer to the lined plate. Season with salt.
• Return the oil to 375 degrees, fish out any browned bits, and repeat with the rest of the squid in batches. Eat with a squeeze of lemon and/or dunked in marinara sauce.

FRIED CALAMARI SALAD

Steps:

• For dressing:
• Whisk first 7 ingredients in medium bowl until miso dissolves. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup vegetable oil.
• For salad:
• Cook chayote in medium saucepan of boiling salted water just until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain; cool. Combine chayote, endive, radicchio, hearts of palm and mint in large bowl.
• Mix flour and cornstarch in pie dish. Add enough vegetable oil to heavy large pot to reach depth of 3 inches. Heat to 350°F. Sprinkle calamari with salt and pepper. Dredge calamari in flour mixture; shake off excess. Working in batches, add calamari to pot and deep-fry just until crisp and brown, about 3 minutes per batch. Using slotted spoon, transfer calamari to paper towels and drain.
• Add calamari to bowl with chayote salad; add coconut, cashews and 2/3 cup dressing and toss to coat. Divide salad among 8 plates and serve.
• *Available at Asian markets and some supermarkets nationwide.

CRISPY CALAMARI, LEMON AND MAITAKE SALAD OVER ARUGULA

Steps:

• To make the dressing, in a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pinch of pepper until the salt dissolves. Whisk in the olive oil.
• To prepare the squid and lemon, cut the squid tentacles in half and the bodies into 1/4-inch rings. Slice the lemon lengthwise into quarters and then thinly slice each quarter crosswise, discarding any seeds. In a wide shallow bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Dredge the squid and lemon slices in the cornmeal mixture.
• Heat 1/2 inch oil to 350 degrees in a large, straight-sided skillet. Frying in batches to avoid crowding, cook the mushrooms until golden, about 1 minute per batch. Using a slotted spoon, transfer them to a paper-towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt. Repeat with the squid, followed by the lemon slices.
• In a large bowl, toss the arugula, mushrooms, squid and lemon slices with the dressing. Add the Parmesan and toss gently once more. Serve with lemon wedges.