how do you make good calamari?

Question

grilled preferably but will also accept answer for fried! thanks :)

Answer 1

there's a great recepie on this link...

Answer 2

I've only cooked calamari once. I just used frozen calamari and rolled it in flour (also tried cornflour, but it didn't work as well), then fried in oil until slightly brown. It was pretty close to the most tender calamari I'd ever had, not to mention the cheapest! It served 5 people and cost about as much as a single serving in a restaurant.

Answer 3

The first trick to remember is that the longer you grill or fry it, the tougher it will be. (That is fresh calamari). Most frozend calamari have been treated with some type of tenderizer.

Grilling: Make a garlic and lemon basting sauce and grill for a short while.

Answer 4

If you want to grill it then do it on a skillet pan, or even something like a George Forman for half the time.

Soak it in milk first.

Oil the pan, slightly.

Dry and season the calamari, place in the hot pan, it will start to curl, turn immediately, count to ten, take it off and eat it.

Really, you are just flashing it with heat, if it gets too tough then try cooking slowly in the oven in some tomato sauce (if you imagine in Paella, the longer it cooks it gets soft again).

If you want something a little different try this site they have 44 Calamari recipes

Answer 5

As others have said, the key thing is to cook it FAST. Overcooking is defiantly what makes it chewy & rubbery. My prefered method is to flash deep fry in a light tempura batter, salt 'em and drizzle lemon juice on, with a bit of tartar sauce. I fancy some now.

As for grilling, I would probably make a bit of a marinade with some lemon juice, lots of garlic, basil, salt & pepper and olive oil, perhaps a splash of white wine. Marinate, put on wooden squewers then grill on the higest heat I could muster - a hot BBQ would be ideal. Just long enough to change colour, and get nice sear marks.

Fresh calamari of course, once frozen it's for the bin in most cases.

Answer 6

Fried is usually softer.

After cleaning, flour the calamari
Put in HOT oil and fry for 3-4 of minutes on both sides each, until it has turned pinkish golden brown. Do not over cook because it will become hard.

Always salt the calamari AFTER cooking and dress with lemon.

(I live in Greece and often eat calamari).

Answer 7

Grilled Calamari and Fingerling Potato Salad:

3 pounds small fingerling potatoes
3 tablespoons sea salt
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 pound frozen cleaned calamari (tubes and tentacles), thawed and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Red Wine Vinaigrette
4 cups torn dandelion greens or curly endive

Place potatoes in Dutch oven; add water to cover and 3 tablespoons sea salt. Boil potatoes until tender; drain and cool. Cover and chill several hours or overnight.

Combine garlic and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl; add calamari. Cover and chill 2 hours or overnight. Sprinkle calamari with 1/2 teaspoon sea salt and black pepper.

Grill calamari over medium-high heat (350° to 400°) for 3 minutes on each side or until opaque. Cut tubes into rings; leave tentacles whole.

Combine potatoes, calamari, parsley, and 1/2 cup Red Wine Vinaigrette in a large bowl. Combine remaining vinaigrette and dandelion greens in a large bowl; toss to coat. Serve potato salad over dressed greens.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

Answer 8

If cut thin a really hot grill for 3 minutes is enough. Do not over cook. If you are stuffing then I suggest that you bake in the oven.

Fried calamari..coat in flour(seasonded with salt and pepper), really hot oil for 90seconds.

Answer 9

I've NEVER seen grilled calamari and I've worked in kitchens a long time.
How I've always done it is to toss the calamari in flour and lemon pepper. Shake off excess flour and deep fry until they float. Be careful not to fry too long or they will get really tough.

Answer 10

take the calamari, lightly grill it, season to taste....

then throw the rubbery mess away and cook a steak

Answer 11

how do you make good calamari?

Bring him up in well balanced loving home. Take him to school every day, Church on Sudays, a trip to the park on the afternoon