What are good sides with fried calamari, and when I fry it, what oil should I use?

Answer 1

If your using a deep fryer use Peanut oil. It has a high smoke point. If your using a frying pan use Canola oil. Use a splatter screen.
Good side would be French Fries or twice baked potatoes , String beans or Peas and Salad.

Answer 2

A spicy marinara sauce to dip the calamari into is traditional. Good tip about the peanut oil or canola oil, since olive oil burns at high temps and EVOO has a definite strong 'green' flavor that might overwhelm the calamari.

Be careful sauteeing with garlic (add it right at the end): burnt garlic is bitter. If you do saute in butter, keep the temp at medium or just below and turn the calamari frequently. I like to sprinkle Parmesan cheese on it while it's frying; or you can wet the fresh calamari with cooking oil and then roll it in Parmesan before you start cooking it.

Be sure to have some fresh lemon wedges available, as well as some Tabasco (or other hot sauce). A nice Pinot Grigio or Lacrimi Christi wine would be good, or some Peroni or Morreti beers...just to keep it Italian; if the diners are Greek, get some 'Fix' beer instead.

Darn, you're making me hungry!

Answer 3

Salad, crusty garlic bread. Use a vegetable oil like sunflower or ground nut. NOT olive oil, the taste is too strong

Answer 4

I lightly brown it in garlic butter...and I serve it with with a variety of sides.Ranging from fresh fruit salsas, cole slaw,to arugula salads, or fresh asparagus spears...it goes with just about anything imaginable.