How To Cook Calamari Perfectly

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Squid, or calamari, cuttlefish, and octopus are all members of the cephalopod family. They are often referred to as inkfish because of their shared ability to squirt ink.

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Something else they all share is the same cooking technique. You either cook it hot and fast or you cook it low and slow. The same cooking technique applies equally to abalone, and really, to any muscle that is similar in structure.

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Fried Calamari Recipe

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Getting ready to separate the bodies from the tentacles.

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To clean the calamari start by separating the tentacles from the body.

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The bodies are separated from the tentacles.

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Next remove the "plastic like" cartilage from the body.

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To clean the tentacles start by cutting off everything above the eyes. Next cut out the eyes.

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Last, remove the beak. You'll find this by turning the tentacle section upside down and separating the tentacles.

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Next rinse the calamari under cold running water. Allow to drain off and cut the bodies into ringlets.

Combine the body pieces and the tentacles in a large bowl and pour the coconut milk over them. Let macerate in the coconut milk for at least an hour and up to 24 hours.

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Fry in a deep fryer set to 360 degrees, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drain in a bowl lined with paper towels and season with salt while still hot.

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How To Cook Calamari So That It Is Tender And Delicious

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• Yield: 4 to 8 servings
• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes

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Equipment

• Deep Fryer

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Ingredients

• 3 pounds whole calamari
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 gallon peanut oil, for deep frying
• 6 to 8 eggs
• Flour to coat, twice

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Method

1. To clean the calamari start by separating the tentacles from the body. Next remove the "plastic like" cartilage from the body. Using your fingertips rub the outside of the body until the speckled membrane begins to break loose. Finish removing the membrane and set the clean body aside.
2. To clean the tentacles start by cutting off everything above the eyes. Next cut out the eyes. Last remove the beak. You'll find this by turning the tentacle section upside down and separating the tentacles. Set aside in a separate bowl. Repeat these steps until all of the squid is clean, separating the tentacles from the bodies as you go.
3. Next rinse the calamari under cold running water. Allow to drain off and cut the bodies into ringlets.
4. Combine the body pieces and the tentacles in a large bowl and pour the coconut milk over them. Let macerate in the coconut milk for at least an hour and up to 24 hours.
5. When you're ready to cook the calamari, drain it through a colander. Start with a handful of calamari at a time. Drop it into a bowl of flour and work it so that the pieces are thoroughly coated without touching one another.
6. Next, sift out the pieces with your fingers, knocking off any excess flour. Dredge the pieces in egg and then back into the flour.
7. Fry in a deep fryer set to 360 degrees, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drain in a bowl lined with paper towels and season with salt while still hot. Transfer to a clean bowl and hold in a warm oven.
8. Continue until all of the calamari is cooked.

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Notes

1. Learning how to cook calamari isn't difficult, but you really need to heed the hot and fast or low and slow recommendation.
2. The best way to determine the length of time to cook the calamari is to bread one piece and fry it off. Start by frying for 1-1/2 minutes and then tasting it to determine if it is under cooked and adjust it accordingly. It took 2 minutes and 20 seconds in my fryer set at 360.
3. At 1-1/2 minutes, in all likelihood it will not be overcooked. However, if you prefer you could start testing at 1 minute, and add time from there.
4. Interestingly, fried calamari may take anywhere from 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 minutes to cook. You're looking for that place where it is just tender enough to eat pleasantly.

Tags: how to cook calamari, calamari recipe

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