Serve fried calamari rings warm to preserve flavor and texture.
Fried calamari has a tendency to become rubbery and tough. To prevent this, the seafood, also known as squid, is prepared in peanut oil for only 1 minute. Peanut oil has a high smoking point, allowing the oil to heat faster and quickly fry the calamari. The calamari is fried in small batches to also prevent overcooking. After frying, the squid is sprinkled with salt and dipped in cocktail or marinara sauce.
Instructions
1. Cut calamari tubes into ¼ inch rings with a sharp knife. Soak calamari in cold water for 1 minute and drain on paper towels.
2. Pour 1 cup of flour into a mixing bowl. Add a dash of salt and pepper into the bowl and mix well.
3. Lay the freshly cut calamari rings into the flour mixture and coat the pieces. Remove the coated rings and place them on a food rack for five to 10 minutes to dry.
4. Heat the peanut oil to 400 degrees Fahrenheit in a heavy sauce pan.
5. Remove a handful of calamari rings from the food rack and drop them into the hot peanut oil. Fry the rings for 1 minute to prevent them from getting rubbery. Remove the calamari from the heavy sauce pan with a slotted spoon and drain the squid on paper towels. Continue this process until all calamari rings have been fried.
6. Place the warm calamari rings on a large plate and serve.
Tags: calamari rings, food rack, heavy sauce, paper towels