Best Calamari With Herbs And Polenta Recipes

CALAMARI

Steps:

• Preheat oil in a heavy, deep frying pan or pot. Oil should be heated to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• In a medium size mixing bowl mix together flour, salt, oregano and black pepper. Dredge squid through flour and spice mixture.
• Place squid in oil for 2 to 3 minutes or until light brown. Beware of overcooking, squid will be tough if overcooked. Dry squid on paper towels. Serve with wedges of lemon.

FRIED CALAMARI

Steps:

• Thoroughly pat the squid dry with paper towels. Slice the bodies into 1/2-inch-thick rings and lay on a paper towel-lined baking sheet along with the tentacles; pat completely dry.
• Fill a large saucepan halfway with vegetable oil and heat over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350˚F. Whisk the flour, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Toss the squid in the flour to coat. Transfer the squid to a plate, shaking off any excess flour.
• Working in batches, fry the squid in the hot oil until golden, about 2 minutes. Drain on clean paper towels.
• Serve the squid with warm marinara sauce and lemon wedges.

SHRIMP-STUFFED CALAMARI WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Prepare the calamari: Rinse the bodies and set aside. Dice the tentacles and the shrimp into 1/4-to-1/2-inch pieces. Beat the egg in a large bowl. Add the diced calamari tentacles and shrimp, the breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, basil, lemon zest and juice, anchovies and garlic. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste and mix until combined.
• Using your fingers, stuff each calamari body about two-thirds full with the shrimp-breadcrumb mixture and close with a toothpick. Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a wide pot over medium-high heat. Sear the calamari in batches until browned and opaque on both sides, 8 to 10 minutes, and transfer to a plate.
• Make the sauce: Lower the heat, add the garlic and red pepper flakes to the pot and cook, stirring, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt, then add the wine and scrape up any browned bits from the pot. Boil until the wine is almost evaporated, then crush the tomatoes into the pot with your hands and add the juices. Add 1 cup water, 3/4 teaspoon salt and the basil stalks. Arrange the calamari in a single layer in the pot. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the calamari are tender, about 40 minutes. Uncover and cook until the sauce thickens, 10 to 15 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the polenta: Place 4 1/2 cups cold water in a separate pot over low heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and the bay leaf. Whisk in the polenta in a slow, steady stream, then increase the heat to medium and bring to a boil, whisking frequently. Reduce the heat and cook at a bare simmer, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the polenta is thick and pulls away from the sides of the pot, about 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and cheese.
• Divide the polenta among shallow bowls. Discard the toothpicks and place the calamari on top of the polenta. Remove the basil stalks and spoon the sauce over the dish. Garnish with the chopped basil and more parmesan.

CALAMARI WITH HERBS AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Cook the polenta. Bring 5 cups salted water to a boil in a small pot. Pour in the cornmeal, stirring with a whisk or wooden spoon until it thickens, about 2 minutes. Turn the flame to low and cook for 40 to 45 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter, if using, and a little freshly ground pepper. Serve warm from the pot. Or pour into a pan, allow to firm up and cut into wedges. Reheat for 10 minutes in a 400-degree oven.
• Cut the squid bodies into 1/2-inch rings. Cut the tentacles in pieces or leave whole if small. Rinse, pat dry and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over high heat until the oil looks wavy. Carefully add the squid (it will spatter) and stir to coat. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, marjoram and mint and cook, stirring all the while, for 1 minute, until the squid rings have puffed up and look opaque. Add the wine and cook for 1 minute more.
• Turn off the heat. Add the parsley and scallions and serve immediately with the accumulated pan juices and lemon wedges if desired.

HERBED POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the cheese, milk, butter, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and pepper, and stir until the butter and cheese melt. Transfer the polenta to a bowl and serve.

CALAMARI WITH HERBS AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring 5 cups salted water to a boil in a small saucepan; whisk in cornmeal until it thickens, about 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, 40-45 minutes.
• Stir in butter, if using, and season with a little pepper.
• Serve polenta warm from the saucepan or pour it into a cakepan, allow to cool, cut in wedges, and re-heat in a 400 degree oven.
• Cut squid bodies into 1/2 inch rings and cut the tentacles into pieces.
• Rinse squid and wipe dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil, over high heat, in a skillet until shimmering, but not smoking; add squid and stir to coat with the oil (be careful as the squid may spatter).
• Quickly add the garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, marjoram, and mint; stir and cook until the squid rings puff up and become opaque, about a minute.
• Add the wine and cook a minute more.
• Turn heat off and stir in parsley and green onions; serve calamari with polenta, pan juices, and lemon wedges.

POLENTA WITH HERBS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, the heat the oil with the garlic, and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds more. Add the broth and milk, and bring to a boil over high heat. While whisking constantly, slowly pour the cornmeal into the hot liquid. Stir in the salt. Lower the heat to cook the mixture at a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring frequently, until the cornmeal is creamy and not all grainy, about 30 minutes. Remove the polenta from the heat and stir the cheese, butter, and the herbs. Serve.