Best Calamari With Pepper Dip Recipes

CALAMARI WITH HOT PEPPERS

Steps:

• Slice your squid into ¼" rings. Place onto a rimmed baking sheet lined with paper towel and cover with additional paper towel. Place in fridge for 1 hour to dry.
• Preheat your oil to 365ºF
• In a large bowl, mix together the ingredients for the breading (cornstarch, flour, cornmeal, salt, and pepper) and set aside. Pour the buttermilk into a medium bowl.
• Place the butter into a large frying pan and melt over medium heat. Add the garlic, and simmer over medium/low heat for about five minutes. Don't let the garlic brown, you just want it to soften and flavor the butter. Add the pepper slices and cook for two minutes over medium/high. Turn down to low to keep warm.
• Add the dried squid rings and the jalapenos (if using) to the buttermilk. Make sure all the pieces are well coated.
• Working in batches (this amount should take two), use a large slotted spoon or strainer to transfer half of the squid to the flour mixture, making sure to drain off as much buttermilk as possible first. Use your hands to gently toss the squid in the flour, ensuring every piece is covered and none are sticking together.
• Gently shake off the excess flour and carefully place into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, usually around 50 seconds. Your best bet is to fry one or two pieces first, until you get the timing right. These cook very quickly, and if overcooked become extremely rubbery. Transfer the cooked calamari to a paper towel lined cooling rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Let the oil come back up to temperature, then repeat with remaining batch(s).
• When all the calamari has been fried turn the butter and pepper mixture back up to high. Add the calamari and give it two quick tosses to lightly coat (no more than that), then pour the mixture onto a plate to serve immediately.

CALAMARI WITH PEPPER DIP

Steps:

• Mix the mayonnaise and the yogurt together in a small bowl. Stir in the jalapeno pepper, cumin and 1 teaspoon paprika. Refrigerate until ready to serve as a dip.
• Mix the flour, remaining paprika and cayenne pepper together in a large bowl. Pour the oil to a depth of two inches in a large skillet or a wok, and begin heating it.
• Put the squid rings and any tentacles in the flour mixture, and toss to coat and separate them. Shake off as much excess flour as possible.
• Fry the squid pieces, a few at a time, until golden. Do not crowd them in the pan. As they are done, transfer them to absorbent paper, and continue frying until all have been cooked.
• Dust with salt and serve at once with lemon wedges and the dip.

SALT AND PEPPER CALAMARI

Steps:

• For the calamari: In a large heavy-bottomed skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat to 360 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, stir together the cornstarch and flour with a generous amount of salt and pepper. Toss the squid in the cornstarch, being sure to completely coat.
• Working in batches, lift the squid from the cornstarch, shaking to remove any excess, and carefully place in the oil. Fry until lightly golden and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the oil and drain on a baking sheet lined with a brown paper bag. Repeat with the remaining squid.
• For the dipping sauce: Combine the soy sauce, chili sauce, lime juice, garlic, scallions and ginger in a small bowl. Stir together and serve with the calamari.

FRIED CALAMARI W/GARLIC MAYONNAISE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Wash calamari and dry well with paper towels.
• 2. Whisk egg whites, cornstarch, grated garlic, salt and pepper until foamy.
• 3. Dip calamari into mixture, shake off excess and dip and coat with panko bread crumbs. Sit in frig for about 20 minutes.
• 4. Heat oil to 350 degrees in small skillet or use deep fryer. Fry calamari until golden (about 1 minutes), drain on paper towels and sprinkle with a little more salt. Can keep warm in 180 degree oven on a rack with door ajar until ready to add to Toss.
• 5. For Calamari Toss, saute pepper flakes and chopped garlic in a little oil for just a little bit(30 seconds). Don't burn garlic. Add sliced celery and saute about 1 minute. Add lemon (sliced moons) at end and saute for about 20 seconds and remove from heat. Toss with finished calamari.
• 6. For dipping sauce - Combine mayo, grated garlic, Italian parsley and lemon juice. Place on a small bowl to the side of the calamari.
• 7. Finish with a little lemon zest over the top - OPTIONAL.

FIVE-SPICE CALAMARI WITH DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• For dipping sauce:
• Combine all ingredients except mayonnaise in processor. Blend well. Transfer to bowl. Stir in mayonnaise. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Whisk before serving.)
• For calamari:
• Pour oil to depth of 3 inches in heavy large pot. Heat to 350°F. Whisk next 4 ingredients in large bowl to blend. Pour buttermilk into another large bowl. Add calamari to buttermilk. Working in batches, remove calamari; dredge in flour mixture. Fry until just crisp, about 2 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Serve warm with sauce.
• *Available in the Asian foods section of many supermarkets.
• **A blend of ground anise, cinnamon, star anise, cloves and ginger available in the spice section of most supermarkets.

CRISPY CALAMARI WITH PICKLED JALAPENO DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk together the chopped jalapenos, mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon of reserved pickling liquid. Season with salt and set aside.
• Rinse the calamari under cold running water and lightly pat dry, leaving it slightly damp. Leave the tentacles whole and cut the bodies crosswise into 1/4-inch wide rings.
• Heat the oil in a heavy pot over high heat until it registers 375 degrees F on a thermometer.
• Place the panko in a shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper. Dredge a small handful of the squid rings in the panko, tossing to coat well. Shake off any excess and, with a slotted spoon, add the rings to the oil, using the spoon to separate the rings. Cook until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Using the slotted spoon, transfer the rings to paper towels to drain. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Serve with the pickled jalapeno dipping sauce.
• BYOC: Don't love the heat? Try substituting your favorite pickled item for the jalapenos.

FRIED CALAMARI WITH SPICY RED SAUCE

Steps:

• Add the olive oil to a medium pot over medium heat. Once it's hot, add the onions and garlic and cook until the onions are translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and red pepper flakes and stir until the tomato paste is thoroughly incorporated. Add the crushed tomatoes to a food mill and process the tomatoes directly into the pot. Add the grated carrots and season with kosher salt. Reduce to low heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Adjust the seasoning as needed. Cover and put aside to keep warm.
• Heat the canola oil in a large Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F. Line a sheet tray with paper towels.
• Add the rice flour, semolina flour, pepper and 2 teaspoons kosher salt to a large shallow dish and mix until thoroughly combined. Working in 3 batches, toss the calamari, pickled pepper slices and rosemary sprigs in the seasoned flour, then scoop them out with a pasta spider and shake off the excess; transfer to the oil. Fry for 90 seconds, then remove to the paper towels and season with flaky sea salt. Repeat until all the calamari is cooked.
• Serve with the lemon wedges and spicy marinara on the side.