Best Fried Calamari With Peperoncini Mayonnaise Recipes

FRIED CALAMARI

Steps:

• Pour enough oil into a heavy large saucepan to reach the depth of 3 inches. Heat over medium heat to 350 degrees F. Mix the flour, parsley, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Working in small batches, toss the squid into the flour mixture to coat. Carefully add the squid to the oil and fry until crisp and very pale golden, about 1 minute per batch. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the fried calamari to a paper-towel lined plate to drain.
• Place the fried calamari and lemon wedges on a clean plate. Sprinkle with salt. Serve with the marinara sauce.
• In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
• Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

FRIED CALAMARI WITH PEPERONCINI MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• Halve peperoncini and discard stems and seeds. Rinse and pat dry, then mince enough to measure 1/4 cup. Stir into mayonnaise in a small bowl.
• Rinse squid under cold running water and lightly pat dry between paper towels, leaving some moisture so rice flour will stick. Leave tentacles whole and cut bodies (including flaps, if attached) crosswise into 1/3-inch-wide rings, then reserve separately on paper towels.
• Heat 2 inches oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot (4 inches deep; preferably cast-iron) over high heat until it registers 390°F on thermometer.
• Preheat oven to 200°F.
• While oil is heating, whisk together flour, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a shallow bowl. Have ready a medium-mesh sieve in another shallow bowl.
• Dredge a small handful of squid rings in flour mixture, tossing to coat well. Transfer to sieve and shake over other bowl to remove excess flour. Return excess flour to first bowl.
• Fry floured rings in oil, stirring to separate, until golden, about 1 minute, then transfer with a slotted spoon to dry paper towels to drain, arranging in 1 layer.
• Coat and fry remaining rings in about 3 more batches in same manner, returning oil to 390°F between batches. Transfer fried and drained rings to a shallow baking pan in 1 layer and keep warm, uncovered, in middle of oven.
• Coat and fry tentacles in 2 or 3 batches until golden, about 1 1/2 minutes per batch, returning oil to 390°F between batches and transferring as fried to paper towels, then to baking pan.
• Serve with peperoncini mayonnaise for dipping.
• *Available in the Latino section of many supermarkets, natural foods stores, Kalustyan's (800-352-3451), and The Baker's Catalogue (800-827-6836).