Best Spicy Calamari Recipes

LINGUINI WITH CLAMS, MUSSELS, ROCK SHRIMP AND CALAMARI IN SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil. Add garlic and shallots, and saute until brown. Add the clams, mussels, and rock shrimp. When shells start to open, add the white wine. Reduce to half its volume, then add the marinara and calamari. Heat up the pasta (in salted boiling water) then add to the seafood. Allow pasta to cook in the sauce for a minute, then toss in the basil and bread crumbs. Serve in a deep pasta bowl immediately.

SPICY CALAMARI AND CUCUMBER SALAD WITH SPICED YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• For the spicy calamari and cucumber salad: Add the soy sauce, vinegar, honey, chili paste, garlic and ginger to a bowl and whisk to combine. Season with salt if needed. Divide the marinade between 2 medium bowls. Add the calamari to one of the bowls and the cucumbers to the other. Stir so that the calamari and cucumbers are fully coated in the marinade. Let marinate at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove the calamari from the marinade and pat dry. Grill the calamari in batches until charred and tender, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and slice the tubes into 1/2-inch rings. Add the rings and whole tentacles to the bowl with the cucumbers and toss to combine.
• For the spiced yogurt sauce: Whisk together the yogurt, chopped cilantro, coriander, garlic, caraway seeds, sumac, paprika and 1 teaspoon salt. The sauce can be made up to 1 day in advance and kept refrigerated.
• To serve: Spread some of the yogurt sauce onto a shallow dish. Use a spoon to create a well in the center of the sauce so that the sides of the sauce are about 1/2-inch high. Add the marinated cucumbers and grilled calamari into the well. Garnish with cilantro leaves and black sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

PAN-SEARED CALAMARI WITH SPICY MARINARA OVER LINGUINE

Steps:

• Cook linguine according to package directions.
• Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet and a small saucepot. To both, add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add calamari to the skillet and cook 2 minutes. Then to both, add pasta sauce and crushed red pepper flakes and bring to a simmer. Simmer 3 to 5 minutes, until calamari is tender. Reserve tomato sauce in the saucepot for another meal.
• Transfer linguine to a serving platter. Spoon all of the calamari and tomato sauce over linguine. Garnish with basil, if desired.

CRISPY SHRIMP OR CALAMARI WITH CHINESE NOODLES AND SPICY GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large stockpot of water to a boil. In a wok or deep, heavy saucepan, heat about 3 inches of peanut oil. (The oil must be very hot, about 375 degrees F.)
• Make the sauce: In a large skillet or saute pan, heat the 2 tablespoons of peanut oil. Over medium-high heat, saute the garlic just until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the sugar and continue to saute until the garlic begins to caramelize, 1 or 2 minutes longer. Deglaze the pan with the rice wine, rice wine vinegar, and soy sauce. Add the carrots, haricots verts, and 2 ounces of the green onion, reserving 1 ounce as garnish. Stir in the chili sauce and continue to cook until the sauce is reduced by half.
• Meanwhile, add salt to the boiling water and cook the noodles until they are al dente. Drain the noodles well and stir them into the sauce until they are well coated.
• Season the shrimp or calamari with salt and pepper and toss with the flour to coat lightly. Deep-fry the shrimp or calamari in small batches until golden, 1 or 2 minutes. (The easiest way to do this is to use a fine-mesh basket or strainer. Place the shrimp or calamari in the basket and gently ease the basket into the oil.) Drain on clean paper towels.
• To serve, divide the noodles and vegetables among 4 large warm plates. Arrange the shrimp or calamari over and around each portion and garnish with the remaining green onions. Drizzle a little sesame oil over the noodles and serve immediately.
• Prepare an ice bath. Separate the garlic into cloves and remove the ends of each clove. Fill a small saucepan with water. Salt lightly and bring to a boil. Carefully drop the whole cloves into the water and blanch for 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge into the ice water to stop the cooking process. Repeat the process. Drain the garlic and dry it well. The peels should slip off easily. Cut the garlic into slices and use as needed.

SPICY AND GREASY RHODE ISLAND CALAMARI

Steps:

• Working Ahead:
• The squid can be cleaned (if necessary) and cut in the morning, then covered and refrigerated. The fry mix can also be made early in the day.
• Cut squid bodies into 1/2″ rings and put in a colander set over a bowl; add whole tentacles. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use (up to 6 hours).
• Fry Mix:
• Combine cornstarch, flour, cornmeal, salt, and both peppers in a large bowl and whisk well. Refrigerate if not using within an hour or two to prevent humidity from changing the mixture.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Heat 3" of oil in a 4-quart Dutch oven over medium heat (or in a deep fryer) until it registers 360° on a deep-fry thermometer.
• While oil is heating, pour buttermilk into a large bowl and drop squid into it. Stir with a Chinese wire-mesh skimmer to coat, then lift about half of squid pieces from buttermilk, allowing excess buttermilk to drip back into bowl, and drop pieces into the dry mix. Rinse and dry the wire skimmer. Toss pieces to coat evenly with the mix, then lift them out with skimmer, gently shake off excess fry mix, and transfer to a plate. Bread remaining squid. Rinse and dry skimmer.
• Heat a 10″-12″sauté pan over medium heat and add butter. Once it melts, add garlic and sauté until golden. Add drained cherry peppers and toss to combine. Turn heat down to low while you fry squid.
• When the oil is hot, carefully drop half the squid pieces into oil. If any of the pieces stick to the bottom of the pot, loosen with tongs. Turn squid occasionally to cook evenly; it will only take about 1 1/2 minutes until they are crisp and golden.
• Fry remaining squid and drain.
• Add all of fried squid to the hot pan with the garlic and sliced peppers, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and quickly and gently toss (only twice). Divide among 4 small plates and serve immediately.

SPICY FRIED CALAMARI WITH LEMON AIOLI

Steps:

• For the Calamari place the flour and Cajun spice mix in a large bowl and mix. Add the squid and turn until all the pieces are thoroughly coated. Shake off the excess mixture.
• In a large, heavy pot or deep-fryer over medium heat, heat the oil to 375°F or until almost smoking.
• Fry the squid for 2 to 3 minutes, or until a light golden brown.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Serve immediately with lemon or lime wedges and Lemon Aioli.
• For the Lemon Aioli place the zest, juice, mustard, garlic, egg yolks, pepper, salt, and bread in a blender or food processor and puree to a smooth paste.
• With the machine running, drizzle in the oil. If the aioli appears too thick, add 2 tablespoons of water at a time to adjust the consistency. Store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

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.

SPICY CALAMARI WITH FREGOLA

Steps:

• Spread the calamari on a baking sheet and pat dry as best you can with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper.
• Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large, wide skillet over high heat. Add calamari and quickly stir-fry, cooking for only 1 minute, until puffed. Remove from pan with slotted spoon and set aside.
• Return pan to stove, reduce heat to medium-high and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add crushed red pepper, anchovy and garlic and let sizzle, then add onions and stir well.
• Season onions generously and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes, until softened and faintly colored. Add saffron and wine and simmer for 1 minute, then add tomato and broth. Adjust heat so sauce simmers gently for about 10 minutes, until flavors are well mingled. Taste for salt and hot pepper.
• Meanwhile, bring 4 cups salted water to a boil. Add fregola and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and keep warm.
• Add par-cooked calamari to the sauce over high heat. Add basil leaves and stir well until everything is heated through and calamari are completely cooked, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a warm serving bowl and fold in cooked fregola. Sprinkle with oregano, add a drizzle of olive oil, if desired, and serve.

SPICY 3-MINUTE CALAMARI

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large sauté pan until just smoking. Sauté the pine nuts, currants, caperberries, garlic and red-pepper flakes until the pine nuts are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, and bring to a simmer. Stir in the calamari, mix well and simmer for 2 or 3 minutes, or until the calamari is just cooked and completely opaque. Toss in the scallions, and season with salt and pepper. Pour into a large, warm bowl, sprinkle with the reserved scallions, drizzle with olive oil, and serve immediately.

SPICY CALAMARI STEW WITH GARLIC TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Warm the olive oil over low heat in a medium pot. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Increase the heat to medium. Slowly add the white wine and cook for 1 minute, then add the tomato sauce, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 8 minutes. Stir in the calamari and continue to cook just until the mixture comes back to a simmer and the squid is opaque, about 2 more minutes.
• While the stew simmers, drizzle the bread slices with olive oil. Toast until the bread is crisp and turning golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and rub the top of the toasts with the whole garlic cloves. Serve immediately with the calamari stew.

FRIED CALAMARI WITH SPICY ANCHOVY MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the egg, anchovies, lemon juice, parsley, and cayenne. Blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil to make a mayonnaise. Transfer the sauce to a bowl and refrigerate, covered tightly, for up to 2 days, until ready to serve.
• Cut the calamari into 1/4-inch rings. If the tentacles are large, halve or quarter them lengthwise. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Pour the oil into a heavy-bottomed, straight-sided 3-quart saucepan, about 8 inches in diameter. To prevent the oil from bubbling over when frying the calamari, the pan should be no more than 1/3 full. Heat the oil to 360 degrees F on a deep fat thermometer. (to check the temperature without a thermometer , drop a small piece of bread the size of a crouton into the oil. It should float to the surface immediately and brown lightly in about 45 seconds.)
• Combine the flour and graham cracker crumbs in a bowl. Divide the calamari into 2 or 3 batches for easier frying. Toss each batch in the flour mixture to coat evenly. Shake the calamari in a mesh strainer to shed excess coating. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, gently lower each batch of calamari into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt. The cooked calamari can be kept warm in a low oven while you continue. Check your oil temperature (360 degrees F) and repeat with the remaining calamari. Serve hot with the chilled anchovy mayonnaise.

SPICY CALAMARI WITH TOMATO, CAPERBERRIES AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Bring a small pot of water to a boil and add couscous. Cook for 1 minute, then drain.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat olive oil. Add shallots and rosemary and sauté for about 2 minutes, until shallots are golden. Add garlic, pine nuts, red pepper flakes and salt and sauté for 2 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and bring to a fast simmer. Cook for 6 minutes. Add squid and caperberries and cook for about 2 minutes, until squid is just opaque. Stir in the spinach and couscous (spinach will wilt). Season with more salt and serve garnished with scallion.

TEMPURA CALAMARI WITH SPICY HONEY GARLIC & LEMON GRASS SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat heavy sauce pan until hot. Add oil, stir fry ginger, chili and garlic until almost brown. Add black bean and saute for one minute until all the three ingredients flavor is transfered into oil Add brown sugar and cook until sugar and previous three ingredients are well combined and oil separats. Add honey, chili sauce then bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes in low heat until all the spice flavor transfer to the liquid. Add lime juice and herb mixture. Cook for another 5 minutes. Thicken with cornstarch and water mixture. Adjust sweetness by using brown sugar. This sauce does not stay in the cooler. I t contain enough sugar and salt to saty over room temperature for two weeks. Fry 4 ounces squid in tempura batter, place on top of rice crepe, drizzle with sauce. Sprinkle with cashew then serve

SPICY SAUTEED CALAMARI OVER PASTA

Steps:

• Give the squid a good rinse after you cut them into 1/2 inch rings. Be sure to drain out the rinse water in a strainer.
• Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a wok or shallow saute pan.
• Add chopped garlic to the oil and cook until the garlic begins to become translucent or browns up a little.
• Add the calamari.
• Add tomato paste, red pepper, salt, pepper,
• Saute on medium heat for 8 minutes.
• Add a handful of italian parsley.
• Saute on medium heat for 2 more minutes.
• Serve with some additional parsley over pasta.

SPICY AND GREASY RHODE ISLAND CALAMARI

Steps:

• 1. Cut the squid bodies into ½ -inch rings and put in a colander set over a bowl; add the whole tentacles. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use (up to 6 hours).
• 2. To make the fry mix: Combine the cornstarch, flour, cornmeal, salt, and both peppers in a large bowl and whisk well. Refrigerate if not using within an hour or two, to prevent humidity from changing the mixture.
• 3. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Heat 3 inches of oil to 360°F in a 4-quart Dutch oven over medium heat or in a deep fryer.
• 4. While the oil is heating, pour the buttermilk into a large bowl and drop the squid into it. Stir with a Chinese wire-mesh skimmer to coat, then lift about half the squid from the buttermilk, allowing the excess buttermilk to drip back into bowl, and drop then into the dry mix. Rinse and dry the wire skimmer. Toss the squid to coat evenly with the mix, then lift them out with the skimmer, gently shake off excess fry mix, and transfer to a plate. Bread the other half of the squid. Rinse and dry the skimmer.
• 5. Heat a 10- to 12-inch sauté pan over medium heat and add the butter. Once it melts, add the garlic and sauté until golden. Add the drained cherry peppers and toss to combine. Turn the heat down to low to keep warm when you fry the squid.
• 6. When the oil is hot, carefully drop half of the squid into the oil. If any of the squid sticks to the bottom of the pot, loosen the pieces with tongs. Turn the squid occasionally so they cook evenly: it will only take about 1 ½ minutes until they are crisp and golden. Transfer the squid from the hot oil to the lined baking sheet. Fry the other half of the squid and drain them.
• 7. Add all of the fried squid to the hot pan with the garlic and sliced peppers, sprinkle with the chopped parsley, and quickly and gently toss (only twice) the squid. Divide among four small plates and serve immediately.
• 8. NOTE: Working Ahead: This squid can be cleaned if necessary and cut in the morning, covered, and refrigerated. The fry mix can also be made early in the day.

SPICY GARLICKY CALAMARI

Steps:

• For Calamari:.
• Put sliced squid in the eggs, drain excess eggs and put into seasoned flour.
• Shake off excess flour and deep fry until brown and tender.
• In a heated sauté pan, sauté garlic, pepper, and cilantro and add fried squid. Seasoning as needed.
• Served with sliced lemons and/or Sweet Garlic Sauce.
• Garlic Sauce:.
• Combine water and vinegar and bring to a boil.
• Add the brown sugar, garlic, chili garlic paste, salt into the heated liquid and allow to simmer.
• Thicken with the cornstarch slurry.
• Serve with fried item.

SPICY CALAMARI SALAD

Steps:

• Mix and toss all chopped ingredients except the calamari.
• Layer fried calamari on the salad.
• Serve and enjoy!

CRISP FIVE-SPICE CALAMARI WITH SPICY CITRUS NOODLES

Steps:

• For the noodles and dressing: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Put the noodles in a large bowl and pour boiling water over them to cover. Let stand for 4 minutes, and then drain in a colander, rinse with cold water, shake well, and transfer to a bowl. Drizzle the oil on top, toss well to coat, and set aside.
• Stir together the chili sauce, ginger, honey, sugar, grapefruit juice and lemon juice until well combined. Stir in the chiles and set aside.
• For the calamari: Stir together the five-spice powder, salt and white pepper in a small bowl and set aside. Whisk together the potato starch and yolks in a medium bowl. If the batter is too thick to pour from a spoon, add water a few teaspoons at a time until thinned.
• Pour the oil into a wok and warm to 350 degrees F over high heat (a cube of bread will turn golden and float to the surface within 10 to 15 seconds when ready). Dip the calamari rings into the batter using a slotted spoon and stir until well coated. Shake off the excess batter and carefully lower into the hot oil. Fry, stirring frequently with a strainer, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer the calamari to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain and sprinkle the spice mix over while hot.
• To serve, divide the noodles among 4 shallow bowls. Drizzle two-thirds of the dressing evenly over the noodles, top each with calamari, and then drizzle the remaining dressing on top. Mix together the Thai basil, cilantro and mint stems, divide into 4 bundles and garnish each bowl with 1 herb bundle and lime wedges, for squeezing at the table.

WOK-SEARED SPICY CALAMARI SALAD

Steps:

• 1. place calamari in bowl. Add cashews, cilantro, mint and srirancha to taste and toss. Season with salt and pepper. 2. mix greens and endive and divide among 4 bowls 3. place wok over high heat, add oil, and when smoking hot, add calamari and seasonings. Stir fry for about 20 seconds, until calamari rings start to turn opaque. Add lime juice, toss, remove from heat. Pour mixture over greens

SPICY CALAMARI WITH BACON AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Rinse squid under cold water, then pat dry between paper towels. Halve large tentacles lengthwise and cut bodies (including flaps, if attached) crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide rings.
• Cook bacon in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden and crisp, then transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
• Toss squid with 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Heat fat remaining in skillet over high heat until very hot, then sauté squid with scallions and red-pepper flakes until just cooked through, about 3 minutes.
• Serve squid immediately, sprinkled with bacon.