Ingredients for Fried Calamari
- 1 lb or 1/2kg squid rings and tentacles, thawed
- Buttermilk brine (300g cold buttermilk & 10g salt, stirred)
- 1 3/4 cup flour
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp black pepper (finely ground)
- 8 cups neutral oil (peanut, canola, etc)
- Few pinches of salt
- Marinara Red Sauce
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried chili flake
- 2 1/3 tsp sugar
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp (double glug) olive oil
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- Chipotle Ranch Sauce
- 1/2 c mayo
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1-2 tsp hot sauce
- 1 chipotle chili in adobo
- 15 g or 1Tbsp lemon juice
- 50 g or 1/2c sour cream
Cooking Instructions for making Fried Calamari
Thaw squid overnight in the fridge or under cold running water. Slice tubes into 3/4″ or 2cm rings. Slice larger tentacles in half if needed. Pour buttermilk brine over squid pieces and toss to combine. Cover and allow to marinate in the fridge for 30min-2 hours.
To make the breading, add flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and black pepper to a med-lrg bowl. Whisk to combine. Use spider (or slotted spoon) to transfer the calamari pieces into the breading, making sure to drain off as much buttermilk as possible. Coat pieces with breading mix. Transfer pieces of calamari onto a sheet tray, shaking off excess breading as you go.
To fry, add 2qts oil to a large, heavy bottomed pot. Preheat over medium heat or until oil reaches 365F/185C. Carefully add in 1/2 of the calamari. Use spider to move around calamari pieces, making sure they cook evenly and no pieces are stuck together. Fry for about 3min or until pieces are lightly golden brown. Scoop out of oil with spider and transfer to a towel lined tray. Sprinkle with salt. Fry second batch of calamari.
To make the marinara red sauce combine tomatoes, herbs, chili flake, salt, sugar and tomato paste in a high sided container and blend with immersion blender until smooth. Preheat saute pan over medium then add olive oil and garlic, stirring immediately to begin to cook (about 30sec). When aromatic, add tomato mixture. Stir then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20-25min until thickened.
To make the chipotle ranch sauce just combine and blend all ingredients until smooth.
Leave a Reply