Fried Calamari of Mediterranean - Bodrum

Fried calamari is the most popular way to eat this Mediterranean dish. It’s important to leave the tentacles on the calamari before cooking. A large Dutch oven or pan should be filled with olive oil and heat the oil to 350F so the calamari will fry thoroughly. Two cups of flour, seasoned with salt, pepper, parsley, basil and paprika is the batter used for the calamari. Each piece of calamari is dipped in the flour and placed in the oil, where it cooks for about a minute, or until it’s golden brown. Fried calamari is usually served with marinara sauce, or with an olive oil and lemon juice drizzle.

Calamari can also be sauteed. The calamari is cut into strips, and cooked in a skillet with garlic and red pepper. Salt and pepper are added to the seafood. After the calamari has cooked for about a minute, about 3/4 cup of white wine is added to the skillet to give the squid more flavor. The dish should cook for about two more minutes, so that the wine will form a thick sauce. This can be served as an appetizer as well, although some people would top the pasta of their choice with the calamari mixture.

Grilled calamari is also a well-known dish in Italy and parts of the U.S. where seafood is abundant. The tentacles are cut off the squid to prepare the seafood for grilling. Poking holes all over the calamari prompts the squid to cook properly. The seafood should be marinated in a mixture of olive oil, garlic cloves, Italian seasoning and sea salt for an hour. Then, the squid is grilled on high for a few minutes.

Calamari can be a healthy and tasty part of any Mediterranean meal. There are several ways to prepare the dish, many of which are low in fat and sodium, so the calamari can be enjoyed guilt-free.