If you are a seafood lover and love to try out new healthy alternatives other than the usual chicken, pork, and beef, calamari can be a delicious option only if you don’t under cook or overcook it.
Though calamari is rich in vitamins and minerals, it should be consumed moderately due to its high saturated fat and cholesterol levels.
They say cooking is an art, and either you have that magic in your hands, or you don’t. But in my humble opinion, this art can be mastered with the help of few tips and tricks. Cooking delicious seafood is an art that can be mastered provided you begin small and keep trying. One such easy dish is calamari steak. It is fairly easy to make, but many people are unaware about the right way to cook it. In an effort to make it delicious, many people end up with a rubbery tasting calamari on the table.
For seafood fanatics, calamari steak can be a fantastic and filling meal; however, if you are a novice, cooking calamari may seem like a daunting task. You have two options, you can buy frozen calamari steak from the nearest store or buy it fresh from the market. One of the best things about calamari is that it’s versatile―it can be cooked in a variety of ways. Many of you must be familiar with the deep-fried calamari starter served with onion or cocktail sauce, why not expand your horizon and learn to cook tempting calamari steak in four different healthy ways!
Prep time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
♦ 5 Oz. Calamari steaks
♦ 3 Tbsp. Melted butter
♦ 2 Tbsp. paprika
♦ 2 Tbsp. Cayenne
♦ 1 Tbsp. Pepper
♦ 1 Tbsp. Ground cumin
♦ 2 Tsp. Minced garlic
♦ ½ Tsp. Salt
♦ ¼ Tsp. Lemon juice
♦ Chop the tentacles off the squid, slicing it down to open up the body. Open its body and make holes all over the squid. You don’t need to pierce the body completely through it.
♦ For the marination, combine the aforementioned ingredients in a shallow bowl, and let it sit for an hour.
♦ Heat the grill to medium-high temperature, and once the calamari is done marinating place it on the grill. Grill it until it loses its translucency, change the sides often to avoid over cooking. It will take around 5 minutes to cook properly.
♦ Serve it on a plate and drizzle BBQ sauce over it.
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
♦ 4 Sliced calamari steaks (strips)
♦ 1 ½ Cup bread crumbs (panko or regular)
♦ 1 Cup regular flour
♦ 1 Large egg beaten
♦ 2 Tbsp. Salt
♦ 2 Tbsp. pepper
♦ First and foremost, preheat your oven to 390ºF. Rinse the steaks under cold water and dry them properly and gently.
♦ In a bowl, take the flour and add salt and pepper to it. Dredge the strips in this mixture , then dip them in the beaten egg, coat them with breadcrumbs.
♦ Take an oven container, place a baking sheet and lay the steaks on the sheet, let them bake for 20 minutes, or until they turn golden brown.
♦ It tastes wonderful with tartar sauce or marinara sauce.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
♦ 2 Oz. Calamari steak strips
♦ 2 Cups flour
♦ 1 Cup vegetable oil
♦ 2 Tbsp. Dried parsley
♦ 2 Tbsp. Salt
♦ 2 Tbsp. pepper
♦ Select a squid that is fresh, feels thick and has its tentacles intact. Alternatively, you can use frozen squid too. Wash it under cold water, and remove its head and tentacles. If you are not comfortable preparing the steak strips, you can ask the seller at the market to do this task for you.
♦ Remove the cartilage Inside the squid. Now pull away the flaps from the body and peel the skin. Again rinse it under cold water, and make sure to dry it thoroughly. A thoroughly dry squid will give you a crispy taste once fried.
♦ Take a kitchen knife and cut the squid into ½-inch small rings. You can retain its tentacles or cut them short, in case they are too long.
♦ Take a pan, and place the rings over the stove, turn the flame on medium heat and pour vegetable oil in the pan. Allow the oil to heat for sometime.
♦ Mix 2 cups flour with 2 tbsp dried parsley, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Place a few pieces of calamari in the mixture without overcrowding the bowl. When the oil is hot enough, fry the pieces.
♦ Flip the pieces of calamari once one side turns golden brown. They should turn golden in about a minute.
♦ Take a serving dish and place a paper tissue so that it soaks the excess oil from the fried calamari.
♦ You can choose to season it with salt, and serve with your choice of sauce.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 3 minutes
♦ 2 Oz Calamari steaks
♦ 1 Handful fresh parsley
♦ 1 Handful fresh cilantro
♦ 2 Tbsp. Olive oil
♦ 2 Tbsp. Lemon juice
♦ 1 Tsp. Cumin
♦ 1 Tsp. Paprika
♦ 1 Tsp. Cayenne pepper
♦ 3 Garlic cloves
♦ If you are using a barbecue, turn it on a high heat or if you plan to use a broiler, turn it on a high heat. Gather parsley, cilantro, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, paprika, and, cayenne pepper in a food processor. Grind it so that it becomes a paste.
♦ Wash the steak under cold running water and dry them with a paper towel. Keep the steaks on the barbecue or under the broiler for 3 minutes. Make sure to flip them after a minute to ensure thorough cooking.
♦ Remove the steak and cover it with the ground paste. You can also squeeze lemon juice over it and serve it while its still hot.
Four easy methods and one mouth-watering dish. You can pair it up with rice, pasta, and any vegetables. Or simply serve it as an entree with any appetizing sauce.
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