Calamari Fritti Recipe
Lightly breaded and fried calamari served with marinara sauce.
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Ingredients
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Calamari
Marinara Sauce
Method
Calamari Preparation
- 1
Prepare the Calamari
Rinse the fresh calamari under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Cut the calamari tubes into rings and leave the tentacles whole.
- 2
Mix the Coating
In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to ensure an even distribution of the dry ingredients.
- 3
Coat the Calamari
Dredge the calamari pieces in the flour mixture until fully coated. Shake off any excess flour.
- 4
- 5
Fry the Calamari
Carefully add the coated calamari to the hot oil in batches, avoiding overcrowding. Fry for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the fried calamari to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
Marinara Sauce Preparation
- 6
Sauté Garlic
In a small saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic cloves and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- 7
Prepare the Sauce
Add the canned crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to the saucepan. Stir to combine.
- 8
Simmer the Sauce
Let the sauce simmer on low heat for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add fresh basil leaves just before serving.