Fried Calamari Two Ways

The best part about cooking is that you have the freedom to make and create anything you want or love. Love fried calamari? Go ahead make some. Love buffalo wings? Go ahead make that too. Want to make buffalo calamari? Abso-freakin-lutely. Go for it, this dish is amazing.

I can't actually take full credit here for this meal. While I was the one who decided it was a fried calamari kind of night and that I wanted buffalo calamari it was my husband who actually executed this dish. He also took it one step further to make a spicy thousand island type dressing for the other calamari you see pictured here. Both were delicious, the buffalo calamari though really hit it out of the park. I couldn't get enough of them and you wont be able to either.

Fried Calamari

Yield: 4 Servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes     I     Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 pound calamari rings (cleaned)
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons parsley
• salt and pepper
• Oil for frying

Pour some oil into a deep fryer or sauce pan and bring to a light boil. 

Mix the salt, pepper and parsley into the flour and gently toss the calamari rings in the flour until each piece is fully coated. 

Drop the calamari into the oil in small batches cooking each batch for approximately 1 minute. Remove the calamari with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel covered plate to blot out any excess oil. 

Once all the calamari are cooked toss in buffalo wing sauce or dip in my hubby's spicy thousand island sauce (recipe follows) or traditional tomato sauce.

Spicy Thousand Dressing

• 1/4 cup mayo
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce (you can adjust this to your taste preference)
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons relish