If you’ve ever been to seafood or an Italian restaurant, you’ve probably seen calamari on the menu. It seems like onion rings and feels similar to an al dente linguine. It is often served alongside marinara or tartar sauce and tastes absolutely scrumptious. If you’ve never heard of calamari or heard of it but never tried, you’ll probably want to know what it is.
If you’re someone that loves seafood, calamari is a seafood delicacy that you should certainly be familiar with. In this article, we will explain what calamari is. Whether you want to taste something new or want to impress your friends by serving it at your next dinner party, read on to find out what this fried ring-shaped seafood delicacy really is.
What is Calamari?
Simply, calamari is fried squid. Often, people find squid gross but, when cooked properly, it is something you wouldn’t want to miss out on. In culinary terminology, It refers to fried squid cooked in the Mediterranean way. While some culinary connoisseurs say that it is one dish cooked in a certain way, the word “calamari” is often used as a broad term to define any dish that includes squid as the main ingredient.
What to Expect When Ordering Calamari?
You can commonly expect battered and deep-fried rings of squid with a size smaller than that of onion rings. It can also be presented with tentacles on the outside. It has a somewhat sweet flavor and the crispy, breaded exterior really completes the scrumptious white meat. It is often garnished with lemon and parsley, which really brings the dish together.
Why eat Calamari?
Apart from the fact that calamari is a seafood delicacy that tastes really fine, squid is also a form of protein and many other nutrients that are healthy for your body. While squid is high in fats and cholesterol, it is also full of protein, zinc, selenium, vitamin B12, and calcium. Even the fats in squid are healthy ones, such as monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. Overall, it is an exceptional way to consume protein and other nutrients without compromising on taste.
Where can you purchase Calamari from?
Often, grocery stores have calamari in stock to purchase fresh or frozen. You can even have someone clean the squid for you at the fish counter of the grocery store if you’re not ready to get into that hassle yourself. If you can’t find it at your local grocery store, you can always go to a fish market and purchase some fresh squid from there.