Wok Seared Spicy Calamari Salad Food

SALT AND PEPPER SQUID

Steps:

• First prepare your squid. Rinse it well in cold water. Cut the tentacles off using one cut, keeping about a 1/4 inch of the hood in order to end up with one piece of calamari that includes all the tentacles. If you're using larger squid, you can cut these pieces lengthwise in half in order to make them bite-sized. Having each piece be roughly the same size is important for achieving the same cooking time for each piece of calamari. Drain the squid pieces in a colander and transfer to a bowl.
• Marinate the squid in the shaoxing wine and sesame oil. Toss gently and set aside.
• In a medium deep pot, add enough oil so that the level of oil reaches 4 inches up the side of the pot. Heat the oil until the temperature reaches 325 degrees.
• While you're waiting for the oil to heat, prepare your dry mixture. Combine the all-purpose flour, semolina flour, cornmeal, salt, and white pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• When the oil reaches temperature, you're ready to start dredging your squid. Work in batches of small fistfuls of calamari. Gently squeeze off any liquid and dredge the squid in the dry mixture.
• Using a long-handled sieve or slotted spoon, lower the calamari into the hot oil. Gently move the calamari pieces back and forth. Let them fry until golden brown, about 2-2 1/2 minutes. Remove all the calamari and let drain on a paper-towel-lined plate. Taste one piece of calamari for saltiness (be careful, it's hot). You can sprinkle more salt immediately after frying to your taste. A necessary step, however, is to crack some fresh white pepper over the freshly fried squid. Continue frying in these small batches and seasoning with white pepper until you've fried all the squid.
• Now the next phase: stir-frying the fried squid. Heat a wok over medium-high heat. Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add the ginger and let it fry in the oil. After about 20 seconds, add the garlic. Stir the garlic around the wok quickly in order to prevent burning. When the garlic gets lightly golden in color, add the peppers. Continue to stir fry for another 30 seconds.
• Add the squid to the wok and stir fry quickly in the aromatic mixture for about a minute or so. Plate and serve immediately with white rice! And don't leave those crispy pieces of garlic and pepper behind!

SPICY CALAMARI AND CUCUMBER SALAD WITH SPICED YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• For the spicy calamari and cucumber salad: Add the soy sauce, vinegar, honey, chili paste, garlic and ginger to a bowl and whisk to combine. Season with salt if needed. Divide the marinade between 2 medium bowls. Add the calamari to one of the bowls and the cucumbers to the other. Stir so that the calamari and cucumbers are fully coated in the marinade. Let marinate at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove the calamari from the marinade and pat dry. Grill the calamari in batches until charred and tender, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and slice the tubes into 1/2-inch rings. Add the rings and whole tentacles to the bowl with the cucumbers and toss to combine.
• For the spiced yogurt sauce: Whisk together the yogurt, chopped cilantro, coriander, garlic, caraway seeds, sumac, paprika and 1 teaspoon salt. The sauce can be made up to 1 day in advance and kept refrigerated.
• To serve: Spread some of the yogurt sauce onto a shallow dish. Use a spoon to create a well in the center of the sauce so that the sides of the sauce are about 1/2-inch high. Add the marinated cucumbers and grilled calamari into the well. Garnish with cilantro leaves and black sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

PAN-SEARED CALAMARI WITH SPICY MARINARA OVER LINGUINE

Steps:

• Cook linguine according to package directions.
• Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet and a small saucepot. To both, add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add calamari to the skillet and cook 2 minutes. Then to both, add pasta sauce and crushed red pepper flakes and bring to a simmer. Simmer 3 to 5 minutes, until calamari is tender. Reserve tomato sauce in the saucepot for another meal.
• Transfer linguine to a serving platter. Spoon all of the calamari and tomato sauce over linguine. Garnish with basil, if desired.

WOK-SEARED SPICY CALAMARI SALAD

Steps:

• 1. place calamari in bowl. Add cashews, cilantro, mint and srirancha to taste and toss. Season with salt and pepper. 2. mix greens and endive and divide among 4 bowls 3. place wok over high heat, add oil, and when smoking hot, add calamari and seasonings. Stir fry for about 20 seconds, until calamari rings start to turn opaque. Add lime juice, toss, remove from heat. Pour mixture over greens