Are you fond of seafood? I have a thing for seafood. You can visit different countries and explore seafood there. You will find different tastes and different cooking techniques everywhere you go! Ever been to Sweden? According to the facts, West Sweden is rich in Sead food variety. They have the best seafood in the world. Moreover, the place is full of fresh-smelling oysters, lobsters, and delicious prawns. Today, we are going to discuss a famous seafood Calamari. For those who do not know what is Calamari, it is seafood popular in North America. Let us shine a light on our main topic in the article’s next section.
What is Calamari? Is it an English name?
Yes, you were right when you guessed Calamari is an English name. However, the Italians call it squid. Calamari is the culinary term used for a particular variety of squid. Moreover, more tha three hundred varieties of squid are available in the market.
Furthermore, do not get confused with the Octopus or cuttlefish. Unlike Octopus, Ths is a squid species with thin and soft bodies. Also, the flesh of Calamari is thin and tough with elongated arms and tentacles.
The significant difference between Octopus and Calamari is that Calamari is less expensive and easier to butcher. Moreover, the hardest is to cut through the arms and upper skin as it is complex and requires much force to skin. The challenge is almost over once you are done with the arms. It leaves behind a delicate and easy-to-cut cylindrical piece of flesh. You can cut this soft flesh in the form of rings or can stuff it anyway.
What is Calamari’s physical appearance?
People often get confused with Calamari with Octopus. This is because they are distant cousins and share similar physical appearances. Also, they belong to the same marine family of Cephalopods. Moreover, Cephalopoda is a class of marine animals with soft bodies and long arms. Examples of animals belonging to this class are squid, nautiluses, octopuses, and cuttlefish.
An exciting thing about this sea food and other Cephalopoda members is they squirt ink in the water as an escape mechanism. You may not know this, but Squids have ink sacs between their gills. They release them in the water, which helps them move, feed, or even breathe.
Furthermore, just like Octopus, squid also has three hearts. Two for pumping blood to reach the gills and a systematic heart to transfer blood to the remaining body parts.
Squids have short and thick bodies with long arms when it comes to physical appearance. Moreover, they can grow upto 24 inches. However, there is a class of squid that are not that long and range between .5-1 inches. On the other hand, a giant squid can reach upto 43 feet.
Does Calamari taste like Octopus?
If you are no stranger to Octopus and know what it tastes like, you would know Octopus has a juicy and tender taste. Also, it gives a rubbery texture that can moisten your mouth. However, Calamari has a delightful and subtle taste. But, people have different theories regarding the taste of these two marine animals.
Some people find Octopus less rubbery than Calamari. However, Calamari was sweeter for some. Moreover, some people find Calamari tastes like chicken or even pork. Also, Calamari has a hard surface and is less tender than Octopus. However, when the Calamari is adequately cooked, it becomes more juicy and magical. One of the great things about Calamari is that they do not taste fishy, unlike any other seafood.
Also, the Calamari goes well with sauces. Every country has its unique sauces that they serve with Squids. This seafood is very good at absorbing herbs and other spices, making it taste better.
Furthermore, you are free to cook your Calamari in any way you want. You can grill them to get a moist and rubbery texture. You can marinate them to enjoy a blissful and unique taste at every bite. Also, it will give you a crunchy taste from the outside and soft from inside when deep-fried. And the taste gets better when you serve it with a marinara sauce containing herbs, tomatoes, onion garlic mainly.
Moreover, when this deep-fried Calamari touches lemon juice, its flavor gets more intense. I know this makes you irresistible, and you want to taste it now!
What are Calamari origins? Where can I buy them?
Calamari is available almost in every corner of the world. However, its origins are Mediterranean waters, making it popular seafood in North America. People have been celebrating the deep-fried Calamari since 1975. They like to add squid in a batter and then deep fry it, giving the squid a mouth-watering flavor.
Moreover, people in Japan like to eat their squid raw with sushi. However, in Mexico, people eat it with tomato sauce or curry with a glass of white wine. Europeans like their squid fried with lemon and parsley seasoning. Also, Calamari is available in can food, pickles, chips, etc. You can even dry and freeze Calamari to preserve it for the future.
Furthermore, some restaurants serve stuffed squids with tentacles on their sides. However, some restaurant centers their dish on the main body of the squid. They stuff them, make thin slices, cut them into rings, etc. There has been a significant evolution in calamari preparation worldwide.
Nowadays, Squids are readily available in any fish market. It is a messy task to clean it. However, you can ask the fishmonger to clean it for you. Also, you can buy frozen Calamari too, which does not need cleaning. Frozen Calamari is the best option which keeps it fresh for months. Also, the taste will remain intact without losing the texture.
On the other hand, cooked Calamari does not last more than a couple of days. Ensure that you eat the fried squid at once, as it does not last more than a couple of hours.
Is Calamari good for your health?
Just like any other seafood, Calamari also has several health benefits. It does not lack ot nutritional value in any form. Moreover, Calamari has a high protein percentage, with about 13 grams of protein in every three-ounce ounces. If you are a fitness freak, Calamari is just for you. It helps in muscles growth at a breakneck pace. Also, thi seas food is a bombshell of energy. You can have a squid salad and feel energetic throughout.
Moreover, Calamari is a powerhouse of antioxidants that act as a body cleanser. It contains free radicals, which increase the cells’ efficiency in fighting cancer. Also, Calamari increases the number of white blood cells, which even chemotherapy does not provide.
Furthermore, squid has the highest number of vitamins and minerals than some seafood. It contains an ample amount of iron, phosphorus, and a high vitamin B-12. All these vitamins help rapid cell growth strengthen muscles. Also, the immune system of a squid eater increases rapidly.
Calamari has the extraordinary ability to build blood cells in the human body. Moreover, it consists of copper, which is responsible for the growth of blood cells. Also, these blood cells are boon for those who have anemia. That means Calamari helps fight anemia which is a deadly disease.
Which Calamari dishes will you recommend?
Calamari is famous worldwide for its authentic taste and flavor. Moreover, this seafood can easily blend with herbs to give you the world’s best taste. People have come up with ways to cook this extraordinary food. Sone of the popular mentions are below:
- Japanese like their Calamari raw and fresh. Yakitori is a Japanese restaurant that serves grilled squid. Moreover, their grilling technique is quite fascinating. They use charcoal for grilling the delicious squid dish.
- Korean like their stews and noodles a bit much. That is why they came up with the idea of making squid stew Jjampong. Also, they add lots of vegetables, shrimp, noodles, and other kinds of seafood to enhance their taste.
- Crete is a Greek island whose specialty is stuffed and plump Calamari. This famous squid has a filling of rice, herbs, and fresh vegetables, which can be served with a tomato sauce.
- On the other hand, Italians prefer their squid with pasta. Their popular Spaghetti al Nero di seppia is prepared with a special squid sauce. The main ingredients of this sauce are white wine, squid ink, parsley, garlic, and special herbs.
- Americans recognize the fried Calamari. It is one of the famous fried foods available on the streets of America. Squid is dipped in flour and sprinkled with salt and pepper. Moreover, fried squid rings are popular in America and Italy. The restaurants serve the squid rings with marinara sauce and lemon wedges.
Conclusion:
In the end, I am assertive that this article has made you hungry and raised an urge to taste Calamari just one. Just remember that whenever you crave for seafood, you can always have them delivered to you by visiting www.getmainelobster.com. Also, I hope this article has valuable information that you love. Thank you for reading. Take care and be safe!
