Christmas Eve Dinner!

One of our family traditions is to have LOTS of different fish dishes to serve on Christmas Eve! This is a common tradition in many Italian households. It's called "Feast of the Seven Fishes". In my family we don't make all seven fish dishes...four or five is our limit! We usually make shrimp, scallops, sea bass, octopus, crab and/or calamari.

Below is my photo and recipe for fried calamari. We serve it with marinara sauce for dipping.

Fried Calamari

Ingredients

2 1/2 lb	squid, cleaned and sliced into rings
2 lg	cloves of garlic-crushed
1 c	flour-seasoned with 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper, 1 tsp. baking powder and 1 pinch of cayenne pepper
2 c	or more-plain breadcrumbs-I use the "4c" brand
	corn oil-for deep frying Directions Mix all dry ingredients together, include crushed garlic, but do not include breadcrumbs.   Then add enough water to make a slightly thick batter. Mix thoroughly.   Dip the calamari rings into this batter, then dip into the plain (unseasoned) breadcrumbs.   Deep fry (in small batches) for 1-2 minutes at about 375*F. Do not over fry or they will be chewy.   I always serve this with homemade marinara sauce for dipping.   This recipe serves about 4-6 people. I always double this recipe for my family.

2 1/2 lb

squid, cleaned and sliced into rings

2 lg

cloves of garlic-crushed

1 c

flour-seasoned with 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper, 1 tsp. baking powder and 1 pinch of cayenne pepper

2 c

or more-plain breadcrumbs-I use the "4c" brand

corn oil-for deep frying

Directions

Mix all dry ingredients together, include crushed garlic, but do not include breadcrumbs.

 

Then add enough water to make a slightly thick batter. Mix thoroughly.

 

Dip the calamari rings into this batter, then dip into the plain (unseasoned) breadcrumbs.

 

Deep fry (in small batches) for 1-2 minutes at about 375*F. Do not over fry or they will be chewy.

 

I always serve this with homemade marinara sauce for dipping.

 

This recipe serves about 4-6 people. I always double this recipe for my family.

And here is a recipe for homemade marinara sauce. I received this recipe from a food friend named Elisha Hayes, over 4 years ago. It has been my 'go to' marinara sauce ever since! It is quick, simple and delicious for dipping fried calamari or for serving with pasta.

Marinara Sauce

Ingredients

2 Tbsp	olive oil, extra virgin
4	shallots-chopped finely
2 cloves	garlic-chopped finely
1- 14 oz. can(s)	tomatoes- I use "San Marzano" brand plum, peeled
1 tsp	sugar
8	fresh basil leaves-chopped
	salt & pepper to taste Directions                     Heat the oil in a heavy-bottom pan.                       Add the shallots, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes,til softened.                                  Add all the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.                       Add the tomatoes, juice and all, and break them up with wooden spoon.                       Stir in the sugar and season to taste with the salt and pepper.                       Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, until thickened.                       Stir in the basil leaves and simmer about 10 more minutes. Then serve and enjoy!

2 Tbsp

olive oil, extra virgin

4

shallots-chopped finely

2 cloves

garlic-chopped finely

1- 14 oz. can(s)

tomatoes- I use "San Marzano" brand plum, peeled

1 tsp

sugar

8

fresh basil leaves-chopped

salt & pepper to taste

Directions

                    Heat the oil in a heavy-bottom pan.

 

                    Add the shallots, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes,til softened.           

 

                    Add all the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.

 

                    Add the tomatoes, juice and all, and break them up with wooden spoon.

 

                    Stir in the sugar and season to taste with the salt and pepper.

 

                    Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, until thickened.

 

                    Stir in the basil leaves and simmer about 10 more minutes. Then serve and enjoy!