What Even Is Calamari, You Guys?
It has come to our attention that not everyone knows what exactly calamari is. That's chill, no worries. But don't you like to know what you're eating, well, before you eat it? Without further ado, a deep dive (LOL, GET IT?!) on your favorite neighborhood squid.
What does "calamari" mean?
It means squid (plural!) in Italian.
OK, OK. So do I really not know what calamari is?
You tell me! Did you think it was squid/mollusk closely related to the octopus? Did you know that said mollusk can be up to 80 feet long but tends to be closer to about 12 inches in length? Did you know these things? Did you, you mollusk genius?
...But it's still the stuff I order fried at restaurants, correct?
It sure is! What you're getting there, though, is likely not the thing's tentacles, but the body of it sliced into rings and, yes, often fried. Many believe it tastes best sprinkled with salt and dipped in a marinara sauce of sorts.
Can you eat it any other way?
Of course you can! It's your calamari-loving life! Others squeeze lemon over the deep-fried batter. Some forego the frying altogether for a healthier baked version. Parsley is another thing you'll oftentimes find sprinkled over the stuff.
If you're tired of eating it on its own, calamari goes nicely in pasta or paella. If you're over the Western European preparations altogether, Koreans opt for mustard-tossed squid served in lettuce leaves, though that wouldn't technically be called "calamari," as that's specific to the Mediterranean preparation you see above.
What should one expect if one has never actually had it...
Well. It's chewy. And meaty. And iron-y. And chewy. And crispy. And chewy. And good.
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