Fried Squid (Calamari) - Greek Style

Serves: 6 - 8

Cooking Time: 3 - 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 kg (2 lb) squid or calamari

Flour

Lemon Wedges

Garlic Sauce (instructions further down)

Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To clean the squid (calamari), remove the intestines, head and tentacles and pull out transparent backbone.  If this is difficult, cut the hood open and clean.  Pull off the skin.  Remove the eyes and beak from the head and tentacles.

2. Wash the hoods and heads in cold water.

3. Slice the hoods in 1/5 inch (5mm) rings or strips and cut the heads in half then sprinkle lightly with salt.

4. Coat squid pieces with flour and shallow fry in hot oil (vegetable or olive oil would do) a few pieces at a time until the pieces turn golden brown.  Cooking should take between 3 and 5 minutes.

5. Drain each batch in a bowl with absorbent paper, being careful not to burn yourself.

6. Serve piping hot with lemon wedges and a bowl of garlic sauce.

GARLIC SAUCE (Skordalia)

Yield: 2 cups

Ingredients

6 garlic cloves

Salt & Peper

1 cup mashed potatoes

2 slices stale white bread

1/3 cup olive oil

1 table spoon lemon juice

1 table spoon vinegar

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pound garlic cloves with ½ teaspoon salt into a mortar until smooth (can do this in a food processor or blender if you don’t have a mortar).
2. Add mashed potatoes (boiled potatoes till soft & mashed) to mortar and continue to pound and stir with pestle.
3. Soak bread (crusts removed) in cold water and squeeze dry.
4. Add to potatoes and garlic while continuing to pound and stir until smooth.
5. Gradually add olive oil, lemon juice and vinegar, stirring vigorously.
6. When smooth and light, add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Chill in a covered bowl before serving.
8. Serve with hot or cold seafood, vegetables or even spread on bread.