Fried Calamari (Gluten Free)

I think that one of the hardest things about going gluten free is not being able to indulge in your favorite foods. I used to love going out to eat and ordering an appetizer of Fried Calamari. Yum! Well that goes right out the window on a gluten free diet! There is no reason why you can’t have these foods if you make them yourself.

Fried Calamari (Gluten Free)

I made a huge plate of calamari last night for my husband’s birthday dinner party. We had a simple get together with another couple. It was a glorious evening. We dropped the kids off at my parents house. I made a delicious five course meal. I lit candles. I put on a dress I had been waiting for a special occasion to wear. Our friends arrived without their children as well. It felt like a luxury to actually have conversations without interruptions and be able to stay up later than normal. We all enjoyed the delicious platter of fried calamari with a glass of wine. It was a great way to start off the evening! By the way, if you are looking for a budget friendly way to celebrate, try hosting a dinner party at your house. We probably would have paid at least twice as much if we had gone out to dinner. The other nice thing about staying in is that you don’t have to worry about cross contamination and YOU control your kitchen.

I hope you enjoy this simple recipe!

Fried Calamari

1-2 lbs of calamari (I can’t remember how much I bought, it was two big packages)

1/2 cup brown rice flour

1/2 cup cornmeal

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

olive oil

Note: You might need more of the flour mixture depending on the amount of calamari you buy. Start with this amount, then make more if you need it. Just make sure that your mixture is 1:1 in the amounts of cornmeal to brown rice flour.

Start by cutting your calamari if the body comes whole. Cut in strips so that you have little 1/4 inch rings. Combine flours with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Heat oil in a skillet about an inch deep. I just use olive oil, but you can use your favorite frying oil. Wait until oil is good and hot. Dredge calamari in flour mixture then drop in the oil. Be careful not to crowd the pan, you will have to do it in batches. Cook for several minutes until turns golden brown. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon onto paper towel to drain. If needed, add more salt to the calamari right after it is cooked. Continue process until you have done all the calamari. You might need to change the oil half way through to get rid of the sediment on the bottom of the pan. Serve with lemon wedges and some marinara sauce.

Quick Marinara Sauce

1 can of 28 oz crushed tomatoes (Muir Glen)

1-2 cloves garlic minced

salt

pepper

a few dashes of balsamic vinegar

onion

Saute some onion and garlic in a saucepan. Add can of tomatoes, salt, pepper and balsamic to taste. Simmer over low heat until warmed through. Serve with fried calamari.