What Is Calamari?

You probably know calamari as those delicious-looking golden-fried rings that tempt you every time you look at an Italian restaurant’s menu. But it can be a little intimidating to order for the first time. After all, “fried squid” doesn’t sound particularly appetizing if you’ve never had it, especially when there’s stuff like “big balls of gooey cheese” and “fried sticks of gooey cheese” on the appetizer menu as well. So, to help you make your choice, we’re going to dive into the subject of calamari, answering your important questions until you’re ready to ask the most important one: “Can I have some?”

What is calamari? 

What’s calamari? It’s squid. In fact, “calamari” is an Italian word used for any kind of squid dish, although in other countries it’s commonly used for the dish that Italians call “calamari fritti,” (aka “fried squid”), which consists of battered and fried squid rings, typically served with marinara or cocktail sauce. It’s kind of like onion rings, if you replaced the onion with a cut-up squid.   

What is calamari? Is calamari squid or octopus? 

Calamari is exclusively squid. While there are certainly fried octopus dishes, like Japan’s octopus karaage, the term calamari really only refers to squid dishes. It’s kinda like how there are tons of sparkling white wines, but only certain ones are Champagne. Only here, the Champagne is squishier and has tentacles. The confusion isn’t helped by the fact that squid and octopus have very similar flavors. The main difference is the texture, with squid being a little chewier and smoother than octopus. 

What does calamari taste like? 

Squid has a mild, faintly sweet taste that’s not too far from shrimp. It also avoids the “fishy” flavor you get from most seafood. And it soaks up flavor. So, with calamari fritti, a lot of the flavor comes from the batter. And there are countless different recipes for fried calamari, many of which include spices like garlic or paprika, salt, and black pepper. 

Calamari is more known for its texture, rather than its flavor. Cooked correctly, calamari starts out firm, but then gives into a tender meatiness. Cooked incorrectly, it can be rubbery. 

How is calamari made? Why is it in rings? 

The body of a squid is a cylinder, so cutting it in sections naturally makes rings. There’s also probably something to be said for the rings being a little more appetizing than just “chunks of squid.” But that approach hasn’t hurt chicken nuggets’ popularity. 

To make calamari, you slice squid into rings (and, often, you also cut off the little tentacles), then batter and fry the squid bits. 

Can I buy calamari at the store? 

You sure can! There are a bunch of frozen and pre-cooked calamari you can find in your local grocery store. In fact, we reviewed Trader Joe’s Crispy Battered Calamari right here!


About the Author

Jon Gutierrez

Jon is an L.A.-based comedy writer who's spent 95 percent of his life trying to decide which Ramen flavor to buy, only to go with "chicken." The other 5 percent? Mushroom.

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