If you are a strict vegetarian, then this discussion might not interest you. However, if you love eating non vegetarian food items, particularly sea foods, then this discussion will definitely provide you the much needed details about this highly popular, as well as sophisticated dish. The name itself enhances one's appetite and hence, a lot of people might often wonder what is calamari, how to cook it, & how it tastes. We all know that sea foods are extremely delicious and highly nutritious, as well. They provide us with a number of vital nutrients that are extremely beneficial for our body. Hence, it is highly recommended that if you do not have any problem with consuming non vegetarian food items, then you should definitely give the sea foods a try. You will get a number of amazing options to choose from and the dishes are extremely appetizing, as well. Here, we will be discussing in detail about the calamari. Then, we will be taking a look at its preparation procedure. Lastly, we will be providing a thorough overview regarding its taste. Thus, this discussion can be considered as highly beneficial for all those who are looking forward to trying or cooking this amazing dish soon.

What is calamari?

Now, this term might confuse a lot of food lovers out there. Some people might have come across this particular dish at some point of their lives. But, if you are hearing about it for the very first time in your lives, then this section is indeed quite important for you. Here, we will be providing a detailed overview regarding the term, calamari. This is very important because if you don't know what the substance is, then there is no point in discussing its cooking procedure and its taste. So, for those who don't know, it is actually a very popular culinary term that is used for squid. This shellfish is quite popular among the seafood lovers and most of us might have already tasted it. An essential characteristic of this shellfish is that it has a hard or chewy texture.  So, if you are not a fan of this kind of texture, then you might not enjoy eating calamari. But, if you are comfortable with this chewy texture, then you can definitely give it a try whenever you visit an authentic seafood restaurant. You will be able to find this dish mostly in different Mediterranean, as well as Asian restaurants. This popular shellfish is a member of the mollusk family and the most important feature that they possess is that they are invertebrates. In other words, these creatures are devoid of backbones. Generally speaking, they are related to octopuses in a number of ways. But still, they differ a lot when it comes to the anatomy, and habitat. The octopus mostly live alone in dens that are present on the ocean floor. At the same time, squids are usually found in open oceans.

How to cook calamari?

In the previous section, we have provided a detailed overview regarding what is calamari. Here, we will be taking a look at the process that needs to be followed in order to cook calamari. This particular shellfish can be cooked in a number of different ways and you will be able to easily access different authentic recipes online. At the same time, it must be noted that the traditional dish will vary significantly from one place to another. But, if you want to retain the original flavor of this shellfish, then it is recommended that you choose a recipe that is simple, as well as employ only a few ingredients. The easiest way to cook this shellfish is by simply boiling it. Thereafter, you can use other ingredients to incorporate a characteristic taste to the dish. In order to boil this shellfish properly, please go through the steps that have been discussed below.

  1. So, to begin with, you need to fill a pan with some water, and then, bring it to boil.
  1. Once the water starts to boil, you should insert the properly washed and cleaned calamari pieces into the pan. Then, you should cover the pan with a lid and let it cook for about 30 to 45 minutes.
  1. It is highly recommended that you test the calamari with a fork after every 15 minutes interval. This will help you in monitoring the progress correctly.
  1. Once the calamari becomes tender, you will be able to easily poke it with a fork . At this point, it is considered ready to be served. You can also use different ingredients to provide a characteristic taste to this dish. You can also keep the leftover water aside which can be later used as seafood stock.

How does it taste?

We have already discussed what is calamari, and how to cook it. Now here, we will be discussing in detail about the characteristic taste of this shellfish. The Calamari meat or squid meat has a very firm, as well as chewy texture. However, it can be ascertained that the texture is not at all rubbery. When it comes to the taste of this shellfish, it can be confirmed that it has a very mild taste and you definitely don't have to worry about how intense the taste is. In addition to that, the calamari meat is also slightly sweet. However, it should be noted that it is quite hard to examine the flavor of this meat, since it has a tendency of absorbing different spices that are used during the cooking process. Thus, these spices can mask the authentic taste of calamari.

Conclusion

The seafood fans who are wondering what is calamari, how to cook it, & how it tastes, must definitely try this dish soon. Some people might not be comfortable when it comes to cooking these shellfish themselves. They might also overcook or undercook it accidentally. But still, you can try having this popular shellfish from a good restaurant of your choice. It is very delicious and you will definitely enjoy having it. The simplest method of cooking this meat is by boiling it. But, if you want it to be more delicious, then you can try other cooking methods such as frying or roasting. There are several amazing recipes that are available online. You can definitely search for these recipes on the internet to try out something new, as well as interesting with the squid meat.