We love salads. Every week like clock work we have salads on Tuesday night alongside a nice chunk of buttery moist bread and our favorite dressing. Sometimes the word salad can bring tension to a family especially one with small kids or if you have a certain husband (not mentioning any names:) that needs MEAT to survive. Thankfully, I have rewired convinced my husband with my endless supply of flavorful and unique salad creations that not all salads are boring and tasteless .
This past week I brought home the gold (hence the anticipation of the Olympic games)and used my freshly purchased calamari rings to liven up crispy ice-burg lettuce, creamy wasabi orange vinaigrette and hints of romano cheese. The calamari were bathed in a nice bath of buttermilk and srichacha sauce ( just because I love using buttermilk when frying) then dredged in a bubbly generous amount of tempura batter made with ice cold seltzer and freshly cracked sea salt and black pepper. The outcome was incredible, the seltzer keeps the batter from getting soggy, leaving you with an outrageously crispy golden crust. The crispy calamari and crispy ice-burg lettuce were a match made in heaven and the vinaigrette added the perfect sweetness with hints of orange and spicy wasabi. Don’t let the taste of summer pass you by- make this salad- you deserve it!
Ingredients
- 1 pound of fresh calamari rings
- 1/3 cup of AP flour
- 1/4 cup of cornmeal
- 1/2 cup of cornstarch
- 1 TBSP freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 TBSP freshly cracked sea salt
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 cup of buttermilk
- a dash of srichacha sauce
- 8-10 ounces of ice cold seltzer
- Wasabi Orange Vinaigrette: courtesy of Emeril
- 2 teaspoons wasabi paste
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup sesame oil
- 1 tsp grated orange zest
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Such a colorful salad with amazing flavor. wasabi and srichacha ? Whew, awesome!
Donna @ The Slow Roasted Italian recently posted..All American Chocolate Malt: Chocolate Malt Crunch Ice Cream Milk Shake
I’m confused by the two separate ways to comment. In any case I mentioned that I just bought calamari this morning and have everything else I need. Orange in the vinaigrette (not listed).
StephenC recently posted..Shrimp with curry and coconut milk
Sorry Stephen! I just added the orange to the ingredients! Oh and you can comment either by fb or by your normal blog address- either one is fine! Thanks for stopping by though!
What a lovely salad. I prefer my calamari grilled, but have on occasion enjoyed this deep fried version. Did you know that if you sliced your calamari in lengths (opposite to the rings) they will curl into little ringlets? So cute.
I never noticed my calamari smelling fishy.
Eva Taylor recently posted..Susur Lee Inspired Singapore Slaw, AKA 19 Ingredient Slaw
I have never had grilled calamari? Hummm. I will need to change that!
Oh and did not know that about the rings- mental note to do that next time!
Hmm, your husband sounds like my husband. Salad is a dirty word to him. But I would LOVE this, and he would enjoy picking out and eating the calimari!
Shea recently posted..Deja Vu: Red Skirt 2 Ways
Why this is simply belleicious! We love calamari and your salad is divine. We are big salad lovers too.
Sam
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen recently posted..Salad with Cherries, Goat Cheese and Pistachios
I LOVE absolutely everything about this salad!
Jessica | Cajunlicious recently posted..A Week in Review: Italian Volcano Organic Juices
I made some calamari salad not long ago and I like your version with wasabi and orange vinaigrette. Such a nice light meal!
Veronica’s Kitchen recently posted..Mini Cheesecake Topped with Homemade Pineapple & Passionfruit Jam
light meals like this appeals to me too. Light and crispy calamari with fresh leaves and a dressing-perfect.
daphne recently posted..Coconut Cauliflower Chicken Soup
the husband hardly eats salad. I on the other hand can survive on it every day. And when the salad has fancy seafood it will make me more happy
Kankana recently posted..Cherry Ice Cream
Love this salad so much! My husband would love this as well.
Candace recently posted.."SOUTHERN-STYLE" CHICKEN SALAD IN OVERHEATED NEW ENGLAND
He would! He really would. I swear you can change any salad haters mind into liking this one at least!
I love calamari! Calamari in salad. Perfect!
Salads can easily stand out on their own as full meals and you proved that with this awesome recipe
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious recently posted..Cornish Pasty
OH MY! I love everything about this salad! Especially the calamari!
Baker Street recently posted..M&M and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Thanks! Hey you should come up with a salad type muffin:)
jessica, i dont mind going on a meatless week and just eat this! wonderful pictures and the wasabi dressing sounds amazing
Lena recently posted..Chicken In Milk
Me too! I swear if my husband would let us I would have a salad for dinner every night- that is as long as I have some good dessert afterwards! Lol!
Absolutely heavenly!
Mandy
Mandy – The Complete Cook Book recently posted..Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Icing
Another great one KB!
Bree recently posted..Summertime Pulled Pork & a bit about the contest…
Thanks Bree!
I wouldn’t mind eating salad everyday especially if it has my favorite calamari in it! Super yummy!
Tina (PinayInTexas) recently posted..Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
You know I love squid/calamari and use it often for my cooking. This crispy calamari on the salad looks fantastic. I’m the only Japanese you know who don’t eat wasabi, but I can omit and still enjoy this lovely vinaigrette! YUM!
Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Frozen Chocolate Banana
You don’t eat wasabi! What! That surprises me! I think i could change your mind with this dressing though! Lol!
You’re telling me to turn calamari into a salad and I say: Will do!!
Jed Gray (sportsglutton) recently posted..Monday Morning Humor
I may have to try adding the yummy calamari the next time I make a wedge salad!
yummychunklet recently posted..TwD: Baking Blueberry Nectarine Pie with Julia
Oh you should my friend! The calamari was just perfect with the tempura batter
Oh,my. In a way, it’s good that no one but me in my household would even touch calamari..I’d get it ALL to myself! What a tremendous salad addition!!!
Liz recently posted..Blueberry-Nectarine Pie…Baking with Julia~
This is my kind of salad. I love calamari but don’t cook it enough. Your calamari sounds delicious! The sriracha must give it an exciting spicy flavor.
So glad to hear from you:) the sauce was the perfect accompaniment to the sea salt and pepper!
That’s the appetizer my daughter usually order at the restaurant and I can’t eat. Nicely served in salad.
Balvinder recently posted..Bhindi Do Pyaza
Your daughter must make this then. You would enjoy the dressing! It was full of amazing flavors with the orange and wasabi!
I do love some calamari! Never thought of making it the centerpiece of a salad and the dressing sounds divine. No doubt, I’ll be making this soon.
Shawn recently posted..Fried Green Tomatoes
Oh i hope you do shawn. the calamari is perfectly fried and goes great with the dressing. so glad to hear from you