Calamari Squid FAQ

Answer: Calamari is indeed squid.
The squid is a mollusk related to the cuttlefish and octopus. It has ten tentacles, and like its cousin, the octopus, it also has a protective mechanism which releases a dark ink into the water when it senses danger.
The meat is firm and white with a mild, slightly sweet and almost nutty flavor. The squid ranges from one inch in size up to eighty feet, but the most common size for eating is less than twelve inches.
Although the tentacles are edible, the body is the prime section of meat which can be stuffed whole, cut into flat pieces, or sliced crosswise into perfect rings.
Squid lends itself to just about every cooking method imaginable and is often eaten raw in sushi dishes. Squid is available fresh, canned, frozen, dried and pickled.
Squid is also known as calamari, its Italian name. Since calamari seems to sound more palatable than squid, you'll most often see squid recipes listed as calamari on restaurant menus.
• Squid Selection and Storage
• Squid and Calamari Cooking Tips and Hints
• How to Clean Squid and Harvest Squid Ink
• How to Clean Squid - Photo Tutorial
• What is calamari? FAQ
• Squid and Calamari Recipes
Squid and Calamari Photos © 2007 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Squid (Calamari) Recipes - Home Cooking

The squid is a mollusk related to the cuttlefish and octopus. These recipes all use squid (also known as calamari) as an ingredient. Remember, squid must be cooked fast over high heat or simmered a long time to avoid being tough and chewy. If you have a recipe to share, please post on our Message Board. Add your own special recipe to share with the world.

• Squid Information
• How to Clean Whole Squid - Photo Tutorial

• More Seafood Recipes
• Fish Recipes - Salmon, catfish, caviar, tuna, albacore, swordfish, and more
• Crab Recipes
• Shrimp Recipes - Plus scampi, prawns, crawdads, crawfish
• Lobster Recipes

• Beer Batter Squid
• Black Risotto with Calamari
• Bouillabaisse (Seafood Stew)
• Blasted Squid with Gingered Cabbage
• Christmas Eve Special Squid
• Coconut and Seafood Soup with Garlic Chives
• Garden Squid Chowder
• Grilled Squid
• Italian Fish Stew
• Kicked-Up Fried Calamari
• Linguine with Squid and Clams
• Marinated Squid with Chickpeas and Chilli
• Oven-Braised Squid with Wine
• Pasta with Mixed Seafood (Pasta alla Posillipo)
• Seafood Paella
• Spicy Calamari Chowder
• Squid with Ham Bernadette
• Squid Stewed in Their Ink
• Squid with Gingered Cabbage
• Squid with Tomatoes
• Stuffed Calamari (Squid)
• Stuffed Calamari on the Grill
• Sweet and Sour Squid
• Thai Squid Salad

More Seafood Recipes
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Calamari Squid FAQ

Answer: Calamari is indeed squid.

The squid is a mollusk related to the cuttlefish and octopus. It has ten tentacles, and like its cousin, the octopus, it also has a protective mechanism which releases a dark ink into the water when it senses danger.

The meat is firm and white with a mild, slightly sweet and almost nutty flavor. The squid ranges from one inch in size up to eighty feet, but the most common size for eating is less than twelve inches.

Although the tentacles are edible, the body is the prime section of meat which can be stuffed whole, cut into flat pieces, or sliced crosswise into perfect rings.

Squid lends itself to just about every cooking method imaginable and is often eaten raw in sushi dishes. Squid is available fresh, canned, frozen, dried and pickled.

Squid is also known as calamari, its Italian name. Since calamari seems to sound more palatable than squid, you'll most often see squid recipes listed as calamari on restaurant menus.

• Squid Selection and Storage
• Squid and Calamari Cooking Tips and Hints
• How to Clean Squid and Harvest Squid Ink
• How to Clean Squid - Photo Tutorial
• What is calamari? FAQ
• Squid and Calamari Recipes
Squid and Calamari Photos © 2007 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.

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