
Fried Calamari Sandwich
1d 2h 45m
This warm-weather sandwich will take you straight to the Italian seaside.
While squid is readily found in cuisines across the globe, fried squid is particularly popular in the Mediterranean. Since focaccia is native to the Mediterranean (dating back to the 14th century), it is only natural that these two be paired together.
Add 500 g of all-purpose flour to a large bowl
Add 200 ml of lukewarm water
Break apart 3 g of fresh yeast with your fingers. Add to the bowl
Add 200 ml of lukewarm water and mix
Mix until the dough is completely hydrated
Add 40 ml of olive oil. Mix to incorporate
Add 10 g of salt. Mix well until all ingredients fully combined
Cover the bowl with a towel. Let the dough rest for 20m until it relaxes
Place 1 pinch of saffron in a small bowl
Add 25 ml of warm water. Soak 15m to extract the flavor
Put 2 egg yolks in a tall container
Add 1 tbsp of mustard
Add 2 tbsp of red wine vinegar
Season with salt and black pepper to taste
Add 100 ml of olive oil
Blend until thick and emulsified
Add the saffron water in parts, blending to incorporate. The saffron mayo is ready
Dust a clean work surface with semolina flour
Remove the dough from the bowl onto the floured surface
Fold the dough from each side towards the center with help of a bowl scraper
Cover the dough with a bowl. Let it rest for 20m until the dough relaxes
Fold the dough from each side towards the center. Cover with a bowl and let it rest for 20m until the dough relaxes
Fold the dough from each side towards the center. Place the dough into a bowl greased with olive oil
Cover tightly with cling film. Place in the refrigerator for 24h until the dough rises
Poke the dough with your finger to check that it has risen. It should spring back quickly
Preheat an oven to 255 °C
Pour olive oil in a baking tray with high sides. Grease all of the surfaces
Dust the baking tray with semolina flour
Scrape the focaccia dough from the bowl into the baking tray
Rub your hands with olive oil. Stretch the dough to the corners while pressing gently to make dents with your fingers
Pour olive oil over the dough and spread it with your hands
Bake the focaccia at 255 °C for 15m until brown
Slice ½ of the white part of a leek on a mandoline very thinly. Place in a small bowl
Add 2 tbsp of red wine vinegar
Add salt and black pepper to taste
Pick the leaves from ½ bunch of chervil
Add the chervil to the bowl
Add ½ tbsp of olive oil and mix. The Chervil Salad is ready
Pour olive oil on focaccia while still warm. Brush it into all corners
Allow the focaccia to cool down on a rack. The focaccia is ready
Heat 3 cups of vegetable oil to 180 °C
Put 1 cup of all-purpose flour in a bowl
Add ⅔ cup of corn flour
Season with black pepper and salt to taste
Add sweet paprika to taste
Add 1½ tsp of baking soda
Mix to combine
Cut 4 clean squid tubes in half lengthwise
Score the squid with a knife by making a checkered pattern
Cut the squid transversely into medium-sized strips
Add the squid to the flour mixture and toss until completely coated
Sift the excess flour from the squid
Fry the squid in small batches for 3m until golden brown. Reheat the oil to 180 °C between batches
Salt to taste while still hot. The fried calamari is ready
Cut a piece of focaccia in half
Spread 1 tbsp of the saffron mayo over half of the focaccia and add a handful of fried calamari
Add chervil salad to taste. Spread saffron mayo over the other half of the focaccia and add salt to taste
The fried calamari sandwich is ready. Enjoy!
Yield 1 person
Focaccia alla Romana
00 All-Purpose Flour
500 gSemolina Flour (Coarse)
To DustFresh Yeast
3 gOlive Oil
200 mlSalt
10 gLukewarm Water
400 ml
Saffron Mayo
Saffron
1 pinchEgg Yolk
2Mustard
1 tbspRed Wine Vinegar
2 tbspOlive Oil
100 mlVegetable Oil
150 mlWarm Water
25 mlBlack Pepper Powder
To tasteSalt
To taste
Chervil Salad
Chervil
½ bunchLeek
½Red Wine Vinegar
2 tbspExtra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tbspGround Black Pepper
To tasteSalt
To taste
Fried Calamari
Clean Squid
4Corn Flour
⅔ cupSweet Paprika
To tasteBaking Soda
1½ tspAll-Purpose Flour
1 cupVegetable Oil
3 cupsBlack Pepper Powder
To tasteSalt
To taste
Equipment
Kitchen Scale
Hand Blender
Mandoline