Fritto Misto Recipe for Italian Fried Dish

What is more delicious than fritto misto and a crisp glass of white wine in the summer? Although we have a number of delectable dishes on our menu, we’d all agree that fried food was made for summer gatherings! The weather is heating up and we want to share one of our favorite lunch items with you. When you combine the freshness of fried food with Italian spices, you get a culinary explosion of flavor! For those of you who want to make this at home, keep reading!

What is Fritto Misto? 

This is one of the most well known Italian dishes but don’t worry if you haven’t heard of it. If you love calamari, you’ll love this fritto misto recipe. It turns the flavor and tenderness of calamari up a few notches with the use of buttermilk and paprika. Fritto misto refers to small batches of seafood, meat, and vegetables that have been dipped in batter and deep fried. When the star of the show is seafood, the recipe is referred to as fritto misto di mare. It typically includes a big heap of a variety of seafood such as shrimp, squid, scallops, crayfish, soft shell crabs, and fresh sardines. You can choose to use just one type of seafood or a combination of any of these selections. There are a number of different Italian varieties of fritto misto including: 

• Piedmont region – Known for exquisite red wines, the Piedmont region of Italy has a version of fritto misto that is characterized by vegetables and enhanced by seasonal fare. You can expect to enjoy sweet cream, semolina, various cheeses, prosciutto, and veal brain.
• Marche region – This region has a fritto misto flavored with olives, finely minced meat, lamb chops, squash blossoms, and fried semolina. 
• Venice – A venitian fritto misto comes in a cone shaped wrapper filled with a variety of tiny fried fish. 
• Neopolitan style – Like the popular ice cream flavor, a neapolitan fritto misto is a mixture of unique flavors that can include anchovies, mozzarella, and seasonal vegetables like cauliflower, eggplant, zucchini, and artichokes. 

One aspect that remains the same no matter how you chose to enjoy fritto misto is that it must be eaten hot. When you visit Italy, you can expect this dish to be prepared fresh and hot with a bity of variety with each order. If you have guests coming for a dinner or brunch party, make sure not to prepare this too far in advance. 

Try This Fritto Misto di Mare Recipe

When making this calamari fritto misto at home, it can be part of a meal as an appetizer or prepared separate as a quick snack. Regardless of how you chose to enjoy this fritto misto recipe, there are a few considerations to be mindful of when preparing this dish. First, using an oil that can withstand high temperatures with a high smoking point. We recommend using peanut oil since it works well at high heat and does not overwhelm the flavors of the food. Although extra virgin olive oil works well, it is not cost effective to use for this dish. Secondly, don’t be afraid to be generous with the use of oil. When using a fryer, you’ll want to see the food float on the surface. Lastly, monitoring the temperature is one of the most important aspects of making great fritto misto. By using an iron skillet, you’ll have more control over the temperature, since it allows the oil to heat slowly across a wide area. We encourage you to use a thermometer to ensure the oil reaches 180 degrees. 

• Ingredients:
  • Between 1 and 1 ½ pounds of squid tubes and tentacles
  • Between 1 and 1 ¼ cups of buttermilk 
  • Between 2 and 3 cups of all purpose flour
  • ¼ cups of rice flour
  • 1 teaspoon of paprika
  • Kosher salt and ground pepper
  • 1 large cucumber cut into matchsticks
  • 1 thinly sliced lemon
  • Peanut or canola oil 
  • Lemon wedges
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley 
  • Siracho mayo 
  • ½ cup of mayo
  • A few drops of sriracha with adjustments for heat preferences

• Preparation: 
  • Phase 1 – Begin rinsing the squid in a colander and remove any fins. Then, cut the tubes into rings and lightly add salt. Next, soak the squid in buttermilk for at least 20 minutes. 
  • Phase 2 – As the squid is soaking, cut the cucumber into matchsticks if you haven’t already and slice the lemons. 
  • Phase 3 – Heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet until it reaches 375 degrees. 
  • Phase 4 – As the oil is heating up, mix the rice flour, all purpose flour, salt and pepper, and paprika on a baking sheet. Be sure to lightly coat the lemons and zucchini as well. 
  • Phase 5 – When the oil has reached the ideal temperature, dust off any excess flour from the zucchini and begin to fry in small batches without crowding the pan. Repeat this process with the lemons and set aside on a paper towel to drain the oil. 
  • Phase 6 – Once you’ve fried the lemons and zucchini, you may have to change your oil. After changing your oil, take the squid from the buttermilk to the flour and coat generously. Next, dip coated pieces into the fryer. 
  • Phase 7 – When the calamari has turned a golden brown, you may remove it from the oil and onto paper towels to drain. You’ll repeat this process until all calamari is fried. Once this is complete, you can mix both the zucchini, lemons, and calamari onto a platter. Don’t forget to garnish with parsley, lemon wedges, and a side of sriracha mayo. Enjoy!

When making this calamari fritto misto, you’ll want to make sure that all the ingredients are dry at room temperature and approximately the same size. This will make frying easier. You will also be able to maintain the fibres of the food intact. 

Visit Us for Fritto Misto 

What is fritto misto without someone to share it with? The season for enjoying calamari fritto misto under a South Miami sunset is here and we have the perfect location for it! Our Fritto Misto consists of crispy calamari, zuchinni, and mushrooms served with a spicy chili aioli. No meal is complete without a glass of wine or one of our signature cocktails. We invite you to come during our Happy Hour from Monday through Friday to enjoy specials on your favorite adult beverages. Bring a group of friends on Mondays and enjoy our Half Priced Bottles of Wine specials with our Fritto Misto. If you can’t make it on Mondays, stop by for our Artisinal Pizza Night for 11 inch gourmet pizzas you’ll love! For those of you who have free time on Wednesday, we’d love for you to take advantage of our Pasta Night specials where pasta dishes are only $12. 

With so many great dishes to choose from, you’ll want to take your time and relax. We create an ambiance like no other with live jazz music featuring local favorites. Now, you can sip wine while enjoying Fritto Misto against a backdrop of unique jazz tunes and Miami vibes. We can accommodate private parties and events to celebrate special occasions. On days you’d rather stay at home, we have a take out menu as well. 

Check out our website for our live jazz dates and make your table reservations today!