Bocadillo de Calamares (Spanish Fried Squid Sandwich)

About This Recipe

Bocadillo de calamares is a Madrid specialty, most closely associated with the streets around Plaza Mayor, where fried squid rings are piled generously into a length of crusty baguette for an inexpensive, satisfying lunch. The squid rings are dredged simply in flour and fried quickly at high heat, a technique that keeps them tender rather than rubbery, developing a light, crisp coating without any heavy batter weighing them down. Served with just a squeeze of lemon and sometimes a smear of garlicky aioli, the sandwich depends entirely on the squid being fresh and fried at the right temperature — simplicity here is the whole appeal.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 500 gsquid(cleaned and cut into rings)
• 1 cupall-purpose flour
• 1 tspsalt
• 1/2 tspblack pepper
• 4 cupsvegetable oil(for frying)
• 4baguette rolls(or a length of baguette cut into 4)
• 1/3 cupmayonnaise
• 1 clovegarlic(minced, for aioli)
• 1lemon(for serving)

Instructions

1. 1

   Dry the squid

   Pat the squid rings very dry with paper towels.

2. 2

   Dredge

   Toss the squid rings in flour seasoned with salt and pepper, shaking off any excess.

3. 3

   Heat the oil

   Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan or pot to 350F/175C.

4. 4

   Fry

   Fry the squid in small batches for 1.5-2 minutes, until golden and just cooked through.

   Fry in small batches and don't overcook — squid turns rubbery within seconds of being done, so pull it as soon as it's golden.

5. 5

   Drain

   Drain on paper towels immediately.

6. 6

   Make the aioli

   Stir minced garlic into the mayonnaise.

7. 7

   Assemble

   Split the baguette rolls, spread with garlic aioli, pile in the hot fried squid, and serve with lemon wedges.

Variations

• •

  Some versions add a squeeze of lemon directly onto the squid before assembling the sandwich rather than serving it on the side.

• •

  A tapas version simply serves the fried squid rings on a plate with lemon, without the bread.

• •

  Adding a few strands of pickled pepper or a spicy mayo gives a modern twist on the traditional sandwich.

Storage

Best eaten immediately after frying; fried squid does not reheat well and turns rubbery, so only fry what you plan to eat right away.

Frequently Asked Questions