This popular seafood antipasti is an Italian dish that literally means “fried mixture”. In this case I used calamari and scallops, but you could also add any other seafood you like. The most important thing is to get your oil hot, never overcook your fish, and keep your breading nice and light.
That’s why I love using this recipe because it’s made with cornstarch to bread the fish, using cornstarch gives it such a nice light flavor and the taste of the fish is not buried by gobs of breading.
I adapted the recipe a little by adding slice jalapeño for spice, some green beans for color and crunch along with lemon slices.
Frito Misto is a common dish served on Christmas Eve for The Feast of the Seven Fishes. The feast is an Italian American tradition where at least seven seafood dishes are served, all over you will see family’s preparing and cooking for this traditional feast.
It’s quite special to see how certain foods and traditions connect us all with fond memories and feelings that stay with us throughout our entire lives, no matter what nationality or culture we are a part of.
- 1 lb. calamari, cleaned and drained and patted dry
- ½ lb. sea scallops cut in half across the equator
- 2 lemons, sliced one for frying and the other for garnish
- Sliced jalapeño and green beans (optional)
- 2 cups cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon salt
- salt and pepper to taste
- oil for frying
- Heat oil 360 - 375
- In a wide rimmed bowl mix half of the calamari and half of the scallops and half of the lemon slices and half of the optional jalapeño and green beans.
- Sprinkle with 1 cup of the cornstarch mixed with salt.
- Toss with hands and coat everything, tapping off excess.
- Place in hot oil and fry til golden brown, drain on paper towels.
- Repeat with remaining seafood, veg and lemon slices same as before with remaining 1 cup of cornstarch mixture.
- Fry up and drain the same way.
- Serve hot with warm marinara on the side.
I’m Marie, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, and gramma of two beautiful girls. My passion is food, clear and simple but especially Italian food, hence the name of my blog, Proud Italian Cook. I want you to feel right at home here so grab a cup of coffee, I’ll get the pastries, take a look around and enjoy your visit! {
YUM, YUM, YUM, my favourite:)
Eating this would make me extremely happy. Excellent photo!
This looks so much like our Thalassina Tiganita (fried seafood) and I too have like the result of adding corn starch into the mix. I’m betting you make a batch of these Dec.24th.
I can imagine that the cornstarch made this light and delicious! Super snacks for the feast!
Hi Marie!
I never thought to use cornstarch! Another great tip I’ve learned from you 🙂 I’ve heard of using Panko bread crumbs, which are Japanese and very fine and light also.
I married a Calabrese (waving to Joe up above who is of Calabrain descent) so we always have to have the same fish for the “Feast of the 7 Fishes” he grew up having every year — that’s lots of baccala — lol!
Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
We’ll be traveling to see our grandson soon — we can’t wait!
Hugs, Pat
Now you already know this looks completely awesome!!!
Yum, one of my favourites! Fritto misto is an absolute must on Christmas eve!!
This is my favorite finger food! When my Dad was alive he made this every Christmas Eve….I love food memories! I have to make this!
I have tried Mario’s recipe with cornstarch before and it is wonderful! Thanks for inspiring me to make this again. But I’ve never been able to find calamari in my local grocery stores.
Our xmas eve dinner always began with a large platter of fried calamari. They are always everybody’s favorite, and your look fabulous.
Enjoy the feast, Marie! What a wonderful tradition.
Oh lordy, I sighed out loud when I saw this! YUM! I love, love, love this and it’s just perfect for my Italian household in these days before Christmas. How perfect, too, that they are gluten free!!! Yippee!!!
Looks wonderful and all of my favorites! Fritto misto is a very popular Piemontese tradition, including on Christmas eve, when they get to the fried biscotti I start to go off of it a bit. I much prefer the seafood and veggies!
Oh this looks fantastic Marie and I would love to have this on Christmas Eve!! Great entry into the event…I’m trying to pull something together. Will have to look for that book! Sounds good!
So delicious, my favourite meal, especially when I eat it in Italy 🙂
I love the addition of scallops–my all time fav.
Nothing like deep fried seafood. Love that you did the lemon too. You always have such tempting photos.
Oh, Marie, this is so funny… I was just looking for recipes for shortbread and for calamari fritto and I went to yours and Val’s blogs. Woooohooo!
My mother is moving here and this is her FAVORITE and I wanted to learn how to make it (she gets it take out from a fave Italian restaurant in NYC, where she currently lives).
Lovely addition to Seven Fishes Feast!
YUM Marie…absolutely delicious. As healthy as I want to be, the randon fried stuff just gets me fixated. I love the light cornstarch breading, & the lime & beans.
Wow Marie… This really looks yummy… I love all your choices and yes I love Jalapenos….YUMO!!!
(((HUGS)))
Donna
I love your fritto misto Marie.. and the inclusion of lemons and green beans, it does look pretty and colorful! I have never tried the cornstarch either, but I would much rather be able to taste the fish so that’s a great idea!
Ciao and hugs!
Marie, This looks so delicious, light and colourful. I am going to try this for New Years eve supper, thanks for the Mario Batali’s recipe. buon natale!. Kathy.
Hi Marie.
We’ve had Mario’s fritto misto at his NYC restaurant DelPosto and it was FABULOUS! Yours looks even better.
Stace
This looks delicious! One day I will break down and make this, even if it makes my house smell like fried fish for a few days! Thanks also for the book recommendation. I just purchase three of them and finished my Christmas shopping!
This has to be one of my favourite fish dishes, but I don’t make it often because the house smells so afterwards! The added vegetables and lemon are a great idea.
Thanks for participating Marie! I love fritto misto… I have to get dad (who always cooks Christmas eve) to add some new dishes this year (he’s Calabrese, so very hard headed) but I think I can squeeze this in! buon natale!
This looks like the perfect seafood antipasti! We always had seafood on Christmas Eve (including eels — yikes! Of course, I was 8 at the time and never touched the things), and I’d like to incorporate some seafood back into Christmas Eve now that I’m doing it, but I have something of a fear of cooking fish. This looks so wonderful that I am just going to have to get past those fears and try it!
Yikes, that looks good! I like light breading – I’m going to have to try the corn starch thing.
I have to try that cornstarch idea. Love the jalapeños. And frying the lemon is brilliant.
You are so right Marie, how certain foods and food memories do connect us, isn’t it interesting how a little fried calamari or a roasted turkey are so much more than just fuel for the body? Made with love, that’s the secret ingredient.
You did a wonderful job here, Marie.
Big hug,
maryann xox
Oh, I’m so pleased you came to the feast.
Just look at that – even your lemon is a work of art!
Delicioso!!! I can’t wait to see the roundup of delcious foods from the sea.