Fried Calamari

Crispy, flavorful Fried Calamari is a delicious appetizer that tastes like something you would order in a fancy restaurant. The calamari is tenderized, breaded and then fried to golden brown, crunchy perfection. Take it to the next level with marinara sauce for dipping!

Prep Time:20minutes minutes
Cook Time:30minutes minutes
Servings:4 people

Ingredients

• ▢1 pound calamari rings
• ▢1 cup whole milk
• ▢1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ▢1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ▢¼ cup cornstarch
• ▢½ teaspoon salt
• ▢1 teaspoon dried dill
• ▢½ teaspoon paprika
• ▢½ teaspoon pepper
• ▢vegetable oil for frying
• ▢lemon wedges for serving

Instructions 

• Prepare 1 pound calamari rings by thawing them if they are frozen. Pat the rings dry and place them into a bowl.
• Pour 1 cup whole milk and l1 tablespoon lemon juice over the rings and stir to combine and coat the rings evenly in the milk mixture.
• In a separate bowl whisk together 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ¼ cup cornstarch, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dried dill, ½ teaspoon paprika, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Remove the rings from the milk mixture, allowing excess liquid to drip off, and toss them in the flour mixture.
• Place the breaded calamari rings onto a plate or sheet pan and prepare a second plate or sheet pan by lining it with paper towels.
• Heat about an inch of vegetable oil for frying in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot carefully place the battered calamari into the hot oil and fry them for about 3 minutes until they are golden brown.
• When the calamari is finished frying place them onto the paper towel-lined plate or sheet pan. Work in batches until all the calamari is finished and serve fresh with lemon wedges.

Notes

If you can’t find calamari rings, you can use squid tubes and cut them into rings. You can also use a mix with tentacles. 

To air fry, follow the steps up until you fry them. Instead, spray the breaded calamari with oil and place them into your air fryer basket. Air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 4-5 minutes. 

Nutrition

Calories: 345kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 25gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 272mgSodium: 366mgPotassium: 442mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 276IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 125mgIron: 3mg