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Fried Calamari is a lot easier to make at home than you might think! This recipe has a crispy batter that fries perfectly to a golden brown crunch.

Are there any foods you can think of that you MUST get if you see it on the menu when you’re dining out?

For me, Fried Calamari was always one of those must-order dishes. I don’t eat fried food too often, but fried calamari is one of my favorites.

Rings of squid coated in a super crispy, crunchy shell, dipped in a little marinara or aioli…the BEST!

I get the impression that a lot of people are intimidated by deep frying, but it’s actually one of the easiest and quickest cooking methods of all.

This calamari for instance only takes 2-3 minutes total for each batch.

It’s super fast, and the fresh-out-of-the-fryer crispy coating is so much better than what you’d get at a restaurant.

The most important thing when frying is to make sure the temperature is right. If you don’t have a thermometer, please consider getting one! It is one of the most essential tools for the kitchen.

Some people like having a dedicated deep fry thermometer, but I just use my thermapen or this thermometer to check the temperature.

How to Make Fried Calamari:

To get started with the calamari, cut the squid into tubes, then soak in lemon juice for 30 minutes:

This tenderizes the squid and adds flavor.

Next, mix flour with cayenne pepper, paprika, and salt:

Split this between two bowls, then add buttermilk or milk to a third bowl.

Remove the squid from the lemon juice, then dredge in the flour:

Then into the buttermilk or milk:

Then into the second duplicate bowl of flour:

Then deep fry the calamari in batches, for 2-3 minutes:

The calamari should be golden brown and crispy! Drain on a paper towel, and immediately salt the calamari so the seasoning sticks:

Serve plain, with marinara sauce, lemon wedges, or aioli:

Potato Croquettes and these Mozzarella Sticks are two more crispy treats that I enjoy making on occasion. Enjoy!

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4.69 from 29 votes

Fried Calamari

Crispy Fried Calamari is a lot easier to make at home than you might think! This recipe has a super crispy batter, fried to a golden brown crunch.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword fried calamari

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 351kcal

Ingredients

• 1 lb cleaned calamari tubes cut into rings, and tentacles left whole
• juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp cayenne
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk or milk
• vegetable or canola oil for deep frying
• marinara sauce, lemon wedges, or aioli, for serving, optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Place the calamari into a bowl with the lemon juice, and let sit for 30 minutes. This will tenderize the calamari.
• Preheat frying oil to 375 degrees F, either in a deep fryer or a large cast iron pot, no more than 1/2 full.
• In a medium bowl, whisk to combine the flour, cayenne, paprika, and salt. Add half of this mixture to another medium bowl. Place the buttermilk or milk in a third bowl. Place the three bowls on the counter in the following order: spiced flour, buttermilk, and spiced flour.
• Remove the calamari from the lemon juice, then dredge each piece in the flour, shaking off any excess, then into the buttermilk, shaking off the excess, then back into the second bowl of flour. Repeat this process with all the calamari.
• Fry the calamari in batches for about 2-3 minutes total, until golden brown. Then drain on a paper towel and immediately salt the calamari generously so the salt sticks. Serve with marinara sauce and lemon wedges, if desired. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 351kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 267mg | Sodium: 664mg | Potassium: 386mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 6.4% | Vitamin C: 6.5% | Calcium: 8% | Iron: 20.7%

Post updated in November 2018. Originally published February 2016.