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Fried calamari is hands down one of the best appetizers of all time! There’s a reason it’s on every restaurant menu: it’s DELICIOUS! The calamari is crispy but tender, the steps are easy, and in about 30 minutes to assemble!
I love serving this calamari with my delicious and easy Sweet Chili Sauce.
This pairs perfectly with my other seafood dishes like Stuffed Shrimp, Shrimp Fried Rice or Lemon Salmon Orzo
Ingredients you’ll Need (Full Recipe Below)
- Fresh or Frozen Squid- I like to get the ones that also include the tentacles because thats my favorite part!
- Heavy Cream– This is used as a binder for your breading, and a tenderizer
- Spices– We use paprika, salt, old bay, garlic powder, and onion powder
- Flour– Any kind of all purpose flour will do
- Cornstarch– This ensures your
- Yellow Cornmeal
- Lemons & Sauces- For garnishing and dipping
Why everyone loves this Fried Calamari Recipe
- It’s easy to make– This recipe is so simple! I make this all the time as an appetizer while I prep dinner.
- It’s crispy and crunchy- This calamari has an irresistible crunch. No foggy calamari over here!
- It’s the perfect appetizer- Calamari is a universal appetizer, and it pairs perfect with seafood, salads, soups and meats!
You can serve fried calamari with lemon wedges and an assortment of sauces like my Sweet Chili Sauce, or Tartar Sauce.
You can buy squid in the fresh seafood market at your local grocery store! Ca
Yes, you can use a frozen recipe for this recipe. Ensure your shrimp is thoroughly thawed out and patted dry before starting the process.
Fried Calamari
Ingredients
- 1-2lbs fresh or frozen squid
- 2 cups heavy cream or milk
- 1 teaspoon salt for tenderizing
For the Dry Batter
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons old bay
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Begin by slicing your squid into even rings. Set aside.
- Add the squid to a large bowl. Next, add salt and heavy cream to the bowl to tenderize. Let it sit for at least twenty minutes.
- Pour 3 inches of oil into a large skillet. Preheat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- To prepare the drying batter, combine cornstarch, cornmeal, and spices in a bowl. Mix well.
- Start by taking the wet squid mixture and coating it in the dry batter, making sure to shake off any excess flour.
- Fry the squid in batches for 5 minutes or until golden brown.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made the fried calamari over the weekend, and it was so good! It’s the perfect little snack, and I’m already planning to make it again this weekend.
I saw your fried calamari recipe on IG and remembered I had some squid in the freezer. Gave it a try, and it came out so delicious!