Crispy Fried Calamari Recipe
Here's a great Crispy Fried Calamari Recipe that you can make at home! By using frozen calamari rings and making a light flour coating, you can easily make these. They are tender, crisp and flavoursome. Just serve with fresh lemon wedges for the perfect bite every time.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 280kcal
Ingredients
- 1 lb squid rings
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Lemon wedges to serve
- Extra salt for seasoning the calamari after frying
Instructions
- In a medium sized bowl combine the milk with the salt and stir to combine. Add the squid rings and make sure they are completely coated in the milk. Cover and refrigerate for about one hour.
- In a large shallow bowl, combine the all purpose flour, cornstarch, cayenne pepper and black pepper. Whisk to combine.
- Remove the squid rings from the fridge. Have ready a large clean plate. Dredge the squid rings in the flour mixture and make sure they are completely coated.
- Fill a deep sided skillet with the vegetable oil. Fill it to about 3 inches up the sides. Bring the oil up to temperature about 350 degrees f and try not to exceed about 370 degrees f. It should take about 3- 5 minutes to bring the oil up to temperature.
- Place one calamari ring in the oil to test it. If it sizzles and bubbles appear around the ring, the oil is ready. Place as many rings in the pan as you can without overlapping them. As they start to fry they will start to turn golden brown, become crisp and float to the top. Remove them as they cook and place on paper towels to drain. Repeat for all calamari rings.
- Serve immediately with a little sprinkling of salt and lemon wedges.
*A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
Notes
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- Don't skip the soaking - Soaking the calamari allows them to tenderise. If you skip this step, you will likely have tough and chewy calamari rings.
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- Coat just before frying - It's best to coat the squid just before frying. If you do it in advance, the flour will become soggy.
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- Shake off excess flour - When coating the squid rings be sure to shake off any excess flour. If not this will fall off the calamari when frying.
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- Be precise with temperature – The most important thing when frying is to make sure the temperature is right. An ideal temperature is anywhere between 350 degrees f - 370 degrees f. I like to use a frying thermometer when cooking so I can adjust the heat as needed.
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- Salt as soon as they are fried - As soon as you drain the calamari on paper towels, sprinkle over the salt. This will ensure that the salt sticks to the calamari.
Nutrition Facts
Crispy Fried Calamari Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 280
Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 264mg88%
Sodium 52mg2%
Potassium 304mg9%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 20g40%
Vitamin A 37IU1%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 41mg4%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.