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This is the best Fried Calamari Recipe ever, they are tender in the inside and crispy fried to golden brown perfection.

Fried Calamari Recipe

3.65 from 222 votes
Pin Recipe
Marinating the squid in buttermilk defeats the rubber band effect some fried calamari tends to have. These crispy fried calamari are the perfect appetizer for any gathering or dinner party.
Servings: 4
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 43 minutes

Ingredients:

Calamari:

  • 1 lb calamari bodies sliced into ½ inch rings, tentacles left whole
  • 1 ½ cup buttermilk

Flour Seasoning:

  • ½ cup flour
  • ½ cup cornflour
  • 2 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon red chili flakes optional

Garnish:

  • chopped parsley for garnish
  • lemon wedges to serve

Lemon aioli:

  • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
  • zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • dash of Tabasco
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Prep the Aioli and the Squid:

  • Prepare lemon aioli by whisking together mayonnaise & the lemon Aioli ingredients.
  • Clean and prepare the calamari and soak in buttermilk for 30 minutes or better for at least an hour.
    This is the best Fried Calamari Recipe ever, they are tender in the inside and crispy fried to golden brown perfection.

Prep the Flour Seasoning:

  • Combine flour & cornflour with flour seasonings (like paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, cayenne powder and red chili flakes).
  • Once you've finished soaking, dredge the calamari in seasoned flour, tossing evenly to coat.

Cooking the Calamari:

  • Preheat frying oil to 350 degrees F.
  • Carefully drop a handful of the calamari into the hot oil.
  • Cook until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes.
  • Remove with slotted spoon and transfer to a paper lined baking sheet.
  • Repeat with remaining calamari.
  • Sprinkle parsley on top. Serve with lemon wedges and lemon aioli.
    This is the best Fried Calamari Recipe ever, they are tender in the inside and crispy fried to golden brown perfection.

Notes:

1.) Why buttermilk instead of eggs? The acidity in the buttermilk helps keep the calamari tender and helps create a lighter, crispier batter. So, adding eggs or breadcrumbs is not necessary.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 410kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 282mg | Sodium: 1436mg | Potassium: 485mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1035IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 3mg

Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.

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Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Asian, Mediterranean
Keywords: best fried calamari, best fried calamari recipe, crispy fried calamari recipe, fried calamari, fried calamari recipe, how to fry calamari, how to fry calimari, how to make fried calamari