Description
This Crispy Fried Calamari recipe delivers golden, tender rings of calamari perfectly coated in a seasoned flour mixture and fried until crisp. Soaked in salted milk to tenderize and reduce fishiness, then fried in grape seed oil and served with fresh lemon wedges, it’s a classic Mediterranean appetizer that’s simple yet impressive for any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen calamari tubes thawed
- Kosher salt as needed
- ½ cup 2% milk
Breading and Seasoning
- 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon dry oregano
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Cooking
- Grape seed oil as needed for frying
- 1 lemon cut into wedges to serve
Instructions
- Slice Calamari: Slice the thawed calamari tubes into ¾-inch thick rings for even cooking.
- Soak in Salted Milk: In a medium bowl, stir 1 teaspoon kosher salt into ½ cup 2% milk. Add the calamari rings and refrigerate for 30 minutes to tenderize and reduce fishiness.
- Prepare Breading Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, oregano, black pepper, and cayenne pepper until thoroughly combined.
- Coat Calamari: Using tongs, remove half the calamari from the milk, shaking off excess liquid. Toss in the flour mixture until evenly coated. Place coated rings into a colander set over a bowl. Repeat with remaining calamari rings.
- Preheat Oven for Warming: Set oven to low heat at 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a sheet pan with a wire rack and line the rack with paper towels to keep fried calamari warm.
- Heat Oil: In a deep small pot, heat 4 inches of grape seed oil to 350-365 degrees Fahrenheit. Test readiness by dropping in one calamari ring; it should bubble and float.
- Fry Calamari: Fry calamari in batches, placing a few rings gently into hot oil using tongs. Cook about 3 minutes or until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon and transfer to wire rack lined with paper towels. Immediately season with kosher salt. Keep fried calamari warm in the oven while frying remaining batches.
- Serve: Arrange calamari on a serving plate and finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Soaking calamari in salted milk is key for tenderizing and reducing fishy flavor.
- Serve hot with marinara sauce or Tzatziki for dipping.
- For air fryer: Arrange calamari in a single layer, spray with oil, and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes until golden.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days but will lose crispness; reheating is not recommended.
- Use grape seed oil or any neutral high smoke point oil for frying.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
