Fried Calamari

Fried Calamari

Golden, crispy-fried calamari rings and tentacles with a light, seasoned flour coating — the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer. Served with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a side of marinara for dipping, this classic Italian-American starter comes together in under 30 minutes and disappears just as fast.

4 servings · Prep 15 min · Cook 10 min · Total 25 min

American · Italian · Appetizer

Main

  • 1.5 lb squid (calamari) cleaned, bodies sliced into ½-inch rings, tentacles left whole
  • 4 cup vegetable oil for deep frying

Coating

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 cup fine cornmeal or semolina, for extra crunch
  • semolina
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp kosher salt plus more for finishing
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper

Marinade

  • 1 cup buttermilk or whole milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice stirred in
  • whole milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice stirred in
  • 1 large egg beaten

Serving

  • 1 whole lemon cut into wedges
  • 1 cup marinara sauce store-bought or homemade, warmed
  • 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley roughly chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Stovetop
  • Baking Sheet
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Pot
  • Deep Fryer
  • Paper Towel
  • Slotted Spoon
  • Platter
  • Wire Rack
  • Whisk
  • Plates
  • Serving Platters (Large)
  • Jelly Roll (10x15)
  • Tongs
  • Mixing Bowl (4 Quarts)
  • Meat Thermometer
  • Candy thermometer

Instructions

  1. Pat the @[Squid] rings and tentacles very dry with paper towels — this is the most important step for crispiness. In a medium #[Mixing Bowl], whisk together the @[Buttermilk] and beaten @[Egg]. Add the @[Squid] and toss to coat. Let soak for ~[10 minutes] at room temperature while you prepare the coating.
  2. In a separate wide #[Mixing Bowl] or shallow dish, whisk together the @[All-Purpose Flour], @[Cornmeal], @[Garlic Powder], @[Kosher Salt], @[Black Pepper], and @[Cayenne Pepper] (if using). Set a #[Wire Rack] over a #[Baking Sheet] and line a second plate with paper towels for draining.
  3. Pour the @[Vegetable Oil] into a large, heavy-bottomed #[Pot] to a depth of about 3 inches. Heat ^[over medium-high heat] until the oil reaches ![375°F] on a #[Meat Thermometer]. Maintain this temperature throughout frying — too low and the @[Squid] will be greasy; too high and the coating will burn before the @[Squid] cooks through.
  4. Working in batches of about one-third of the @[Squid] at a time, lift the pieces from the @[Buttermilk], letting excess drip off, then toss them in the seasoned @[All-Purpose Flour] mixture until evenly coated. Shake off any excess @[All-Purpose Flour] and carefully lower into the hot oil using #[Tongs] or a #[Slotted Spoon].
  5. Fry each batch for ~[2–3 minutes], stirring gently once or twice, until the coating is golden and crispy and the @[Squid] is just cooked through. Do not overcrowd the #[Pot] or the oil temperature will drop. Transfer with a #[Slotted Spoon] to the paper-towel-lined plate and immediately season with a pinch of @[Kosher Salt]. Allow the oil to return to ![375°F] between batches.
  6. Arrange the fried @[Squid] on a platter. Scatter with fresh @[Italian Flat-Leaf Parsley] and serve immediately with @[Lemon] wedges and warm @[Marinara Sauce] on the side for dipping.