Fried Calamari Recipe (Restaurant-Style, Light & Crispy)
Our fried calamari recipe delivers restaurant-quality, crispy calamari every time. It's an easy appetizer that's perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 1 pound calamari
- ½ cup buttermilk (or milk)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ea lemon (cut into wedges)
- 4 ounces marinara sauce (for serving)
Instructions
Rinse and clean the squid under cold water.
Drain after rinsing and pat dry with paper towels.
Slice the tubes down into ¾’ to 1’ slices. Place the cut pieces and tenacles in a large bowl.
Add the buttermilk and let the pieces soak for 20-30 minutes.
Add the flour, salt, and pepper to a shallow bowl or container.
Mix the seasonings with the flour to create the flour dredge. Mix to combine the flour dredge.
After the calamari has soaked, use a strainer or colander to drain off any excess buttermilk.
Dredge the calamari in the flour mixture.
Add 1-1.5 inches of cooking oil to a cast-iron pan or deep skillet and heat to 360-375°F.
Once the oil is hot, add the calamari to the pan. Don’t overcrowd the pan; fry in batches.
Cook for 60-90 seconds, until golden brown.
Place the cooked calamari on a paper towel-lined plate or pan. If you have a wire rack, that works well.
Repeat the frying process until all the calamari is cooked. Loosely tent the cooked calamari with aluminum foil or place it in a 200-degree oven to keep warm.
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