Fried Calamari Recipe
This crispy fried calamari recipe tastes just like going out to a restaurant. Calamari rings are tenderized, tossed in a seasoned flour mix and fried to golden perfection.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb calamari rings thawed from frozen
- 1 lemon
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper optional
- 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
- canola vegetable or peanut oil for frying
Instructions
- Put the calamari in a bowl & squeeze the juice of one lemon over the squid. Add the buttermilk and mix together a bit to combine. Cover and refrigerate for an hour to tenderize.
- Heat enough oil over medium high heat, about 1 inch high in a large skillet.
- While the oil is heating, in a bowl combine the cornstarch, flour and seasonings.
- Shake off any excess buttermilk and coat the calamari with the flour & spice mix. Shake off any excess flour.
- Place the rings into the oil and fry for 2-3 minutes, until golden brown. Do this in batches if needed so the pan isn’t crowded.
- Drain and let cool on paper towels.
- Serve with lemon & marinara sauce. Thai Sweet Chili sauce works well too.
Video
Notes
If you want it extra crispy, whisk one large egg and mix this into the buttermilk mixture with the calamari before coating with the flour!
Nutrition
Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 181mg | Sodium: 271mg | Potassium: 287mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 330IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 2mg