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4.8 from 552 votes

Crispy Fried Calamari Recipe

Crispy, succulent calamari rings, coated in seasoned flour and quickly fried to crispy perfection. Budget 30 minutes to soak the calamari in milk. This helps tenderize them while taming their fish smell. It also allows the flour coating to better stick on the rings. Be sure to read the post for more tips!

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Inactive Time
30 mins
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 2272 kcal
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mediterranean , Greek , Italian

Ingredients

  • 1 pound frozen calamari tubes thawed
  • kosher salt
  • ½ cup 2% milk
  • 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon dry oregano
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Grape seed oil as needed
  • 1 lemon cut into wedges to serve

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Slice the calamari tubes into ¾-inch thick rings.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt in ½ cup milk.
  3. Add the calamari rings to the milk mixture and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, oregano, black pepper, and cayenne (make sure the mixture is well combined).
  5. Prepare a large colander and set it on top of a large bowl. Using a pair of tongs, take a portion of the calamari rings (about ½ of them) shake off excess milk and toss the calamari in the flour mixture. Toss the calamari to coat evenly. Put the coated calamari in the colander. Repeat with the rest of the calamari.
  6. Turn your oven on a low 150 degrees F. Prepare a large sheet pan and set a wire rack on top. Top the wire rack with paper towel.
  7. Heat 4 inches of grape seed oil in a small cooking pot (I used a 2.5 quart pot) to somewhere between 350 and 365 degrees F. To test your oil, drop one calamari ring, many bubbles will form around it and the calamari will begin to float.
  8. Once your oil is ready, using a pair of tongs, gently add some of the calamari in and fry for about 3 minutes or until golden brown. Remove the calamari from the oil and arrange it on the paper towel on top of your prepared wire rack. Immediately season with kosher salt, then transfer to your warm oven to keep warm while you work on the rest. Repeat until you have fried all the calamari.
  9. Transfer the fried calamari to a serving plate and finish with a squeeze of lemon juice!

Notes

  • Don't skip soaking the calamari in the salted milk. This helps tenderize the calamari while also taming the fishy taste
  • Serve fried calamari hot with a side of marinara sauce or Tzatziki sauce. 
  • To make this in the air fryer: (this is according to my research as I do not own an air fryer). Arrange the calamari in one single layer in your air fryer basket (you may do this in batches if you need to). Coat the calamari with cooking spray. Cook at 400 F for 8 minutes or until the calamari turns golden and is cooked through
  • Leftovers & storage: leftovers will last in the fridge for up to 3 days. The calamari will lose its crunch, but will still taste good. Do not reheat leftover fried calamari
  • Visit our shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including spices and olive oils.

Nutrition Information

Calories 227.2kcal (11%) Carbohydrates 35.8g (12%) Protein 15.9g (32%) Fat 1.8g (3%) Saturated Fat 0.6g (3%) Trans Fat 0.1g Cholesterol 177.7mg (59%) Sodium 273.4mg (11%) Potassium 280.8mg (8%) Fiber 1.6g (6%) Vitamin A 123.5IU (2%) Vitamin C 13.3mg (15%) Calcium 82mg (8%) Iron 2.3mg (13%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 2272

% Daily Value*

Calories 227.2kcal 11%
Carbohydrates 35.8g 12%
Protein 15.9g 32%
Fat 1.8g 3%
Saturated Fat 0.6g 3%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 177.7mg 59%
Sodium 273.4mg 11%
Potassium 280.8mg 6%
Fiber 1.6g 6%
Vitamin A 123.5IU 2%
Vitamin C 13.3mg 15%
Calcium 82mg 8%
Iron 2.3mg 13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.