Description
Enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean with this crispy and flavorful Fried Calamari recipe. Tender squid rings and tentacles are marinated in buttermilk, coated in a seasoned flour mixture, and fried to golden perfection. Serve as a delightful appetizer with lemon wedges and fresh parsley.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound cleaned squid (tubes and tentacles), cut into ½-inch rings
- 1 cup buttermilk
Coating:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornmeal
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
For Frying:
- vegetable oil
For Serving:
- lemon wedges
- chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Marinate the Squid: Place squid in buttermilk, refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Prepare Coating: Mix flour, cornmeal, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne.
- Heat Oil: Heat vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).
- Dredge Squid: Coat squid in flour mixture.
- Fry Squid: Fry in batches for 2–3 minutes until golden.
- Drain and Serve: Drain on paper towels, serve with lemon wedges and parsley.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, double-dip squid in buttermilk and flour.
- Serve with marinara sauce, aioli, or a spicy dipping sauce.
- Avoid overcooking to prevent rubbery texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus 30 minutes marinating)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 190mg
