• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Sign Up for Emails
  • Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Cocktails
  • Instagram
  • Contact
    • About
    • Work With Me
  • Privacy Policy

Basil And Bubbly logo

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Sign Up for Emails
  • Recipes
  • Find Recipe from Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Fried Calamari (Calamari Fritti)

    April 21, 2021 Appetizers

    Fried Calamari (Calamari Fritti)

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Email
    • Print

    One of my all-time favorite guilty pleasures: light and crispy fried calamari. Also called Calamari Fritti, this seafood appetizer is shockingly straightforward to make, and always a crowd pleaser.

    Jump to Recipe
    fried calamari with lemon and dipping sauce

    is calamari a squid or octopus?

    I could dig into the calamari vs squid vs octopus discussion for hours, but you probably aren't THAT concerned. Suffice it to say that calamari is a type of squid, most restaurants make calamari fritti with whatever squid they can find (regardless of if it's actually the calamari type), and that squid is NOT the same as octopus.

    Octopus tends to be more tender out of the gate than squid, and with the exception of some Greek Mythology and a few really alarming discoveries off the coast of Japan, the average squid tends to be smaller than the average octopus.

    For cooking purposes, you'll be most interested in one key difference: squid have a cartilage "pen" that serves as a backbone type of structure that needs to be removed before cooking. Octopus have nothing like this!

    calamari fritti on a serving platter

    how bad is fried calamari for you?

    Ehhhhhhh pretty bad. Covered in flour and deep fried, the calories are high and the macros aren't exactly balanced. If it's any consolation, this fried calamari recipe is at least lighter than the thickly breaded calamari style.

    how to cut calamari

    how do you tenderize calamari before frying?

    Milk! Milk is the magic ingredient here. The lactic acid helps break down the proteins in the squid and makes it more tender. However, it's cooking time that is really the most important factor for making a tender squid dish. No amount of tenderizing before cooking is going to save an overcooked calamari dish.

    light and crispy fried calamari recipe

    Why does calamari get rubbery?

    Overcooking! and in rare cases, adding too much acid ( which has the same effect.) Fry your calamari until it is JUST barely done, and you'll come out with a crispy on the outside, tender bite every time.

    What sauce goes best with calamari fritti?

    I always serve fried calamari with some fresh lemon wedges, but for dipping sauce, these are all wonderful options:

    • Marinara
    • Homemade tartar sauce
    • Citrus Aioli
    fresh calamari fritti with dipping sauce

    If you love seafood, you might also enjoy these recipes:

    • White Wine and Tomato Baked Cod
    • Spicy Squid in Tomato Sauce
    • Shrimp Saganaki ( Greek Shrimp with Feta and Tomatoes)
    fried calamari with lemon and dipping sauce

    Calamari Fritti ( Fried Calamari )

    My all time favorite guilty pleasure appetizer: calamari fritti ( fried calamari recipe ). Serve with marinara and fresh lemon slices.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: Calamari Fritti, Fried Calamari
    Prep Time: 35 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 minutes
    Total Time: 38 minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Author: Marianne

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup milk
    • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
    • 1 lb calamari tubes and tentacles pen removed and tubes cut into ½" rings
    • 1.5 cups AP flour
    • 2 teaspoon salt plus extra for sprinkling post-fry
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • frying oil enough to fill your cooking pot at least 2" deep with oil

    Equipment

    • Candy Thermometer

    Instructions

    • Combine the milk, hot sauce, and calamari in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to tenderize the calamari.
    • Drain off the milk, but do not pat the calamari dry. The residual milk will help the flour stick.
      Combine the flour, salt, and pepper in a large bowl or bag. Toss the calamari in the flour until it is completely coated.
    • Pour the oil into a large, heavy bottomed pot and bring it to 340°F.
      I HIGHLY recommend you use a candy/oil thermometer for this. If you don't have an oil/candy thermometer, you can pick one up at any grocery store or from Amazon.
    • Prepare a draining area by laying down several layers of paper towels on a cookie sheet, and have salt ready next to it for sprinkling.
    • Shake off any excess flour from the calamari, and in batches, place it into the 340°F oil. Cook for 3 minutes.
      Make sure each piece has enough room to move about as it fries. Crowding the pot will result in under-browned and soggy fried calamari.
    • Remove the fried calamari from the oil and place on the paper towels you prepared earlier. Sprinkle with salt.
      Repeat until all calamari is cooked.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @basilandbubbly or tag #basilandbubbly!
    « Chicken Burrito Bowl
    Birria Tacos »

    Reader Interactions

    Please share your thoughts on this recipe! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Heyyyyyyy!

    My name is Marianne, and I'm two parts food, one part booze, and a dash of snark. I live in Atlanta, GA with my two cats. My personal motto: Champagne and stretchy pants. Sign up for my mailing list to keep up with the new and seasonal recipes!

    as seen in

    Recent Posts

    • Pineapple Infused Vodka (Stoli Doli)
    • Roasted Peruvian Chicken with Aji Verde
    • Air Fryer Onions
    • Espresso Martini
    • Buffalo Shrimp Tacos

    Most Popular

    Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese

    Perfect Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese

    air fryer sweet potato fries

    Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

    Sweet Potato Casserole Bites

    Sweet Potato Casserole Bites

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Copyright© 2023 · Cookd Pro by Shay Bocks