Fried Calamari Recipe
Lightly breaded and fried calamari served with a spicy marinara sauce.
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Ingredients
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Calamari
Spicy Marinara Sauce
Method
Preparing the Calamari
- 1
Clean the Calamari
If using whole calamari, clean them by removing the head, guts, and skin. Cut the bodies into rings.
- 2
Prepare the Breading
In a large bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- 3
- 4
Coat the Calamari
Dip the calamari rings first into the egg wash, then coat them in the flour mixture. Shake off any excess flour.
Frying the Calamari
- 5
Heat the Oil
In a deep skillet or frying pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 180°C (350°F).
- 6
Fry the Calamari
Carefully add the coated calamari to the hot oil in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
- 7
Drain the Calamari
Use a slotted spoon to remove the fried calamari and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil.
Preparing the Spicy Marinara Sauce
- 8
Sauté the Garlic
In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic cloves and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- 9
Make the Sauce
Add the canned crushed tomatoes, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and sugar. Stir well and let simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- 10
Finish the Sauce
Tear the fresh basil leaves and stir them into the sauce just before serving.
Serving
- 11
Plate the Calamari
Serve the fried calamari hot, accompanied by the spicy marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
