Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›Dwight's Restaurant›Fried Calamari Recipe

Fried Calamari Recipe

Inspired by Dwight's Restaurant
Time45m
Serves4

Lightly breaded and fried calamari served with marinara sauce.

Jump to Recipe

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Calamari

Marinara Sauce

Method

Prepare the Calamari

  1. 1

    Clean the Calamari

    Rinse the fresh calamari under cold water and remove the heads and innards. Cut the bodies into rings about 1/2 inch thick.

  2. 2

    Set Up Breading Station

    In one bowl, combine all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. In a second bowl, beat the eggs. In a third bowl, place the breadcrumbs.

Bread the Calamari

  1. 3

    Coat the Rings

    Dredge each calamari ring in the flour mixture, then dip it in the beaten eggs, and finally coat it with breadcrumbs. Ensure each piece is evenly coated.

Fry the Calamari

  1. 4

    Heat Oil

    In a large pot or deep fryer, heat the vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).

  2. 5

    Fry the Calamari

    Fry the breaded calamari in batches for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Do not overcrowd the pot.

  3. 6

    Drain

    Remove the fried calamari with a slotted spoon and place it on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.

Prepare the Marinara Sauce

  1. 7

    Sauté Garlic

    In a saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.

  2. 8

    Add Tomatoes and Seasoning

    Add the crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  3. 9

    Finish the Sauce

    Stir in the chopped fresh basil just before serving.

Serve

  1. 10

    Plating

    Serve the fried calamari hot, accompanied by a small bowl of marinara sauce for dipping.

More from Dwight's Restaurant