Jul 13 2026
Restaurants›Iaria's Italian Restaurant›Breaded Calamari Recipe

Breaded Calamari Recipe

Inspired by Iaria's Italian Restaurant
Time45m
Serves4

Freshly breaded calamari served with chunky marinara sauce.

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Ingredients

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Calamari

Marinara Sauce

Method

Prepare the Calamari

  1. 1

    Clean the Calamari

    Rinse the fresh calamari under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Slice the bodies into rings and leave the tentacles whole.

  2. 2

    Set Up Breading Station

    In three separate shallow bowls, place the all-purpose flour in the first bowl, the beaten eggs in the second, and the breadcrumbs mixed with salt and black pepper in the third.

Bread the Calamari

  1. 3

    Coat the Calamari

    Take a piece of calamari, dip it into the flour to coat, then into the egg, and finally into the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure each piece is well-coated and set aside on a plate.

  2. 4

    Heat the Oil

    In a large pot or deep fryer, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).

Fry the Calamari

  1. 5

    Fry the Calamari

    Carefully add the breaded calamari to the hot oil in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for about 2-3 minutes or until the calamari are golden brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

Prepare the Marinara Sauce

  1. 6

    Sauté the Garlic

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

  2. 7

    Cook the Sauce

    Add the crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and sugar. Bring to a simmer and let cook for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in fresh basil before serving.

Serve

  1. 8

    Plate the Dish

    Arrange the fried calamari on a serving platter and serve with the chunky marinara sauce on the side for dipping.

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