Fried Calamari Recipe
Lightly breaded and fried squid served with marinara.
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Ingredients
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Main Ingredients
Marinara Sauce
Method
Fried Calamari Preparation
- 1
Prepare the Marinara Sauce
In a saucepan over medium heat, add olive oil. Once hot, add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir well and simmer for 15-20 minutes until slightly thickened. If using, add fresh basil at the end and stir to combine.
- 2
Prepare the Calamari
In a large bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. In another bowl, pour buttermilk over the calamari rings and let them soak for about 10 minutes.
- 3
Coat the Calamari
Remove calamari from buttermilk and let excess drip off. Dredge the calamari rings in the flour mixture, ensuring they are fully coated. Shake off any excess flour.
- 4
Heat the Oil
In a deep skillet or frying pan, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).
- 5
Fry the Calamari
Carefully add the coated calamari rings to the hot oil in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for about 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove them and drain on paper towels.
- 6
Serve
Serve the fried calamari hot with the marinara sauce on the side for dipping.