Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›McGarvey's›Fried Calamari Recipe

Fried Calamari Recipe

Inspired by McGarvey's
Time45m
Serves4

Lightly breaded calamari served with marinara sauce.

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Ingredients

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Calamari

Marinara Sauce

Method

Prepare the Marinara Sauce

  1. 1

    Sauté the Garlic

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

  2. 2

    Cook the Sauce

    Add the crushed tomatoes, oregano, salt, black pepper, and sugar to the saucepan. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Cook for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  3. 3

    Add Fresh Basil

    Once the sauce has thickened slightly, stir in the fresh basil leaves and remove from heat. Set aside to cool.

Prepare the Calamari

  1. 4

    Prepare the Breading

    In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.

  2. 5

    Prepare the Egg Mixture

    In another bowl, whisk together the egg and milk until well combined.

  3. 6

    Heat the Oil

    In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).

  4. 7

    Coat the Calamari

    Dip each calamari ring into the egg mixture, letting excess drip off, then coat in the flour mixture. Place on a wire rack to allow coating to set.

  5. 8

    Fry the Calamari

    Once the oil is hot, carefully add the coated calamari rings in batches, frying for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

  6. 9

    Serve

    Serve the fried calamari hot with the marinara sauce on the side for dipping.

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