Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsQuartiereSpicy Crispy Calamari Recipe

Spicy Crispy Calamari Recipe

Inspired by Quartiere
Time45m
Serves4

Capers, cherry peppers, lemon, white wine. Served with garlic aioli, vodka sauce, & marinara

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

Garnish

Method

Preparing the Calamari

  1. 1

    Clean the Calamari

    Rinse the calamari rings under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.

  2. 2

    Mix the Coating

    In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.

  3. 3

    Dredge the Calamari

    Toss the calamari rings in the flour mixture until they are evenly coated. Shake off any excess flour.

Frying the Calamari

  1. 4

    Heat the Oil

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

  2. 5

    Fry the Calamari

    Carefully add the coated calamari rings to the hot oil in batches. Fry for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

  3. 6

    Drain and Season

    Remove the fried calamari and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Sprinkle with additional salt if desired.

Preparing the Sauce

  1. 7

    Make the Garlic Aioli

    In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Mix until smooth and set aside.

Serving

  1. 8

    Plate the Calamari

    Transfer the fried calamari to a serving platter. Garnish with capers, chopped cherry peppers, and chopped fresh parsley.

  2. 9

    Add Dipping Sauces

    Serve with vodka sauce, marinara sauce, and garlic aioli on the side. Add lemon wedges for extra flavor.

More from Quartiere