Jul 14 2026

Calamari Recipe

Time45m
Serves4

Fried squid served with marinara sauce.

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Ingredients

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For the Fried Calamari

For the Marinara Sauce

Method

For the Fried Calamari

  1. 1

    Prepare the Squid

    If not pre-cleaned, clean the squid by removing the head, innards, and cartilage. Rinse under cold water and slice the body into rings.

  2. 2

    Set Up the Breading Station

    In a bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and paprika. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs.

  3. 3

    Coat the Squid

    Dip each squid ring into the egg mixture, then dredge in the flour mixture until well coated. Shake off excess flour.

  4. 4

    Heat the Oil

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

  5. 5

    Fry the Squid

    Working in batches, carefully add the squid rings to the hot oil. Fry for about 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

  6. 6

    Serve

    Transfer the fried calamari to a serving plate and keep warm while you prepare the marinara sauce.

For the Marinara Sauce

  1. 7

    Heat the Olive Oil

    In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add olive oil and heat until shimmering.

  2. 8

    Sauté the Garlic

    Add minced garlic to the hot oil and sauté for about 1 minute, or until fragrant.

  3. 9

    Add the Tomatoes and Seasonings

    Pour in the crushed tomatoes, and add oregano, basil, salt, black pepper, and sugar. Stir to combine.

  4. 10

    Simmer the Sauce

    Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and let it cook for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  5. 11

    Serve with Calamari

    Once the sauce has thickened slightly, remove from heat. Serve the marinara sauce alongside the fried calamari, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese.

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