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Fried Calamari

[heart_this] · Jul 21, 2008 · 68 Comments

Fried Calamari

The other day when I was at the fishmongers I noticed that they had some calamari or squid. I had been wanting to try calamari for a while so I picked some up immediately. As luck would have it the calamari was already cleaned up, so there was less work for me. Whenever I have seen calamari it had always been served fried so I decided to go with fried calamari for the first time. I kept it simple and dredged the calamari in a simple mixture of flour, salt and pepper. Making the fried calamari was as easy as making french fries. The calamari was nice and crispy on the outside and warm and moist and slightly chewy on the inside. I quite enjoyed the texture and chewiness of the calamari. I served the fried calamari with some tartar sauce and some slices of lemon. I wonder what other things I can use calamari in?

Fried Calamari

Fried Calamari

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Servings: 4
ingredients
  • 1 cup flour
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 pound calamari (cleaned and cut into rings)
  • oil for frying
directions
  1. Mix the flour, salt and pepper in a bowl.
  2. Dredge the calamari in the flour.
  3. Fry the calamari in the preheated 357F oil until golden brown, about 2 minutes.
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Appetizer, Food, Recipe, Seafood

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jan says

    July 21, 2008 at 11:00 pm

    I love calamari, but I confess I have never made any myself. I recently had some at a local restaurant and they served it fried with a Chinese style black bean dipping sauce, it was excellent. Yours looks super, too.

    Reply
  2. Lina says

    July 21, 2008 at 11:40 pm

    mmmmm calamari! yours looks so yumm

    Reply
  3. HoneyB says

    July 21, 2008 at 11:54 pm

    I have never had calamari. I don’t know if I could eat it unless someone told me it was something else…just a head thing, ya know? In any case, it look edible! LOL. Who knows, maybe you could get me to eat it!

    Reply
  4. Gloria says

    July 22, 2008 at 12:05 am

    Kevin, this is yummy,yummy love them!!! and look fantastic, Gloria

    Reply
  5. Bridgett says

    July 22, 2008 at 12:07 am

    I love fried calamari! Yours looks wonderful, as usual.

    Reply
  6. Clumbsy Cookie says

    July 22, 2008 at 12:25 am

    Kevin I love calamari! And yours look so good, just like the ones from nice spanish bars, or maybe better! I also enjoy the chewy texture!

    Reply
  7. OhioMom says

    July 22, 2008 at 12:31 am

    Looks really yummy! I bought a seafood medley at my grocer that had calamari, octopus, crab, pollock and mussels.

    I made a simple sauce of butter, garlic, herbs and sourcream, added the seafood medley … and served over pasta. Just another idea for calamari ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  8. Lulu Barbarian says

    July 22, 2008 at 12:33 am

    Yay, Kevin’s joined the calamari club! It looks like you did a great job with it! I’ve got a recipe for squid cooked in wine, if you’re interested. (Linked in my name.)

    Reply
  9. Esi says

    July 22, 2008 at 12:41 am

    That looks good. I want to try making calamari at home, but have no idea how to cut it up (I think dissecting one in highschool has scarred me). Luckily, you were able to find it mostly prepared.

    Reply
  10. _ts of [eatingclub] vancouver says

    July 22, 2008 at 12:44 am

    For this specific preparation, you can make a fried calamari po’ boy! =)

    Other calamari usages:
    grilled – mediterranean-style with olive oil and lemon juice
    grilled – asian-style, like those served in Japanese restaurants

    You can also braise it in a tomato-based sauce.

    Or, another Chinese dish is “salty peppery” fried squid (that’s what it’s usually translated as). Usually, the squid are cut differently; that is, they’re not in rings. They’re fried then garnished/sprinkled with chile peppers and garlic.

    Reply
  11. Mrs Ergรผl says

    July 22, 2008 at 12:57 am

    Crispy outside of calamari is worth dying for! I totally love this!

    Reply
  12. Peter M says

    July 22, 2008 at 1:17 am

    Nicely done Kevin…It’s great to see you’re getting more confident with frying.

    Reply
  13. Dragon says

    July 22, 2008 at 1:28 am

    I love calamari. Yours looks great. I tried to prepare calamari once. I was cleaning the squid and couldn’t finish. I kept gagging. I’m such a wuss. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  14. Proud Italian Cook says

    July 22, 2008 at 2:41 am

    Hi Kevin, Well you know Italians love calamari, we love to dip it in a warm marinara sauce. I like to buy them already cleaned too! Looks great!

    Reply
  15. Bruno says

    July 22, 2008 at 3:05 am

    Your calamari looks great! You might try adding some (fried or grilled) to a salad with a tangy vinaigrette – it’s excellent.

    Reply
  16. cakebrain says

    July 22, 2008 at 3:33 am

    you don't have to go out to eat anymore kevin…you can do it all at home! fresh calamari is so good! i like it with tzatziki sauce myself! or sometimes the chinese way–deepfried with fresh sliced chili, garlic & szechuan peppercorns…

    Reply
  17. redmenace says

    July 22, 2008 at 3:50 am

    You are daring. I’ve always been scared to cook calamari because I don’t want to be disappointed. You’re an inspiration. As always.

    Reply
  18. noobcook says

    July 22, 2008 at 3:53 am

    I love love love fried calamari! I love eating stir fry calamari in sambal sauce too

    Reply
  19. cindy* says

    July 22, 2008 at 3:58 am

    this looks nice and crunchy. beautiful color too!

    Reply
  20. Steph says

    July 22, 2008 at 4:00 am

    If anyone can come up with a creative way to use calamari in another dish, it is you!

    Reply
  21. Melanie says

    July 22, 2008 at 4:03 am

    How impressive is that!!! Can’t wait to see what you come up with for other creative calamari dishes…

    Reply
  22. redforever says

    July 22, 2008 at 4:46 am

    There is a lovely little Italian restaurant near me and whenever I go there, I absolutely must have 2 items on their menu. One is their
    zuppetta di pesce, mussels, shrimp & scallop steamed in a spicy tomato garlic cream broth.

    The other is an appetizer, calamari sauteed with bell peppers, hot banana peppers, onions and lemon and served with zesty tomato sauce on the side. You might want to think of something like this for calamari Kevin, since you do like hot peppers!!!

    Reply
  23. [eatingclub] vancouver || js says

    July 22, 2008 at 5:27 am

    Following another beautiful plate of food, great calamari ideas in the comments as well!

    Reply
  24. Paula says

    July 22, 2008 at 5:41 am

    Oh yum! My entire family loves calamari. Outstanding recipe!

    Reply
  25. Jan says

    July 22, 2008 at 5:55 am

    I love calamari – I had it when I was in Greece. Yours looks great Kevin.

    Reply
  26. Peabody says

    July 22, 2008 at 7:31 am

    You keep making me want fried food as of late. And I love me some calamari!

    Reply
  27. Mochachocolata Rita says

    July 22, 2008 at 7:31 am

    My all time favorite, Kev! Well done!

    Reply
  28. Grace says

    July 22, 2008 at 7:59 am

    squid makes me squeamish, but deep-frying will fix that pretty quickly. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  29. Manggy says

    July 22, 2008 at 8:00 am

    You read my mind! I’ve been aching to make these for a looong time now! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  30. Zita says

    July 22, 2008 at 9:06 am

    look very crisp!!! great… u can use it also for paella, or japanese friters “tempura” or just saute with butter and garlic…yum…yum…endless posiblities ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  31. Emiline says

    July 22, 2008 at 9:49 am

    This is the only way I’ve eaten it, so I think you made the right decision. How can you beat fried food? You can’t.

    Reply
  32. Greg says

    July 22, 2008 at 11:13 am

    Hmmm, I haven’t tried fried calamari at home before. I like it with a light bread crumb crust – panko crumbs would be great. I just had some fantastic calamari in an Italian restaurant in Providence last week. It was served with a marinara and sliced pepperoncinis. To die for. You should google Calamari Pizza.

    Reply
  33. Lori says

    July 22, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    I like it when it’s nice and crisp like that!

    Reply
  34. Olga Berman says

    July 22, 2008 at 1:25 pm

    This is one of my favorite foods as an appetizer. I just had it at Zaytinya in DC on Saturday: but I’ve never made them myself. They’d also be good with a spicy mayo concoction

    Reply
  35. Cheryl says

    July 22, 2008 at 1:28 pm

    Wow that looks devine! I dont like Calamari much but I would eat that!

    Reply
  36. Emily says

    July 22, 2008 at 2:13 pm

    That looks delicious! I’ve never attempted calamari but you’ve inspired me to give it a try. My favorite restaurant version tosses the fried calamari with pepperoncini rings and some balsamic vinegar – tangy and spicy!

    Thanks for sharing your cooking adventures!

    Reply
  37. Robin Sue says

    July 22, 2008 at 2:15 pm

    Clamari is also nice stuffed and cooked in red sauce (pasta sauce). I love it fried the best though. I always order it out at Maggianno’s for my birthday. Yours looks really great.

    Reply
  38. Sharon says

    July 22, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    It took me 20+ years, but I can safely say that I now love calamari. Beyond fried, I love calamari in a cioppino.

    Reply
  39. Michele says

    July 22, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    I love that you don’t really use batter; battered squid is one of my biggest peeves.

    This weekend I had an amazing squid/pasta dish at a restaurant, which I blogged about here: http://finefuriouslife.com/2008/07/19/fregola-freak/

    I have no recipe, but it’s basically a Sardinian pasta called fregola + all the ingredients in caponata except the eggplant + calamari rings. SO delicious, I recommend it.

    Reply
  40. noble pig says

    July 22, 2008 at 3:15 pm

    Yeah calamari that is already cleaned up is a treat..so much less work. This looks wonderful.

    Reply
  41. Leslie says

    July 22, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    I love calamari! Try putting it over some fresh baby greens!! YUM

    Reply
  42. Deborah says

    July 22, 2008 at 4:14 pm

    I’ve only had calamari once, and didn’t really care for it. Maybe I should give it a try again, and make it myself!

    Reply
  43. amandalouden says

    July 22, 2008 at 4:33 pm

    Looks fabulous! I love calamari. Its one of those dishes like fish and chips that I love-love but typically don’t eat anymore. Oh the good old days when I used to be able to enjoy greasy food. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  44. Patsyk says

    July 22, 2008 at 5:12 pm

    I love calamari with a nice marinara sauce for dipping… yum!

    Reply
  45. cakewardrobe says

    July 22, 2008 at 6:03 pm

    Nothing beats the goodness of fresh calamari! yum!

    Reply
  46. Jenny says

    July 22, 2008 at 6:36 pm

    I can’t believe I’ve never had calamari, but I bet it’s delicious by the looks of yours!

    Reply
  47. J for Kitchen Confit says

    July 22, 2008 at 7:43 pm

    Yum! I love calamari. Your photo looks great!

    Reply
  48. We Are Never Full says

    July 22, 2008 at 7:43 pm

    if it’s already cleaned, there’s absolutely no reason to not make it – it’s extremely versatile. Fish stew, rice or sausage-stuffed calamari, frito misto di mare, grilled calamari (my favorite way to eat it) with a spicy or citrus sauce, fried calamari sandwich (spanish treat), ceviche…

    the possibilities are endless!

    Reply
  49. Anonymous says

    July 22, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    this looks fucking disgusting

    Reply
  50. Katie says

    July 22, 2008 at 8:44 pm

    My first taste of calamari was at an Italian restaurant when I was little. A friend of my parents said “I’ll tell you what it is after you taste it.” I liked it so much that I didn’t care that I was eating squid!

    Reply
  51. DocChuck says

    July 22, 2008 at 8:53 pm

    Having been born and raised in Texas, calamari was not something that was ever on our menu.

    However, I have tried it in recent years and really like it when it is fried (such as you prepared it).

    I still don’t think I am ready to eat squid when I can see the thing in its regular form, however. LOL

    Reply
  52. Jeena says

    July 22, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    Perfect calamari recipe Kevin those rings look so tempting. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  53. Natasha says

    July 22, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    I love love love calamari. The key with calamari is not to overcook them, as they’ll become too chewy. You can stuff them as well if you find some whole ones. You can also use them grilled in salads. Cleaning them is fairly easy, nothing to worry about.

    Reply
  54. Sylvia says

    July 22, 2008 at 10:03 pm

    I love calamari, specially fried. But i agree with who said that calamari donยดt be chewy. The key is not overcook. To be your first time looks so well

    Reply
  55. Pam says

    July 22, 2008 at 10:39 pm

    I love fried calamari! I’ve never attempted to try it myself though! You are completely fearless in the kitchen!

    Reply
  56. Anonymous says

    July 22, 2008 at 11:18 pm

    This is one of those simple yet very important standbys. There are few treats as good as fried calamari!

    Reply
  57. Jude says

    July 23, 2008 at 2:14 am

    I’m not always fond of cleaning squid but it’s always worth if I’m making this.

    Reply
  58. Marc @ NoRecipes says

    July 23, 2008 at 2:25 am

    Looks great, calamari is also good grilled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top of a salad.

    Reply
  59. Pam says

    July 23, 2008 at 3:12 am

    I love, love, love calamari but have been afraid to make it at home – not anymore! It looks fantastic Kevin.

    Reply
  60. ChichaJo says

    July 23, 2008 at 4:19 am

    When we made that paella was my first time to clean calamari/squid! ๐Ÿ™‚ I have to try this soon…yours looks perfect! Although fried calamari is also popular here, another common way of eating it over here is grilled (stuffed with a mixture of chopped tomatoes and onions) and served with a dipping sauce of soy sauce and calamansi (our local lemon/lime) ๐Ÿ™‚ We also use squid in adobo ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  61. diva says

    July 23, 2008 at 4:52 am

    love calamari! always. calamari bap, kevin. fried calamari, tartar sauce, lemon juice, bit of ketchup if u fancy it in a lovely fresh bap! mmmm.

    Reply
  62. Bobby says

    July 24, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    Interesting, I have never had calamari before. This looks really good.

    Reply
  63. Jeanne says

    July 25, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    One of my exs’ moms used to soak her calamari tubes in crushed tinner pineapple overnight to tenderise – and damn, she used to make tender fried calamari! Don’t miss him, but I do miss her calamari!

    You can also try making a calamari risotto – which reminds me, I made one and never posted it! Gotta try and dig it out…

    Reply
  64. kimberleyblue says

    July 25, 2008 at 3:08 pm

    Calamari is the best – yours looks really good. Yum!

    Reply
  65. soraver says

    August 19, 2008 at 8:26 am

    You might be interested in filling it with some rise, tomato, peppers, onion etc. there are too many recipies for these things in Greece (i mean rise stuffed vegitables and calamari style fish).

    (i found one recipe in english ๐Ÿ˜€ http://www.greek-recipe.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article150 )

    Reply
  66. guam girl says

    April 20, 2011 at 7:09 am

    fried calamari also taste good as well wit marinera sauce wit tabassco and squeezed lemon thats also a good dipping sauce

    Reply
  67. Anonymous says

    June 21, 2014 at 5:14 pm

    Hi Kevin,
    Love your site and all your recipes I have tried are delicious!
    I cook calamari often and basically the same way but add lemon zest to the flour mixture as well as some breadcrumbs for extra crispiness. Serve with freshly squeezed lemon on them and tzatziki sauce on the side. Our favorite Greek restaurant serves it with chopped red onion on top.
    Thank you for all your great recipes.
    Maggie

    Reply
  68. kevin says

    June 25, 2014 at 10:47 am

    Maggie: Love the addition of the lemon zest!

    Reply

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