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    Cooking Gorgeous » All Recipes » Appetizers

    Calamari Fritti

    Published: Jun 21, 2022 · Modified: Jun 22, 2022 by Ayla Clulee · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Calamari Fritti (or Fried Calamari) is a Mediterranean seafood dish that is usually served as an appetiser in restaurants. This popular squid recipe is very easy to make at home and pairs perfectly with homemade Tartar Sauce With Capers.

    fried calamari rings
    Jump to:
    • How to Tenderise Calamari?
    • Why This Recipe Works?
    • Ingredients and Substitutes
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Related Recipes
    • Top Tip From The Chef
    • Calamari Fritti

    Fried Calamari is very popular all over the world and is known by different names. This delicious seafood dish is called Calamari Fritti in Italy, Kalamar Tava in Turkey and Kalamarakia Tiganita in Greece. It is light and crispy, extremely straightforward to make, and always a crowd-pleaser.

    calamari fritti dipped in tartar sauce

    I learned how to make this dish at home many years ago, before becoming a professional chef. It is less complicated than it appears. The secret to a light and crispy Calamari Fritti is to tenderise the squid rings, coat them in seasoned flour and then deep fry them for no longer than a couple of minutes.

    How to Tenderise Calamari?

    There are a few ways to tenderise calamari before frying to achieve light and crispy squid rings each time.

    The method I use is to rub the calamari rings with some salt, sugar and bicarbonate of soda for a few minutes before soaking them in soda water or milk. I let the rings marinate for a minimum of an hour, ideally overnight if I have time, before frying them.

    This method will help tenderize the squid and keep it from getting too chewy when you bite into it later. However, the cooking time is actually the most important factor in making a tender squid dish. Unfortunately, tenderizing the squid won't be able to save overcooked calamari.

    fried calamari rings

    Why This Recipe Works?

    • It is an extremely straightforward recipe with only a few ingredients.
    • Calamari Fritti is a quick and easy appetizer that’s even better than what you’d get at a restaurant!
    • It is the perfect seafood dish to impress your dinner guests with a minimum of preparation.
    • The leftovers would keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days. No need to reheat them! Just have them as a snack or turn them into a sandwich with some delicious homemade Tartar Sauce With Capers.

    Ingredients and Substitutes

    Ingredients for calamari fritti
    • Squid -  I like buying whole fresh squid. The fishmonger is usually happy to clean and cut it into rings. Alternatively, you can buy frozen rings which are easy to work with and still delicious.
    • Salt, sugar and bicarbonate of soda - They help to tenderise the squid as well as add flavour.
    • Soda water - I buy them in small bottles from Turkish shops. They are also widely available in supermarkets. You can substitute it with an equal amount of milk or buttermilk.
    • Flour - I use plain (all-purpose) flour but you can use chickpea flour for a gluten-free option.
    • Oil - Ideally you want to use an oil with a high smoke point such as rapeseed, vegetable, sunflower or canola oil.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    This recipe for pan-fried calamari is very easy to make and doesn't require much of your time. However, you need to follow a few simple steps to achieve the best results:

    Tenderise The Squid Rings

    Start with preparing the squid unless you already bought calamari rings. Cut the cleaned tubes into 2 cm (¾ ") thick rings.

    cut the squid in rings

    Place them in a bowl along with the tentacles, and sprinkle on the salt, sugar and bicarbonate of soda. Rub them all for a few minutes, until they start softening and form bubbles.

    rub the rings with salt, sugar and bicarbonate of soda

    Pour the soda water (or milk) on the calamari rings and tentacles, making sure they all are covered nicely. Cover the bowl with cling film or a lid and marinate for a minimum of an hour, ideally overnight refrigerated.

    pour soda water on calamari rings

    Coat the Calamari Rings With Flour

    Mix the flour, salt and freshly ground pepper in a bowl and then set it aside. Place the tenderised calamari rings on a colander to drain the excess liquid.

    place the rings on a colander

    Toss a few calamari rings in the flour mixture until they are all nicely covered, and then transfer them to a colander. Repeat until all the calamari is coated in the flour mixture.

    cover the calamari with flour

    Fry the Calamari and Serve

    Fill a small saucepan or a medium-size frying pan with vegetable, rapeseed or sunflower oil and then heat it to 180° C (350° F).

    You can use a cooking thermometer or test it by dropping one calamari ring. To test, drop just one calamari ring in the oil, lots of gentle bubbles should form around it immediately and the calamari and bubbles begin to float to the top.

    Fry the squid rings in batches (about eight at a time, depending on the size of your pan) for two minutes or until slightly golden brown.

    Prepare a tray and put a wire rack, and then cover the rack with a paper towel. As the calamari cook, use a slotted spoon to transfer them to the prepared wire rack. You can use the preheated oven to 100 °C (212 °F) to keep the rings warm while the rest is frying.

    Repeat until you are finished with all the rings and then serve immediately with lemon wedges, chopped chillies (optional) and a dipping sauce such as Tartar Sauce With Capers, Haydari (Turkish Yoghurt Dip) or Tarator.

    calamari rings served with tartar sauce

    Related Recipes

    For more delicious seafood & fish recipes why not try:

    • Baked Cod With Panko
    • Salmon and Spinach Quiche
    • Garlic Prawns With Pasta
    • Fish Sticks in Air Fryer
    • Salmon & Spinach Pasta
    • Chorizo and Prawn Pasta
    • Baked Prawns (Karides Guvec)
    • Classic Moules Mariniere (Mussels Marinara)
    • Fish Pie Recipe
    • Creamy Prawn Pasta
    Can I reheat fried calamari?

    Yes, you can reheat them with deep-frying for a minute in hot oil. Alternatively, if you have an air fryer, you can use the "extra crispy" function for two minutes to reheat the leftover calamari rings. I don't recommend microwaving them as they would get soggy and rubbery. I personally eat them cold from the fridge or at room temperature as a snack or in a sandwich.

    How to store the leftovers?

    If you used fresh calamari, you can refrigerate the leftovers for up to three days in an airtight container. If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze them and keep them for up to a month.
    If you used frozen calamari, you can refrigerate the leftovers for up to 48 hours. Do not freeze them if you used frozen squid rings!

    How many calories are in a portion of Calamari Fritti?

    There is 288 kcal in a portion of calamari rings when consumed as an appetiser when following my recipe.

    Top Tip From The Chef

    Don't cut the calamari rings too thin. Slicing the squid tubes into thicker rings extends the cooking time long enough for the coating to brown and crisp up nicely, while the calamari is still tender on the inside without getting rubbery.

    I hope you enjoy the process of making these homemade fried calamari rings as much as you enjoy eating them! 🙂

    Bon appétit! / Afiyet Olsun! 

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below, tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.

    Calamari fritti served with lemon wedges

    Calamari Fritti

    Ayla Clulee
    Calamari Fritti (or Fried Calamari) is a Mediterranean seafood dish that is usually served as an appetiser in restaurants. 
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
    Cuisine Italian, Mediterranean, Turkish
    Servings 4 portions
    Calories 288 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 kitchen scale
    • 1 Measuring Spoons
    • 1 sharp knife
    • 1 Cuisinart Nonstick 12-Inch Skillet
    • 1 cooking thermometer

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 500 g squid
    • 1 tablespoon caster sugar
    • 1 tablespoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
    • 200 ml soda water
    • 1 cup plain white flour / all-purpose flour
    • ¼ teaspoon salt (to season the flour)
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (to season the flour)
    • ½ cup vegetable, rapeseed or sunflower oil for frying
    • lemon wedges (to serve with)
    • sliced red chilli (optional)

    Instructions
     

    Tenderise the Squid Rings

    • Start with preparing the squid unless you already bought calamari rings. Cut the cleaned tubes into 2 cm (¾ ") thick rings.
    • Place them in a bowl along with the tentacles, and sprinkle on the salt, sugar and bicarbonate of soda. Rub the rings for a few minutes, until they start softening and form bubbles.
    • Pour the soda water (or milk) on the calamari rings and tentacles, making sure they all are covered nicely.
    • Cover the bowl with cling film or a lid and marinate for a minimum of an hour, ideally overnight refrigerated.

    Coat the Calamari Rings With Flour

    • Mix the flour, salt and freshly ground pepper in a bowl and set it aside.
    • Place the tenderised calamari rings on a colander to drain the excess liquid.
    • Toss a few calamari rings in the flour mixture until they are all nicely covered, and then transfer them to a colander. Repeat until all the calamari is coated in the flour mixture.

    Fry and Serve

    • Fill a small saucepan or a medium-size frying pan with vegetable, rapeseed or sunflower oil and heat it to 180° C (350° F). You can use a cooking thermometer or test it by dropping one calamari ring. To test, drop just one calamari ring in the oil, lots of gentle bubbles should form around it immediately and the calamari and bubbles begin to float to the top.
    • Fry the squid rings in batches (about eight at a time) for two minutes or until slightly golden brown.
    • Prepare a tray and put a wire rack, and cover the rack with a paper towel. As the calamari cook, use a slotted spoon to transfer them to the prepared wire rack. You can use the preheated oven to 100 °C (212 °F) to keep the rings warm while the rest is frying.
    • Repeat until you are finished with all the rings and serve immediately with lemon wedges and a dipping sauce of your choice.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 288kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 23gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 291mgSodium: 2229mgPotassium: 342mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 43IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingorgeous or tag #cookingorgeous!

    FOOD SAFETY

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    This post use affiliate links. This means that if you click on them and then buy something, we get a small amount of commission to keep the site running, but it doesn’t cost you anything more.

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    Comments

    1. Paul

      June 24, 2022 at 3:58 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe and the trick of tenderising the calamari with soda water worked so well. Tasty crispy calamari that’s super tender. Thanks for a great recipe!

      Reply

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    Hi! Thank you for visiting Cooking Gorgeous. My name is Ayla, and I’m a professional chef based in the UK. The kitchen is my happy place and cooking is my therapy. To me, food is more than ingredients and nutrition; it is a language of love, a way of expressing compassion.

    More about me →

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