This crispy fried calamari recipe was first posted on the blog in 2014 but I am bringing it back to the forefront with brand new photos and another simple hack/tip I learned recently.

I attended a birthday party last weekend and as expected from a great company of friends, I had my fill and then some of delicious nashville filipino food nashville filipino restaurant and amazing conversations. The celebrant had such an impressive spread, from the classic Filipino pancit to crowd-favorite leche flan dessert, I didn’t stray far from the buffet table all evening.

But although there were quite a few dishes I can’t wait to recreate at home and share on the blog, what caught my full attention was a platter of fried calamari our hostess served as appetizers. You see, instead of preparing the squid into rings, she just used really small ones and battered and fried them whole. OK, this is not really a world-changing hack but I thought it was ingenious and time-saving at the very least. 🙂

Now for the real tricks/tips on how to make deliciously golden and crunchy yet super tender calamari, here were my original post and photo in 2014.

My friends, I know I tend to get overly excited about the recipes I post here on Nashville Filipino Restaurant but when I tell you that this calamari recipe is the tenderest, crispiest, yummiest ever, EVER, please believe me. Because O.M.G, they are!

I went to a girlfriend’s house over the weekend and in between sips of sex on the beach and talks about sex (just kidding), we polished off roughly three pounds of these crispy squid rings all by ourselves. They were seriously addicting, we kept popping one after the other nonstop and had to battle it out on who gets the dibs on the last squid left.

Fortunately for you and me, I was able to wrangle from her not only the coveted last piece but also the tricks to amazing calamari.

Tips on How to Make the Best Crispy Fried Calamari:

• Soak the cleaned squid in milk to tenderize.  I am not sure what chemical wizardry happens here but even the last few squid pieces I kind of over fried and overcooked stayed nice and soft and far from chewy.
• Use equal parts of flour and cornstarch for an unbelievably crunchy coating.
• Don’t scrimp on the amount of oil for frying and use the right one for the job. Peanut or canola oil have high smoke points and are perfect for deep-frying.
• Maintain optimal oil temperature of 350 F to 375 F.  You want to brown and crisp the coating ASAP so as not to overcook the squid underneath. The oil is ready when a small piece of bread browns in about 15 seconds.
• Do not overcrowd the pan and cook in batches as needed.
• While the squid rings are fresh and hot from the fryer, season generously with garlic powder, salt, and freshly-ground pepper or any of your favorite spice blends.

Do try this crispy calamari recipe and make a large batch, it’s sure to be a party hit! Make sure to have spicy vinegar ready and ice cold beer, of course. 🙂 Enjoy!

5 from 1 vote

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Crispy Fried Calamari

Prep Time

20mins

Cook Time

10mins

Total Time

30mins

Crispy Fried Calamari is your next favorite appetizer! Learn the simple tricks on how to make them super tender yet deliciously golden and crunchy.

Course:Appetizer

Cuisine:Filipino

Servings: 6Servings

Calories: 390kcal

Author: Lalaine

Ingredients

• 3poundslarge squid
• 1cupmilk
• 1cupflour
• 1cupcornstarch
• oil
• garlic powder to taste
• salt and pepper to taste
• lemons, cut into wedges

Instructions

1. Holding the squid firmly, pull the head from the body including internal parts and tentacles. Pull out the clear cartilage inside the tube and discard. With a knife, cut the head and the ink sack from the tentacles.

2. Set aside the tentacles. Peel the spotted outer membrane from the squid and discard.

3. Under cold running water, wash the tentacles and the tubes inside and outside to remove any remaining tissue or debris. Drain well and pat dry. Cut the body into rings by slicing vertically or keep them whole depending on size.

4. In a bowl, place milk and cleaned squid. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1/2 an hour or up to 4 hours. Drain squid and discard milk.

5. In another bowl, combine flour and cornstarch. Stir to combine. Toss the squid in the flour mixture to fully coat.

6. In a wide pan or wok over medium heat, heat about 3-inches deep oil until a small piece of bread added browns in 15 seconds.

7. Add coated squid in batches and deep-fry, turning as needed, for about 1 to 3 minutes or until crisp and golden. With a slotted spoon, remove from pan and drain on a wire rack set over a baking sheet.

8. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Serve immediately with lemon wedges or spicy vinegar.

Nutrition Facts

Crispy Fried Calamari

Amount Per Serving

Calories 390Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Cholesterol 532mg177%

Sodium 119mg5%

Potassium 633mg18%

Total Carbohydrates 44g15%

Dietary Fiber 0g0%

Sugars 2g

Protein 38g76%

Vitamin A2.8%

Vitamin C12.9%

Calcium12.2%

Iron14.5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.