Fried calamari: there is no more delicious recipe!

All the secrets for perfect, golden and crunchy fried calamari. You're on the safe side with this fish recipe!

Today we are preparing a second course that everyone likes: fried calamari. A quick and at the same time tasty recipe, it is perfect both for a dinner with friends and for a standing aperitif with friends. Don't be scared by the presence of the fish: once you have cleaned and cut the squid into rings (this will be the most laborious part) you just need to flour them and dip them in oil, where they will have to stay for a few minutes.

In fact, the recipe for fried calamari requires simple breading: after a dip in oil and a quick sprinkling of seasoning salt you can enjoy them. We're sure they'll be finished in no time! Let's immediately see how to prepare this succulent second course and how to make fried food that is not greasy but light and crunchy .

• How to clean squid
• Fried calamari: original recipe
• Recipe with batter
• Light baked version
• Advice
• Conservation

How to clean squid

First you have to clean the squid , but if you don't know how to proceed you can ask the fishmonger to do it for you or fall back on frozen ones, already cleaned.

1. First, separate the head from the bag with a firm but delicate movement and remove the central transparent pen.

2. Sticking your fingers into the bag, remove the entrails .

3. Remove the skin by making light cuts and pulling it vigorously.

4. With a knife, lightly cut the tentacles and remove the beak in the center.

5. Wash everything carefully under running water.

How to make fried calamari: quick recipe

If you have purchased frozen squid directly, you can start here.

1. First, with a very sharp knife, cut the squid into rings . It is essential that they are dry before proceeding with the next step.

2. Pour a little flour into a plate without exaggerating, you can always add more . Evenly flour the squid rings and heads and, before frying them, shake them to remove excess flour .

3. Heat the seed oil abundantly in a pan: the ideal temperature is around 170°C but if you don't have a kitchen thermometer you can dip a toothpick in the liquid and if it fills with bubbles, you will know that the oil is heat. Fry the squid rings first and the heads afterwards, proceeding a little at a time. When they are golden ( about 3/4 minutes ), drain them with a slotted spoon, placing them on kitchen paper.
4. Add salt and serve your fried calamari piping hot. We recommend, just like in restaurants, bringing them to the table with slices of lemon that each diner can squeeze freely.

This food is so good that we can't help but leave you all our squid recipes for you to experiment with a bit!

Fried squid in batter

The slightly more elaborate version of this recipe uses a batter instead of a simple breading. It is usually used for foods that are moister internally (like vegetables) and not for calamari, but you can try both before deciding which one you prefer! Our (infallible) batter recipe includes:

• 200 g of 00 flour
• 100ml cold sparkling water
• 1 egg

1. Pour the flour into a bowl, then add the egg and cold water . Mix vigorously to eliminate all lumps .
2. Dip the squid cut into rings so that they are well covered .
3. Fry them in oil (which must be hot, at around 170°C) and after about 3/4 minutes lift them with a slotted spoon and place them on an absorbent paper cloth so that it absorbs the excess oil.
4. Complete with salt and serve immediately.

Alternatively, you can also try beer batter or tempura .

Oven-fried calamari: light recipe

We know, it seems a bit counterintuitive but for those who pay attention to their figure we also have a light recipe : oven-fried calamari . Obviously, frying is replaced by baking but the breading remains. To make them tastier we recommend making them with breadcrumbs, salt and garlic powder. Make it adhere well to the squid rings and cook at 190°C for 15-20 minutes maximum .

Primo Chef's advice

Any more ideas for the seasoning ? What do you think about trying seasoning with orange juice instead of lemon juice? It will add an unexpected but truly delicious note of flavor. Then, of course, you can serve them with different types of sauce: sweet and sour , tartare , pink or yogurt sauce.

The perfect breading . The important thing, if you want a crispy and dry result, is that when you bread the squid they are nice and dry. For the rest, you can vary different flours: rice, corn, gluten-free and even breadcrumbs. Or, for a more interesting breading, you can also try flavoring the flour with a little sweet or spicy paprika : you will taste the difference!

Conservation

Every fried food lover knows: fried foods should be eaten immediately (and this also applies to fried calamari). We do not recommend freezing, unless raw.