Calamari Fritti

Fresh rings of squid battered in a seasoned flour that is lightly fried to make the most delectable homemade Calamari Fritti, also known as fried calamari. Don’t forget to make the creamy and smokey homemade Smoked Chipotle Aioli. You will forget you are enjoying this at home as this is just as good if not better then what you will find in a restaurant.

I have been making my own Calamari Fritti for over a decade now. I experimented on a whim one hot summers day when I was tasked with making a birthday dinner for my mother in-law. With only one day’s notice I whipped together what I felt to be an amazing meal. We had Calamari Fritti and caprese salad for appetizers. Then enjoyed steak, lobster tails, twice baked potatoes, and salad. Of course, we had birthday cake for dessert, too!

Everyone in my husband’s family loves calamari, and I figured why not try to make it for the dinner as a nice surprise appetizer! After doing quite a bit of recipe research online I put together what I felt to be the best recipe for Calamari Fritti out there. They were skeptical of me making fried calamari at home but once they tried it they all agreed it was just as good as what they would get in a restaurant.

I created a homemade aioli sauce to go with the fried calamari as well as marinara sauce. I love the Smoked Chipotle Aioli dipping sauce that accompanies this dish. It’s spicy yet creamy and satisfies the taste-buds. Don’t get me wrong. I love dipping the rings of the fried squid into a tomato-basil sauce. But there is also something about an aioli sauce that just does it for me.

Ingredients

• Squid – Fresh squid tubes and tentacles is what you’ll need.
• Milk – You’ll need milk to soak the tubes and tentacles in milk.
• Egg – I like to add egg in the milk mixture.
• Oil – Oil is needed to fry the calamari.
• Flour – I have only ever used all purpose flour for making calamari.
• Spices – Paprika, salt, and pepper.
• Mayonnaise – This is the base for the aioli sauce.
• Chipotle – I use a single chipotle chile in adobo for the sauce.
• Garlic – 1 clove will do.
• Lemon – Just a half lemon juiced is all you will need plus more served on the side to drizzle over the freshly fried calamari.
• Parsley – A little fresh flat leaf parsley for the sauce.

How do you Make Calamari Fritti?

Rinse the squid and pat dry with paper towel. Cut the body of the squid (tubes) into ½-inch rings (trim the tentacles as necessary).

In a large bowl combine the milk, egg, and basil leaves. Whisk until lightly beaten. Put the prepared calamari in the milk mixture. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes.

Preheat deep fryer or skillet with oil 1-inch deep.

Mix the flour, paprika, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. Once the oil is hot toss the calamari in the seasoned flour to coat and immediately place it into the deep fryer.

Fry for one-to-three minutes or until golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fried calamari to paper towel lined plate to drain. Sprinkle additional salt, to taste.

Serve immediately with lemon wedges and dipping sauces.

How do you make Smoked Chipotle Aioli?

Using a food processor or a high speed blender combine all the ingredients and blend for 1 minute or until well combined. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to serve. Serve as a dipping sauce with fried calamari.

Air Fryer Calamari

If you have an Air Fryer you’ll be happy to know you can also make calamari in the Air Fryer! I have an Air Fryer oven so that’s how I have tested my recipe. However, if you have the basket style your cooking times could vary.

• Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Follow the steps to coat and dredge the squid per my recipe.
• Spray the wire racks with non-stick cooking spray. Place coated rings and tentacles in the on the air fryer racks in a single layer, then spray olive oil cooking spray on top.
• Place the racks in the Air Fryer and cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through and respraying the other side.
• NOTE: Picture 1 is raw, picture 2 is half way through, picture 3 is fully cooked.

Cooking in an Air Fryer basket? Cook for 4 minutes, then flip, and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.

FAQs

Here are all the frequently asked questions readers have asked when making this recipe.

Tips & Tricks

Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks I’ve learned when making fried calamari.

• Spicy – If you like a spicier sauce add an additional Chipotle in Adobo Sauce. Keep the seeds in for extra heat.
• Mild Spice – Do not use a whole chipotle at all. Instead use the sauce from the can. Start with 1 tablespoon and add additional for spicier sauce.
• Extra Crispy – To achieve crispy restaurant style calamari you will want to use a deep fryer. The stove top works, but I have found it just does not get as crispy as you get in the restaurants.
• Dipping Sauce

Seafood Appetizer Recipes

If you are still craving seafood appetizers, I have a few more delicious recipes.

• Guacamole Shrimp Bites
• Baked Clams
• Sauteed Buffalo Shrimp with Bleu Cheese
• Baked Lemon Garlic Shrimp

If you make this calamari fritte recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!

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