Crispy and perfectly seasoned fried calamari (kalamarakia tiganita) recipe! A favourite Greek meze that is served in every fish tavern (Psarotaverna) and you should really give it a try at home. Making your own crispy fried calamari rings is literally as easy as frying potatoes!
Lots of fried calamari recipes use batter for coating the calamari, but Greeks almost always go for the minimalistic approach. After all, when it comes to fried calamari less is more. So, some good old fashioned flour and seasoning mix will do the trick every single time!
Crispy fried calamari recipe – How to make the perfect fried calamari
When preparing such a simple and minimalistic dish like fried calamari, the secret is of course to use some good quality calamari to start with. First of all, prefer to cut the calamari slightly thicker slices, to be able to actually taste it. Slimmer rings look more elegant but with 1 cm slices there’s more calamari to get your teeth into!
Tip: Let the calamari dry on some paper towl before coating, but do not pat dry, as it will be more difficult for the flour to stick, which means less crunch.
The seasoning for the calamari is a matter of preference. Some salt and freshly ground pepper will be just amazing, but adding also fresh herbs, like oregano and spices, like paprika will surely lift the flavour. For coating using some semolina and bread flour instead of regular flour will really make a difference in the crunchiness of your fried calamari.
How to fry the calamari?
Use some clean oil for frying and heat it on medium high heat. The perfect temperature to cook the fried calamari is 170C. Check if your oil is ready by carefully dipping one of the calamari rings in; if it sizzles fiercely the oil is ready.
Alternatively you can check by sprinkling just a small pinch of flour in the hot oil. If it starts bubbling then it’s ready. Hot oil can be really dangerous, so use a slooted spoon to carefully place the calamari inside the hot oil.
Not overcrowding the pan is vital for crispier results. If you add too many, the calamari will release water and the temperature of the oil will fall, resulting into not cooking properly.
Prepare this delicious Greek fried calamari recipe for your friends and family and serve as a delicious starter or main dish with a last minute squeeze of a lemon. Serve with Greek salad and Greek fries. Enjoy!
Crispy and perfectly seasoned fried calamari recipe (kalamarakia tiganita)! A favorite Greek meze that is served in every fish tavern (Psarotaverna) and you should really give it a try making it at home. Discover all the secrets behind this traditional delight here.
To prepare this super easy fried calamari recipe, clean the calamari and wash thoroughly. Using a sharp knife cut the calamari in slices, approx. 1 cm each. This will create the rings, as seen in the picture below. Place the calamari rings on some paper towel to get ride of the excessive water.
Prepare the seasoning for the fried calamari. In a blender add the seasoning and pulse until powdered. (Alternatively you can use a pestle.)
In a large sandwich bag or tupperware add the flour and seasoning. Place in the sliced calamari and shake well to coat (you will need to do this in batches). Remove the calamari onto a plate, shaking of any excess flour.
Into a medium sized frying pan pour enough vegetable oil to deep fry the calamari. Heat the oil to medium high heat until it begins to bubble. Test if the oil is hot enough by dipping one of the calamari rings in; if it sizzles the oil is ready. Fry the calamari in batches for about 2-3 minutes, until nicely golden.
Remove the fried calamari using a slotted spoon and place on some paper towel to dry for 1-2 minutes. Have a taste and sprinkle with some more salt.
Enjoy this delicious Greek fried calamari recipe with a last minute squeeze of a lemon.
My family loves fish and calamari is a must when we eat out! I never had the gutts to fry it and bought some which I’m going to try so Im looking forward to try your recipe.Thanks!!
Hi Maekayla, it all depends on how large your calamari are – usually I bake 1 calamari for 2 people so this recipe would make about 4-6 depending on how hungry you are. For 75 people, I would suggest this as a side dish, so make about 5 portions of this recipe and each can have a few rings.
While I dont own an air frier, I’ve tasted them once at a friends place where they cooked them with an air frier and they were excellent! Much less oily though, so please bear that in mind!
Can they be prepared in a large batch then frozen for later frying when needed? I want to make these for my son but he won’t eat much in one go. Thank you!
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I will make this for my wife although NOTHING beats calamari in the Hellenic Republic
Love these receipes!!!!
Thank you Metaxia! Hope you’ll find many recipes that you’ll love and enjoy 🙂
Love
Eli
Thank you thank you thank you ! I am so oleased to have found a great website for greek dishes which I love !
Having friends over on Saturday night for cards and Greek food. Looking forward to trying this calamari recipe.
My family loves fish and calamari is a must when we eat out! I never had the gutts to fry it and bought some which I’m going to try so Im looking forward to try your recipe.Thanks!!
How many portions does this recipe make ? I need to make it for plus minus 75 people ?
Hi Maekayla, it all depends on how large your calamari are – usually I bake 1 calamari for 2 people so this recipe would make about 4-6 depending on how hungry you are. For 75 people, I would suggest this as a side dish, so make about 5 portions of this recipe and each can have a few rings.
Can this be done in an air fryer?
While I dont own an air frier, I’ve tasted them once at a friends place where they cooked them with an air frier and they were excellent! Much less oily though, so please bear that in mind!
Can they be prepared in a large batch then frozen for later frying when needed? I want to make these for my son but he won’t eat much in one go. Thank you!
Hi Xiao
Yes you can prepare them and freeze them and fry on the day. They need to be hot when served so fry them right before you want to serve them!
what about deep frying shrimp do you have a recipe or can use same batter
These were tasty, but not crispy at all. I am not sure where I went wrong, I followed the recipe exactly. Very disappointed.