Fried Calamari Rings with Marinara Dipping Sauce
This quick and easy recipe shows you how to make fried calamari rings with marinara dipping sauce for 4 people. Tender squid rings are soaked in buttermilk, coated in a light flour and cornstarch mix, then fried until golden and crispy. Serve them hot with a zesty homemade marinara sauce and lemon wedges for the perfect appetizer or seafood snack.
Ingredients
For the calamari:
- 500 g 1.1 lb squid rings (fresh or thawed frozen)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp paprika optional
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Lemon wedges for serving
For the marinara dipping sauce:
- 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Soak the squid: Place squid rings in buttermilk. Let them soak for 30–60 minutes.
- Make the sauce: In a saucepan, heat olive oil. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10–15 minutes. Set aside.
- Prepare coating: In a bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, salt, and paprika.
- Heat oil: Heat oil in a deep pan to 350–375°F (175–190°C).
- Coat and fry: Remove squid from buttermilk. Toss in flour mixture. Shake off excess. Fry in small batches for 2–3 minutes until golden.
- Drain and serve: Place on paper towels to drain. Serve hot with lemon wedges and warm marinara sauce.