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Crispy fried calamari rings served with marinara sauce, lemon wedges, and fresh parsley on a rustic wooden platter.

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.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Soak Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Appetizer, dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Italian- American, Mediterranean
Calories: 380
Ingredients Method

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

Method
 

  1. Soak the squid: Place squid rings in buttermilk. Let them soak for 30–60 minutes.
  2. 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.
  3. Prepare coating: In a bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, salt, and paprika.
  4. Heat oil: Heat oil in a deep pan to 350–375°F (175–190°C).
  5. Coat and fry: Remove squid from buttermilk. Toss in flour mixture. Shake off excess. Fry in small batches for 2–3 minutes until golden.
  6. Drain and serve: Place on paper towels to drain. Serve hot with lemon wedges and warm marinara sauce.