Holiday
Fried Calamari
A holiday appetizer from Savor the Holidays — ready in 30 minutes.
Recipe by Cyman Huang
Cooked, styled and photographed in his kitchen.
Fried Calamari opens the appetizer chapter of Savor the Holidays — a crowd-pleasing bite built for gatherings, parties, and festive tables.
Watch it come together
Ingredients
- 1 pound calamari (squid), cleaned and cut into rings
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Lemon wedges, for serving
- Marinara sauce, for dipping (optional)
Method
- 1
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, paprika, and black pepper.
- 2
Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or a large pot to 375°F (190°C).
- 3
Dredge the calamari rings in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
- 4
Carefully drop a few calamari rings at a time into the hot oil. Fry them for about 2-3 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and crispy.
- 5
Use a slotted spoon or tongs to remove the Fried Calamari from the oil and transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- 6
Repeat the process with the remaining calamari rings until all are fried.
- 7
Serve the Fried Calamari immediately, garnished with lemon wedges for squeezing over the top.
- 8
Optionally, serve with marinara sauce on the side for dipping.
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