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Fish, Classics and bistro fare

Fried calamari with green salad

Fried calamari with green salad is a breaded and fried seafood dish served with homemade tartar sauce, for 4 people in 35 minutes. The recipe is easy, at a cost of €3.60 per person. The key to success is soaking the rings in milk before breading them, for tender meat under the crispy coating.

Golden, crispy calamari rings with a lemon wedge and homemade tartar sauce, it's like a plate straight from the beach.

Fried calamari with green salad
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.60
Calories per person
450 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Golden calamari rings, crispy on the outside and tender inside, with a squeeze of lemon and homemade tartar sauce, taste like something you'd order at a seaside shack. The trick is in the milk soak and the three step breading, flour, egg, breadcrumbs, which holds together well during frying and never turns greasy if the oil stays hot enough.

This is a dish kids love just as much as adults, easy enough for a weeknight and festive enough for friends on a summer Sunday. The green salad brings freshness against the crunch, and the homemade tartar sauce makes a real difference compared to a store bought one.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Calamari rings 600 g

Dairy

  • Milk 20 cl
  • Eggs 2

Pantry

  • Flouroften in the pantry 100 g
  • Breadcrumbsoften in the pantry 100 g
  • Frying oiloften in the pantry 50 cl
  • Mayonnaiseoften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Picklesoften in the pantry 4
  • Capersoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Lemon 2
  • Green salad 1

Allergens Mollusks, Gluten, Eggs, Mustard

The step by step recipe

  1. Soak the calamari rings in milk for fifteen minutes, then drain and pat them dry. 15 min

    The milk tenderizes the flesh, so frying doesn't turn it rubbery.

  2. Make the tartar sauce by mixing the mayonnaise with chopped pickles and capers, plus a little lemon juice.

    Chop finely for a sauce that coats well.

  3. Coat the rings in flour, then in beaten eggs, then in breadcrumbs.

    Keep one hand for the dry ingredients and one for the wet ones, to avoid breaded fingers.

  4. Fry the calamari in oil at 180°C in small batches, until golden. 8 min

    Don't overcrowd the fryer or pot, or the oil cools down and the calamari turn greasy.

  5. Drain on paper towels, salt them, and serve with tartar sauce, lemon, and green salad.

    Salt right as they come out of the oil so it sticks.

Our tips to get it right

  • Dry the calamari rings thoroughly after the milk soak, otherwise the breading slides off instead of sticking properly.
  • Test the oil temperature with a small piece of bread, it should brown in under a minute, otherwise the calamari will soak up too much oil.
  • Never pierce the calamari when turning them in the oil, use a slotted spoon to keep the breading intact.

The variations

  • Swap the calamari for zucchini rounds breaded the same way, for a vegetarian version that's just as crispy.
  • For a quicker version, use already seasoned breadcrumbs and skip the flour step, going straight from egg to breadcrumbs.
  • For kids, cut the rings smaller and serve the tartar sauce on the side, some prefer just a squeeze of lemon.

What to serve it with

  • Fresh lemon wedges
  • A glass of dry white wine
  • Fresh bread for dipping

Storage

Fried calamari is best eaten right away, since it loses its crunch as it cools. You can keep the tartar sauce in the fridge in a sealed container for 2 days. If you have leftover calamari, reheat it in the oven or a skillet rather than the microwave so it stays somewhat crispy.

Questions about this dish

Can you use frozen calamari?

Yes, fully thaw the rings in the fridge and dry them well before soaking them in milk. Excess water would stop the breading from sticking properly.

Can you bread the calamari ahead of time?

You can bread the rings a few hours ahead and keep them in the fridge on a plate, without stacking them. Fry them right before serving to keep all the crunch.

Does fried calamari freeze well?

Already fried calamari doesn't freeze well, the breading turns soggy once thawed. You can freeze the raw rings instead, then follow the recipe as usual once thawed.

Can you bake the calamari instead of frying it?

Yes, place the breaded rings on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil and bake at 200°C for about 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. The result is less crispy but uses much less oil.

How long does it take to make fried calamari with green salad?

Count 35 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in fried calamari with green salad?

About 450 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does fried calamari with green salad cost?

About €3.60 per serving, or €14.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains mollusks, gluten, eggs, mustard. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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