Crispy Calamari Fries Recipe

Bring the ultimate coastal showstopper straight to your London kitchen with our Crispy Calamari Fries Recipe. In seaside towns, tender squid isn’t just a quick bite; it’s a celebration of freshness and simple, honest cooking. Lightly coated in cornmeal and flash-fried to crunchy perfection, these beautiful strips are wonderfully crisp on the outside, incredibly tender on the inside, and perfect for a quick seafood dinner or an impressive sharing platter.

The secret to locking in that restaurant-quality crunch without overcooking the seafood lies in keeping the coating light and simple. Instead of overcomplicating the batter, gently toss the fresh strips in a simple mix of yellow cornmeal and sea salt. As they hit the hot oil, this fine dusting instantly locks in the natural juices, ensuring the calamari stays beautifully tender inside while achieving a shattering, golden crust on the outside. You can easily recreate this fool proof dish using fresh, tender squid delivered straight to your door by Seafood Xpress.

⏱️ Prep Time: 10 mins | 🍳 Cook Time: 5 mins | 🍽️ Servings: 2–3 | 📊 Difficulty: Easy

🛒 Ingredients

500g Fresh Calamari from Seafood Xpress (tubes or rings, cleaned and sliced into thin strips)

1 cup Yellow Cornmeal (medium-coarse for extra crispiness)

1 tsp Sea Salt

Vegetable oil or sunflower oil for pan-frying

Lemon wedges (for serving)

🍳 Quick Step-by-Step

Clean & Slice: Rinse the cleaned calamari under cold water and pat completely dry with paper towels (ensuring they are dry helps the cornmeal stick perfectly!). Slice the tubes into uniform, thin fry-sized strips.

Light Coating: In a shallow dish, mix together the yellow cornmeal and sea salt. Toss the dried calamari strips thoroughly in the mixture, ensuring every single piece is evenly and lightly coated. Gently shake off any excess cornmeal.

Flash Fry: Heat your oil in a wide skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat (around 180°C). Drop the coated calamari fries into the hot oil in small batches so they don't crowd the pan.

Golden & Crisp: Fry for just 2 to 3 minutes, turning them occasionally until they achieve a beautiful, crunchy golden crust. Do not overcook! Drain immediately on paper towels and serve piping hot.

🥗 Serving Suggestion

Serve your Crispy Calamari Fries piping hot right from the pan with fresh lemon wedges, a side of creamy tartar sauce, or a spicy garlic aioli for dipping!

👉 [Order Fresh Calamari Now]