Easy Crispy Fried Calamari (Muc Chien Gion)

Who doesn’t love fried calamari? Fried calamari are rings of squid and tentacles deep-fried to a crispy golden perfection. Served alongside lemon wedges, marinara sauce or aioli, this is the perfect recipe to one up grandma at her dinner party.

Fried calamari is really easy to make at home. I like to keep my recipe simple and eliminate steps that require me washing a bunch of dishes. When I deep-fry anything, I avoid the whole breading process that involves different bowls for flour, eggs and breading. Here I’m using only one large mixing bowl for everything … because I hate washing dishes as much as Joey hates sharing food. Recipe below. Enjoy!

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Easy Crispy Fried Calamari (Muc Chien Gion)

Serves 3-5

Ingredients

2.5 lbs calamari rings/tentacles
1 tablespoon granulated garlic (or garlic powder)
1 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons fine sea salt
1 cup cornstarch
Oil for deep-frying
1/2 cup mayo
1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
1 fresh teaspoon lemon/lime juice

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, season calamari/tentacles with granulated garlic, onion powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and sea salt.
Add cornstarch and mix to coat.
In a wide pan or wok over medium heat, heat about 3-inches deep oil to 400°F.
Add coated squid and deep-fry in batches, turning as needed, for about 2 to 3 minutes or until crisp and golden. Remove fried calamari with a slotted spoon and drain on a wire rack set over a baking sheet or a plate lined with paper towels. Serve immediately.
To make the spicy "aioli", mix together mayo, sriracha and lemon/lime juice until combined.