Buttermilk Battered Fried Calamari is all you ever expected in an appetizer. They are golden crisp finger food that will be the first to need a refill at your next get together.
Ingredients
1 pound cleaned calamari, cut into ½ inch rings
1 cup buttermilk
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning
½ teaspoon paprika
1 cup rice flour (all-purpose flour)
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
Vegetable oil for deep frying
Marinara sauce or yum yum sauce, lemon wedges served along as a condiment, optional
Instructions
Heat oil in a Dutch oven (cast iron skillet, or deep fryer) to 375 degrees
Pour buttermilk into a shallow dish consisting of paprika, garlic powder, and seafood seasoning.
Wash and clean the calamari. Pat dry. Cut the calamari into ½-inch rings.
Allow the calamari to marinate for 30 minutes in the buttermilk mixture. This helps to tenderize the calamari.
In another dish make a seasoned dry dredge consisting of rice flour (all-purpose flour), baking powder, and salt.
Take the calamari out of the buttermilk mixture.
Coat the calamari in the flour dredge. Coat all sides of the calamari. Shake off the excess flour.
Fry a few calamari at a time, being careful to not over-crowd the pan (if you overcrowd the pan the calamari won't crisp up).
Cook the calamari until browned on all sides between 2 to 3 minutes. Allow them to drain on paper towels.
Serve Immediately!
Recipe by The Crafty Boomer at https://www.thecraftyboomer.com/buttermilk-battered-fried-calamari/