Crispy Fried Calamari (Gluten-Free, Paleo) – Air Fryer or Stovetop
These crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside fried calamari are simple to make on the stovetop or in the air fryer! If you’re gluten-free, nut-free, paleo, or doing a Whole30, you can still eat this Italian-American-inspired crunchy appetizer with gusto!
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 pound calamari cleaned and skins removed
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 1½ cups cold water
- 1 cup cassava flour
- ½ cup tapioca flour
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 large egg whites
- 6 cups avocado oil or avocado oil spray for air fryer
- 1 lemon cut into wedges
- ½ cup marinara sauce optional dipping sauce
Instructions
- Pat the calamari dry and cut the body into rings that are ¾-inch thick. Got tentacles? Trim any super long ones.
- Mix baking soda, 1½ teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt, and water in a large bowl. Submerge the calamari and brine in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
- While the calamari is brining, whisk the cassava flour, tapioca flour, black pepper in a shallow bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg whites until frothy. Lastly, place a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet.
- When the 15 minutes is up, take the calamari out of the brine and pat dry with paper towels. Add the calamari in the whisked egg whites and toss well.
- In batches, shake off excess egg whites and dredge the calamari in the flour mixture. Make sure the insides of the calamari rings and all the tentacles are well coated with the flour mixture.
- Shake off any excess flour and set the coated calamari on the prepared wire rack in the rimmed baking sheet. Now follow either the deep fryer or air fryer instructions below.
Deep Fryer Instructions
- Pour the avocado oil into a large Dutch oven or high-sided pot. The oil should reach about 2 inches up the sides. Heat the oil on medium high until it reaches 350°F.
- Add half of the calamari to the hot oil and deep fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally so the calamari don’t stick together.
- Use a slotted spoon or spider strainer to transfer the fried calamari to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Season the fried calamari with a sprinkle of salt. Repeat the steps above with the remaining half of the calamari. Eat the calamari immediately with some lemon wedges and marinara sauce (if desired).
Air Fryer Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
- When it reaches temperature, spray the bottom of the basket with avocado oil and add enough calamari to make a single layer on the bottom of the basket. Spray the calamari generously with avocado oil—too little oil and the coating will remain powdery!
- Air fry for 6 to 8 minutes or until golden brown and crunchy on the outside, shaking the contents of the basket at the halfway point.
- Transfer the calamari to a plate and immediately season with a sprinkle of salt. Repeat the steps above with the remaining calamari. Eat the calamari immediately with some lemon wedges and marinara sauce (if desired).
Video
Notes
- If you’re using table salt or Morton’s brand kosher salt for the brine, use about half the amount of salt specified.
- The key to perfectly deep fried food is making sure the oil temperature is correct. I use my ChefAlarm or Thermapen One thermometer to monitor my oil temperature. No one wants soggy, greasy calamari!
- The trick to getting perfect fried calamari from the air fryer is to make sure you spray on a nice coat of avocado oil onto the squid before cooking and to shake the basket midway through the cooking process. Because every air fryer is slightly different, you should start checking on it at the 6-minute mark to make sure you don’t overcook the calamari.
Nutrition
Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 15g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g