Fried Calamari with Lemon and Garlic Aioli
This recipe is for crispy fried calamari rings served with a garlic aioli dipping sauce and lemon wedges. The calamari rings are coated in a seasoned flour mixture and fried until golden brown and crispy. The garlic aioli is made with mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Ingredients
- 1 pound calamari cleaned and sliced into rings
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Lemon wedges for serving
For the Garlic Aioli:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a shallow dish, combine the flour, salt, black pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Dredge the calamari rings in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
- Working in batches, fry the calamari in the hot oil until golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per batch.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the fried calamari to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.
- To make the garlic aioli, whisk together the mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Serve the fried calamari hot with lemon wedges and the garlic aioli for dipping. Enjoy!