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    Home » Healthy Air Fryer » Air Fryer Calamari

    Air Fryer Calamari

    LAST UPDATED: December 26, 2021 | PUBLISHED: December 26, 2021 | BY: Kim

    This  Air Fryer Calamari is light and crispy, made with less oil and not greasy at all.  Made with fresh or frozen calamari its coated in breadcrumbs with a dusting of salt and pepper.  Perfectly tender and golden, this breaded calamari in the air fryer is a quick and easy appetizer for four, or a small main for two.

    Jump to Recipe
    a bowl of air fryer calamari

    Recipe Highlights

    • Cooks super quick with very little oil, yet is tender and melts in your mouth
    • Fresh and light with all the typical zing of salt and pepper calamari
    • Use fresh calamari hoods cut into rings, or frozen calamari rings
    • Easy to cook in batches, and to make a double batch for more people
    • Enjoy with your favourite dipping sauce, or a squeeze of lemon
    • They’re crispy and golden on the outside and soft and tender on the inside
    • Easy to prepare ahead of time, store in the fridge, and cook when needed
    • Each batch cooks in just 5 minutes

    Making food for a crowd? Check out these Air Fryer Popcorn Prawns

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for air fryer calamari

    These air fried calamari can also be used in tacos, like these Calamari tacos.

    Ingredient Notes

    If using fresh Calamari:  If using fresh calamari tubes, make sure to trim any excess bits and pieces around the sides/edges.  Pat dry with kitchen towel/paper towel to remove excess moisture.  Slice the tubes in ¼ to ½ inch pieces, depending on your preference. 

    calamari tubes cut into circles on a cutting board

    If using frozen Calamari:  Defrost the calamari before breading it otherwise it wont stick.  Its best to defrost the calamari overnight in the fridge.  Drain any excess moisture off and pat calamari dry with paper towel/kitchen towel.

    Flour:  Plain flour or all purpose flour is good to use as the first step.  Any type of superfine flour would work to coat the calamari and this is what helps the egg to stick to the calamari to form a sticky base for the breadcrumbs to stick to.

    Eggs:  these are essential and help the breadcrumbs to stick.  If you don’t have enough eggs, you could get away with using less eggs, by mixing in a little milk to make them go further.

    Breadcrumbs:  I love using Panko breadcrumbs, but regular or wholemeal breadcrumbs would be great too.

    Salt and Pepper:  Sea salt and ground black pepper is ideal for salt and pepper calamari.  You could also use a Lemon Pepper spice blend if that’s available where you live.

    Garlic Powder:  this helps to add a little extra flavour.  If you don’t have it you could leave it out, or substitute it with onion powder.  I wouldn’t recommend substituting it with garlic salt unless you’re adjusting the amount of sea salt, otherwise it will be too salt.

    Tumeric and Paprika:  these spices add a beautiful golden golden colour to the calamari.  If you don’t have both, one would still work, or you can leave them out.  I used plain ground paprika, but your could also try smoked paprika, sweet paprika, or spicy paprika, all of which will add a slightly different flavour.

    breadcrumb mixture in a bowl
    Breadcrumbs, Garlic Powder, Salt, Pepper, Ground Paprika and Tumeric

    Spray Oil:  I typically use olive oil spray as only a little is needed.  However you could also use vegetable oil spray or coconut oil spray.

    How To Make

    1. Set out 3 bowls of similar size.  Bowl 1 with  flour, salt, pepper,  garlic powder.  Bowl 2 with 3 eggs, whisked.  Bowl 3 with breadrumbs, ground paprika and turmeric.
    calamari breading stations
    1. Bread the Calamari:  Dip calamari rings one at a time in the flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs.  Set aside, laying flat in a single layer.  Repeat until all calamari rings are breaded.
    breaded calamari rings on a tray
    1. Preheat air fryer to 200 degrees c / 400 degrees F for around 3 minutes
    2. Air Fry First Batch:  lay calamari rings flat in air fryer in one layer, trying not to overlap pieces
    3. Spray lightly with oil:  Spray the squid rings liberally so that all pieces have received a good spray. 
    calamari rings in an air fryer
    1. Cook calamari at 200C/400F for 5 minutes.  Remove and set aside, laying flat on parchment paper.
    2. Repeat for second batch.
    cooked calamari rings on parchment paper wire rack

    Recipe Tips:

    • Cooking Time:  Calamari cooks quicker in an air fryer that in the oven, and as my rings with around ¼ inch wide, I cooked them in batches for 5 minutes at a time.  If your rings are thicker or you’re using pieces you may need to adjust the cooking time
    • Tenderising Calamari:  For extra soft and velvety calamari ou may like to soak it in buttermilk overnight or for an hour if that is all you have.  This step is optional and no one I often do, but if you have the time, it does make a small difference.
    • Defrosting Calamari:  the easiest way is to plan ahead and let the fridge do the work.  Take it out the night before, put it into a bowl and cover so that it is air tight.  When you’re ready to use it, drain off the excess liquid that has accumulated from the defrosting process, and pat dry the pieces with kitchen towel to remove as much moisture as you can.

    Dipping Sauces for Calamari

    • Garlic Aioli.  This is my go to favourite!
    • Sweet Chilli Sauce.  I make my own sugar free sweet chilli sauce and drizzled over calamari it provides a little spicy kick
    • Smoky BBQ Sauce
    • Creamy Ranch Sauce, which is also perfect with the Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites and Air Fryer Fish Tacos.
    • Burger Sauce
    crispy calamari in a bowl with dipping sauce

    Common Questions

    How to store leftover air fryer calamari?

    Store leftover calamari in an air tight container in the fridge for 24 hours.  Make sure it has completely cooled before putting into the container and sealing to avoid moisture build up. 

    How to reheat leftover calamari that’s been air fried

    To reheat air fried calamari that’s bee stored in the fridge, preheat the air fryer to 400 F/200 C and cook for around half to three quarters of the time you initially cooked it.

    Why is my fried calamari tough? 

    Calamari needs to be cooked at a high temperature to ensure it is soft and tender.  Preheating the air fryer is essential to this process as is getting the temperature right.  400 F/200 C is the ideal temperature for achieving calamari that is crispy outside and soft inside.

    How to tell if calamari is cooked?

    If you hold a calamari ring that’s been air fried, upright between your fingers and its firm and doesn’t flop or droop, its likely cooked. Alternatively, you could also test a piece by cutting into it to see if its cooked all the way through.

    This healthier version of Air Fried salt and pepper Calamari is a dish that can be enjoyed more often and its great to use in salads and to chop up and sprinkle on stir fries with noodles and vegetables as well. 

    Air fryer calamari salad bowl

    More Air Fryer Recipes

    • Air Fryer Fish Tacos
    • Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
    • Air Fryer Honey Soy Chicken Wings
    • Air Fryer Potato Wedges
    a bowl of air fryer calamari

    Air Fryer Calamari

    Kim
    This  Air Fryer Calamari is light and crispy, made with less oil and not greasy at all. Made with fresh or frozen calamari its coated in breadcrumbs with adjusting of salt and pepper. 
    4.13 from 8 votes
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine Australian
    Servings 2 people
    Calories 271 kcal

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients
     

    • 400 grams Squid tubes cut into rounds (circles)
    • ½ cup Plain/All purpose flour
    • 3 medium Eggs
    • 1 ¾ cups Panko Bread crumbs
    • 1 tablespoon Sea Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
    • ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground paprika
    • ½ teaspoon tumeric
    • Spray oil

    Instructions
     

    • Organise Breading Station: Set out 3 bowls of similar size. Add the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder to bowl 1. Whisk the 3 eggs together in bowl 2. Next, add the panko crumbs, ground paprika and tumeric to bowl 3.
    • Bread the Calamari Pieces: One at a time dip the rings in the flour and shake off excess, then dip into egg, then press into breadcrumbs on both sides. Set aside, laying flat on a wire rack covered in baking/parchment paper. Repeat this process until all calamari rings are breaded.
    • Preheat air fryer to 200 degrees c / 400 degrees F for around 3 minutes
    • Prepare to Air Fry: Add the first batch of calamari to the Air fryer laying flat in one layer, trying not to overlap pieces (this will ensure that the heat can flow evenly throughout the air fryer to cook properly)
    • Air Fry the Calamari in Batches: Spray the calamari rings liberally so that all pieces have received a good spray. Cook at 200C/400F for 5 minutes.
    • Repeat until all done: Remove from air fryer and set aside on a separate wire rack covered with baking/parchment paper. Repeat this process, cooking the squid in batches until its all been done.

    Notes

    1. If using fresh Calamari:  If using fresh calamari tubes, make sure to trim any excess bits and pieces around the sides/edges.  Pat dry with kitchen towel/paper towel to remove excess moisture.  Slice the tubes in ¼ to ½ inch pieces, depending on your preference. 
    2. If using frozen Calamari:  Defrost the calamari before breading it otherwise it wont stick.  Its best to defrost the calamari overnight in the fridge.  Drain any excess moisture off and pat calamari dry with paper towel/kitchen towel.
    3. Flour:  Plain flour or all purpose flour is good to use as the first step.  Any type of superfine flour would work to coat the calamari and this is what helps the egg to stick to the calamari to form a sticky base for the breadcrumbs to stick to.
    4. Eggs:  these are essential and help the breadcrumbs to stick.  If you don’t have enough eggs, you could get away with using less eggs, by mixing in a little milk to make them go further.
    5. Breadcrumbs:  I love using Panko breadcrumbs, but regular or wholemeal breadcrumbs would be great too.
    6. Salt and Pepper:  Sea salt and ground black pepper is ideal for salt and pepper calamari.  You could also use a Lemon Pepper spice blend if that’s available where you live.
    7. Garlic Powder:  this helps to add a little extra flavour.  If you don’t have it you could leave it out, or substitute it with onion powder.  I wouldn’t recommend substituting it with garlic salt unless you’re adjusting the amount of sea salt, otherwise it will be too salt.
    8. Tumeric and Paprika:  these spices add a beautiful golden golden colour to the calamari.  If you don’t have both, one would still work, or you can leave them out.  I used plain ground paprika, but your could also try smoked paprika, sweet paprika, or spicy paprika, all of which will add a slightly different flavour.
    9. Spray Oil:  I typically use olive oil spray as only a little is needed.  However you could also use vegetable oil spray or coconut oil spray.
    10. Air fryer baskets tend to cook quicker than Air fryer ovens. For this recipe I used  my 5.6 litre/6 quart Tefal XXL Deluxe basket Air Fryer.  I cooked all the calamari in two batches.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 271kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 23gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 1g

    Note: Sugars contained in this recipe are from naturally occurring sugars in fruits, vegetables or other natural sweeteners.

    Keyword Air Fryer Calamari
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    More Air Fryer Recipes

    • Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
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    • Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
    • Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites
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    Hi there! I’m Kim and I'm passionate about living a life infused with mindfulness, simplicity and self-care. Here I share my recipes, tips, insights and wisdom for eating well, slowing down and reconnecting with the things that matter.

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    Kim Morris Hi there! I’m Kim. My sugar free kitchen is a site dedicated to creating healthy and delicious clean eating dinners and sweet treats with less sugar using simple ingredients and natural sweeteners. Read More...
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