Recipe
Air Fryer Calamari and Seafood Sauce Recipe
Published: April 1, 2024
Whipping up my air fryer calamari today! Coating it in a flavorful flour mix, air frying to perfection. Dipping it in homemade seafood sauce, it's a crunchy, tangy delight!
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Here's my spin on calamari, folks - air-fried to golden perfection! Say goodbye to greasy takeouts, I'm leading you to a healthier path with this deliciously crisp, light and utterly addictive air-fried calamari recipe. Paired with a tangy seafood sauce, it's so easy yet impressive you'll be wowing everyone at your dinner table. Can't wait for you to give this a try!
Ingredients for Crispy Air Fryer Calamari and Zesty Seafood Sauce
- Calamari rings: Tender and flavorful seafood that crisps up nicely in the air fryer, creating a delicious crunchy texture.
- All-purpose flour: Coats the calamari rings, helping them crisp up in the air fryer while adding a light, crunchy coating.
- Garlic powder: Adds a savory and aromatic flavor to the calamari, enhancing its overall taste and complementing the seafood.
- Cooking spray: Helps to evenly crisp up the calamari rings in the air fryer without adding excess oil or greasiness.
- Mayonnaise: Creamy base for the seafood sauce, adding richness and a smooth texture to complement the crispy calamari.
- Ketchup: Adds a tangy sweetness to the seafood sauce, balancing out the flavors and providing a hint of acidity.
- Lemon juice: Brightens up the seafood sauce with a fresh citrusy flavor, adding a zesty kick to enhance the overall taste.
- Worcestershire sauce: Provides a depth of umami flavor to the seafood sauce, adding complexity and richness to the dipping sauce.
- Hot sauce: Adds a spicy kick to the seafood sauce, giving it a bit of heat to contrast with the crispy calamari.
Did you know that coating the calamari rings in cornstarch instead of flour can result in an even crispier texture when air-fried?
Kitchen Tools Needed for This Calamari and Seafood Sauce Recipe
- Air fryer: Cooks calamari quickly and evenly, giving it a crispy texture without the need for deep frying.
- Mixing bowl: Used to combine the flour and seasonings for coating the calamari before air frying.
Common Questions About Preparing Air Fryer Calamari and Seafood Sauce
Serves: 4 people
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 pound calamari rings
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Cooking spray
Seafood Sauce: - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- In a bowl, mix the flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Coat the calamari rings in the flour mixture.
- Place the coated calamari rings in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Lightly spray the calamari with cooking spray.
- Air fry for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking.
- In a small bowl, mix all the seafood sauce ingredients together.
- Serve the air-fried calamari with the seafood sauce for dipping.
Read more: Air Fryer Pizza Recipe
Nutritional value:
Per Serving in Calories: 320 kcal | Carbohydrates: 25 g | Protein: 15 g | Total Fat: 18 g | Saturated Fat: 2.5 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10 g | Cholesterol: 250 mg | Sodium: 800 mg | Dietary Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 2 g | Calcium: 50 mg | Potassium: 300 mg | Iron: 2 mg | Vitamin A: 100 µg | Vitamin C: 10 mg
Tips for Making Calamari Ahead of Time and Storing Leftovers
Make Ahead Instructions
- Prepare the calamari rings as per the recipe instructions.
- Store the uncooked calamari rings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- When ready to cook, follow the air frying instructions from the recipe.
Freezing Instructions
- After coating the calamari rings in the flour mixture, place them on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Freeze the calamari rings until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container.
- When ready to cook, air fry the frozen calamari rings at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking.
