Deep fried calamari with garlic and lemon mayonnaise
Light, golden calamari coated in spiced flour and served with a creamy garlic and lemon mayonnaise. A restaurant-quality appetizer that’s crisp, flavorful, and perfect for sharing.
Updated : 17 October, 2025
Easy
About 30 min.
Ingredients
as needed
Vegetable oil
250 grams
Flour
0.5 teaspoon
Cayenne pepper
0.5 teaspoon
Smoked paprika
0.5 teaspoon
Salt
500 grams
Fresh squid
2
Eggs
For the mayonnaise
200 milliliters
Mayonnaise
1
Garlic
0.5
Lemon
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
For the mayonnaise, mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside until ready to serve.
Step 2
For the calamari, pour enough oil into a wok, large saucepan, or deep-fat fryer to fill it halfway. Place over a medium heat and bring the oil to 180C/350F. If you don’t have a thermometer, test the temperature by dropping a small cube of bread into the oil - it should turn golden and crisp in about one minute.
Step 3
While the oil heats, combine the flour, cayenne pepper, paprika, and salt in a large sandwich bag. Add the squid and shake to coat evenly, working in batches if necessary.
Step 4
Dip the coated squid into the beaten egg, then carefully lower it into the hot oil. Fry for 2–3 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Remove from the oil and drain briefly on kitchen paper.
Step 5
Serve immediately with the garlic and lemon mayonnaise for dipping.