The classic Italian appetizer, Fried Calamari is easy to make gluten free and dairy free! Yay! Just a few substitutions and it’s just as crunchy and delicious as the original version!
Substituting almond milk with lemon juice for buttermilk makes the Fried Calamari dairy free.
Sometimes calamari rings are soaked in buttermilk to tenderize them. Here I make the switch to an almond milk, lemon juice mixture that works every bit as well. You could use rice milk or soy milk as well.
Using a rice flour, cornstarch mix for the coating produces a wonderful light crunchy gluten free Fried Calamari!
I substitute a rice flour, cornstarch mixture for all purpose flour and the calamari fry up crunchy and tender. An added plus, gluten free flours absorb less oil than wheat flour and the baking powder helps resist oil absorption, too, giving a light crunchy crust. My kids are not squid or even seafood people and they loved these!
Fried Calamari – the Method
Simply soak them in the acidified almond milk about a half hour. Then gently dredge a couple at a time in the flour mix. The almond milk will help the flour adhere. Place into a strainer and when you have several coated, gently transfer them to the hot oil. Don’t crowd the pan with too many. Stir gently and fry 3-4 minutes until they’re a light golden brown. Remove to paper towels and keep warm in the oven while you finish frying the other batches.
Marinara sauce and an herb aioli are the perfect complements to the Fried Calamari.
Marinara sauce is the classic accompaniment. I just used a store-bought marinara sauce, but I also made an herb aioli sauce that really went over well with the crowd: just fresh parsley, garlic, salt and mayo thinned with a little almond milk – all processed in a mini-chopper. Easy and delicious!
Fried Calamari - Gluten Free, Dairy Free
Recipe type: Appetizer
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- Good high temperature cooking oil like safflower or rice bran oil
- 1 lb frozen squid rings, thawed, or fresh squid cut into rings
- 2 ½ cups almond milk
- Juice of ½ a lemon
- Herb Aioli Sauce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp almond milk
- 1 clove garlic
- ¼ cup loosely packed parsley leaves
- ¼ tsp salt
- Flour Coating
- 1 cup white rice flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
Instructions
- Submerge squid rings in almond milk/lemon juice mixture and refrigerate for about a half hour.
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
- Heat 2-3 inches of oil in a large heavy pot to about 350 degrees F.
- Mix rice flour, cornstarch, salt and baking powder.
- Line a sheet pan with paper towels.
- Once squid rings have soaked and oil is up to temperature, dredge rings a couple at a time in flour mixture, shake off excess and place in a strainer.
- Repeat until you have a good amount in the strainer that will not crowd the pot and lower the strainer gently into the hot oil. Stir to separate the rings.
- Fry 3-4 minutes stirring occasionally until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove with strainer or slotted spoon to paper towel lined sheet pan and keep warm in oven.
- Repeat with remaining batches.
To make herb aioli:
- Place mayonnaise, garlic clove, parsley, almond milk and ¼ tsp salt in a mini-processor/chopper or blender and process until smooth. (Alternatively you can mince the garlic and parsley by hand and stir into mixture.)
FAQs
The classic Italian appetizer, Fried Calamari is easy to make gluten free and dairy free! Yay!
How do you tenderize calamari without milk? ›
So, what do you do if you're dairy free but still want to tenderize your calamari? I like to marinate mine in a mixture of water and baking soda. Like dairy, baking soda is a base, so it has a similar effect on the calamari while keeping it dairy free for those who need it.
Is calamari healthy to eat? ›
The nutritional value of calamari cannot be exaggerated, sort of like SpongeBob's talent for annoying Squidward. Squid contains vitamin B-12, potassium, copper, and iron. Altogether, these things strengthen your immune system, improve the performance of your blood cells, and buttress your bones.
Does calamari contain dairy? ›
Squid is dairy free.
Why is fried food not gluten-free? ›
Even if you have just changed the oil in the fryer and the french fries are the first order you cook in there, they can still be contaminated! That's because minute particles of gluten are difficult to completely remove from the crevices of a deep fryer.
What is fried calamari made of? ›
Calamari is the culinary term for squid. A slightly sweet, neutral-tasting seafood, calamari is often associated and used interchangeably with the dish “fried calamari,” which is made from the body of squid (and sometimes the tentacles) that is cut into rings, breaded, and deep fried.
Is calamari bad for high blood pressure? ›
Squid is relatively high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which may be good for blood flow and supports healthy cholesterol levels. Squid contains lutein, an antioxidant pigment known to support eye health. Squid contains taurine, which can reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
Is calamari healthier than chicken? ›
These days people are looking for healthier snacking options and squid is a great choice for that. Squid is not as greasy as chicken wings, lower in calories than shrimp, and higher in protein and vitamin B12 while being naturally low in fat.
Is calamari bad for high cholesterol? ›
Low cholesterol content Unlike any other seafood that can increase our blood cholesterol levels, squid can actually lower cholesterol levels when eating it. Uncooked squid is surprisingly low in fat, but it should be noted that high fat content can raise cholesterol levels.
What is olive garden calamari made of? ›
@carakonnick Our calamari is absolutely real squid. Would you mind sending us a DM so we can learn more about your concern?
When a person with an allergy to a particular shellfish is exposed to that shellfish, proteins in the shellfish bind to specific IgE antibodies made by the person's immune system. This triggers the person's immune defenses, leading to reaction symptoms that can be mild or very severe.
How to know if calamari is cooked? ›
Perfectly cooked calamari should be slightly chewy, but not rubbery. Calamari actually gets really rubbery when it's been overcooked, so again, sticking to the recipe exactly is really important here!
Does fried seafood have gluten? ›
Usually, the batter the fish are dipped in before they are fried contains gluten. The same is also true if there is a batter or breading involved in baking fish.
Does deep fry oil have gluten? ›
While oil itself is generally gluten-free, when ordering items that are fried in oils at restaurants, be sure to ask if the kitchen uses a dedicated fryer for gluten-free items, as some foods cooked in oil may not be gluten-free (such as breaded meats) and therefore would cause issues with cross-contact.
Does fried have gluten? ›
It is easy to believe that the fries are gluten-free because potatoes are on your safe list. However, restaurants often have only one fryer, and once your French fries have been deep fried in the oil they also used to fry the chicken nuggets, well, I hate to break it to you, but your fries are no longer gluten-free.
Is deep fried sushi gluten-free? ›
Tempura: Some sushi contains fish or vegetables that have been battered and fried, known as tempura. This batter is usually made with gluten-containing wheat flour.
