Olive Garden Calamari Copycat
Description
Recreate Olive Garden’s delicious calamari at home with this easy copycat recipe! Lightly breaded and perfectly crispy, served with marinara sauce for the ultimate appetizer experience.
Ingredients
- 1 pound calamari rings, thawed
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley , or Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Pat the thawed 1 pound calamari rings dry with paper towels. This helps the breading stick better.
- In a shallow bowl, mix the 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika1 teaspoon dried parsley ,1 teaspoon red pepper flakes,1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Pour the 1/2 cup buttermilk into a separate bowl. Dip each calamari ring into the buttermilk, then dredge it in the seasoned flour mixture, ensuring an even coating.
- Set your air fryer temperature to 400 degrees F (200°C) and let it preheat for a few minutes.
- Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange the coated calamari in a single layer, making sure they don’t overlap. Spray the tops lightly with oil to help crisp up the coating.
- Set cook time for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even crispiness. The calamari should be golden brown and crispy when done.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges and marinara sauce for dipping. Enjoy your crispy, restaurant-style calamari made right in the air fryer!
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper, optional
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 121kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 11gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 134mgSodium: 191mgPotassium: 188mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 137IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 1mg