Don’t be perturbed by cooking calamari or squid dishes as we have ample recipes that walk you through how to cook calamari so it’s tender (and not chewy!). For best results, source the freshest calamari you can. The cephalopod cooks quite easily and quickly, and, provided you’ve brought top-shelf produce, should give up tender, yielding bites.
From a simple fried calamari recipe to calamari rings made with a light flour mixture to ensure a perfect golden brown coating, these calamari squid recipes have you covered. We also have calamari salads, a paella recipe, squid spaghetti and a few Asian-style squid recipes. Of course, we also have classic salt-and-pepper squid you know and love (with plenty of black pepper for punch) that’s ready in less than 30 minutes — just don’t be shy about squeezing lemon juice upon serving.
Don’t mistake this versatile seafood as a warm weather dish. Battered or grilled squid may be a beach day attraction, but a hearty paella or warming brodetto are the ideal way to enjoy calamari when the days get cooler.
Best calamari recipes for autumn entertaining
Salt-and-pepper squid
The classic you know and love, ready in a flash.
Grilled squid with rouille and chilli
“Great squid with a little live fire doesn’t need too many accompaniments,” says Jordan Toft of Sydney’s Bert’s.
Napier Quarter’s squid-ink spaghetti with cuttlefish, green pea and chilli
A near-perfect summertime pasta.
Fragrant seafood and burghul parcels
An all-in-one meal.
Grilled calamari salad with yoghurt and ouzo dressing
A calamari salad perfect for your next alfresco feast.
Sean Moran’s calamari fried in its ink with chilli aïoli
Dark and dramatic, this crisp ink calamari evokes an ever-so-sweet flavour, complemented by fiery chilli aioli.
Jicama and green mango salad with grilled calamari
Green mango adds refreshing tartness to this summer salad, adding a nice counterpoint to the smoky grilled calamari.
Grilled calamari with herbs and crisp shallots
Melbourne restaurant Anchovy shares its recipe for grilled calamari – chef Thi Li describes it as a “pimped out” warm salad take on a barbecue staple.
Frank Camorra’s calamari cooked in olive oil with spiced beetroot salad
Recipe for calamari cooked in olive oil with spiced beetroot salad by Frank Camorra for Gourmet Institute.
Calamari with tomatoes, capers and olives
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for calamari with tomatoes, capers and olives.
Mixed grilled seafood salad with lemon mignonette
Feeling like something fresh this Christmas? Look no further.
A short history of brodetto, and a recipe too
Brodetto has come a long way from its humble beginnings a fisherman’s stew, writes John Irving. Today, variations on the traditional staple dot Italy’s Adriatic coast.
Chilli squid-ink spaghetti
If you’re not a fan of squid, you can easily substitute prawns or firm white fish for a similar texture and flavour.
Tony Tan’s three-cup calamari
A Taiwanese take on the classic three-cup chicken: just flash-fry the calamari with rice wine, soy sauce and sesame oil, and dinner’s ready.
Spiced squid with sweet and sour mango sauce
Step away from the typical salt-and-pepper squid and embrace native Australian ingredients by using ground pepperberries to enhance this spiced squid with sweet and sour mango sauce.
Squid, chorizo, spelt, blood orange and black garlic
Darren Robertson recipe for squid, chorizo, spelt, blood orange and black garlic from Three Blue Ducks for Gourmet Institute.
Squid with fennel and artichokes
A recipe from Australian Gourmet Traveller for Hawkesbury baby squid with fennel and artichokes by chef Hugh Wennerbom.
David Thompson’s deep-fried squid with garlic and peppercorns
With the punchy flavours of garlic and spicy peppercorns, this is a twist on the crowd favourite Salt and Pepper Squid.
Grilled squid (Pla meuk yang)
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe by David Thompson for a Thai style grilled squid (pla meuk yang)
Raes on Wategos’s calamari and zucchini skewers with ‘nduja vinaigrette
A seafood take on Italian arrostinici skewers, with added kick from ‘nduja.
Calamari with spiced eggplant
For a fast and easy midweek dinner, barbecued calamari does the trick.
Squid kara-age with Japanese mayonnaise
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for squid kara-age with Japanese mayonnaise.
Salad of grilled baby calamari, radicchio and potatoes
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for salad of grilled baby calamari, radicchio and potatoes from Donovan Cooke from The Atlantic, Melbourne.
Alpha’s calamari with fava, barley rusks, capers and rocket
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for calamari with fava, barley rusks, capers and rocket by Alpha restaurant in Sydney.
Spaghettini with calamari, rosemary and lemon
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for spaghettini with calamari, rosemary and lemon.
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Calamari and pounded sambal with cabbage salad
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for calamari and pounded sambal with cabbage salad.
Calamari and corn tacos with salsa verde
It’s time to party, Mexican style.
Morcilla-stuffed squid with lentils and saffron alioli
Australian Gourmet Traveller Spanish recipe for morcilla-stuffed squid with lentils and saffron alioli by Brian Villahermosa from Sydney restaurant Catalonia.
Phil Wood’s kipfler potato and calamari Greek salad
“You could imagine sitting on a wharf in the Mediterranean having the same thing,” says the former Pt Leo Estate culinary director.
Braised beans with chorizo and calamari
A winning dish that brings classic flavours and simple comforts together in a single bowl.
Sicilian calamari salad
Australian Gourmet Traveller seafood entree recipe for Sicilian calamari salad
Grilled calamari with fennel and lemon salt
This simple grilled calamari recipe makes for the perfect light lunch.
Fried squid and potato with chilli and garlic
This fried squid recipe (paired with crisp potatoes) is inspired by the daily catch on the Italian coast.
Arroz negro (Squid with rice cooked in squid ink)
Australian Gourmet Traveller and Encasa restaurant Spanish recipe for Arroz negro (Squid with rice cooked in squid ink)
Tagliolini al nero di seppia con calamari (Squid-ink tagliolini with calamari)
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Tagliolini al nero di seppia con calamari (Squid-ink tagliolini with calamari)
Frank Camorra’s party paella
How to feed a crowd.
Squid with roast tomato dressing, Sicilian olives and garlic crumbs
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for squid with roast tomato dressing, Sicilian olives and garlic crumbs.
Grilled calamari with zhoug
The spicy zhoug is the perfect complement to the grilled calamari.
Lau’s Family Kitchen’s calamari with shrimp sauce
A fresh, simple and easy seafood dish from the long-standing Melbourne restaurant.
Taglierini with squid, garlic and chilli
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast seafood pasta entree recipe for taglierini with squid, garlic and chilli
Chilled spiced tomato soup with barbecued squid
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for chilled spiced tomato soup with barbecued squid.
Barbecued squid with romesco sauce
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for barbecued squid with romesco sauce by Pete Evans.
Captain Moonlite’s soffritto, southern calamari, saffron orzo and mint
A nostalgic dish by chef Matt Germanchis.
Bar Saracen’s hummus bi calamari
The Middle Eastern favourite of hummus and minced lamb gets a makeover that’s all about light and fresh flavours.
Cleaning squid and calamari
Australian Gourmet Traveller cooking techniques article on how to clean squid and calamari.
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