Name: Kalamarakia Tiganita
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 700 g cleaned squid, cut into rings with tentacles kept whole; 150 g plain flour; 50 g fine cornmeal; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp fine sea salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; Neutral oil, for deep frying; 1 lemon, cut into wedges; Fresh parsley, chopped; Flaky sea salt, to finish

About Kalamarakia Tiganita

Kalamarakia tiganita are Greek-style fried calamari: lightly coated squid cooked quickly in hot oil until crisp outside and tender inside, then finished simply with lemon, oregano and parsley.

Ingredients

700 g cleaned squid, cut into rings with tentacles kept whole
150 g plain flour
50 g fine cornmeal
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp fine sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Neutral oil, for deep frying
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Fresh parsley, chopped
Flaky sea salt, to finish

Method

Dry the squid extremely well with kitchen paper.
Mix the flour, cornmeal, oregano, salt and pepper in a wide bowl.
Heat the frying oil to about 180°C.
Toss a small batch of squid in the coating and shake off the excess.
Fry in small batches for roughly 2 minutes, until pale golden and crisp. Do not overcrowd the pan.
Drain on kitchen paper or a rack and repeat with the remaining squid.
Season immediately with flaky salt and serve with parsley and plenty of lemon.

A closer look

Plan your visit

Recipe tips

Dry squid is the key to a crisp coating and safer frying.
Keep the oil close to 180°C and allow it to recover between batches.
Calamari cooks very quickly; prolonged frying makes it tough.
Serve immediately, as the coating softens as it stands.

What to serve with it

Serve with lemon wedges, tzatziki or a simple garlic dip, a Greek salad and cold drinks. It also works perfectly as part of a seafood meze.

The story behind the dish

Fried calamari is a staple of Greek seaside eating and one of the most recognisable seafood dishes for visitors to Corfu. Its success relies more on freshness and frying technique than complicated seasoning.

Where to try it in Corfu

You will find fried calamari in fish tavernas and coastal restaurants throughout Corfu. It is especially common in harbour and beachfront locations where seafood features prominently on the menu.