Tiffany Haney
Cooking with an air fryer is a great way to make your favourite deep-fried seafood recipes without the oil and cleanup. Calamari is a popular choice, and using panko breadcrumbs can give it a deliciously crispy texture. Panko breadcrumbs are flakier and absorb less oil, resulting in a crispier crumb. To cook calamari with panko breadcrumbs in an air fryer, you'll first need to prepare the calamari by marinating it and setting up a breading station with flour, egg wash, and the panko breading. You can then bread the calamari and cook it in the air fryer for a tasty, crispy treat.
How to cook with panko breadcrumbs calamari in an air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Calamari, panko breadcrumbs, oil, flour, egg, buttermilk, salt, pepper, seasonings |
| Marinade | Calamari should be marinated in buttermilk for up to 24 hours or 30 minutes in lemon juice |
| Breadcrumbs | Panko breadcrumbs are larger and flakier, creating a crunchier texture. Gluten-free options include almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs |
| Seasonings | Paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, Old Bay Seasoning |
| Cooking spray | Use a cooking spray or brush the air fryer basket with oil to prevent sticking |
| Cooking time | Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes. Cook the calamari for 4 minutes, flip, spray with oil, and cook for another 3 minutes |
| Serving suggestions | Drizzle with sweet chili sauce, dip in Old Bay seasoning and panko breadcrumbs, or serve with tartar sauce |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the calamari
Once your calamari is ready, it's time to set up your breading station. You will need three bowls: one for the flour, one for the egg wash, and one for the breadcrumb mixture. For the flour, you can simply use plain flour, or you can add some seasonings such as garlic powder. For the egg wash, whisk together an egg and a small amount of water, and add a pinch of salt. For the breadcrumb mixture, combine the panko breadcrumbs with regular plain breadcrumbs in a ratio of 1:1. You can also add seasonings to this mixture, such as paprika, salt, and pepper, onion powder, oregano, and Italian seasoning. If you want an extra crispy coating, you can crush the panko breadcrumbs before adding the other ingredients.
Now it's time to start breading the calamari. First, coat the calamari rings in the flour and shake off any excess. Then, dip them into the egg wash, letting any excess drip off. Finally, toss the rings into the breadcrumb mixture and gently press to ensure an even coating. It is important to let the breaded calamari sit for a few minutes before placing it in the air fryer. This will help the breading to dry and adhere better. You can also chill them in the fridge to prevent the breading from falling off during cooking.
Before placing the calamari in the air fryer, lightly grease the air fryer basket with oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place the calamari rings in a single layer, making sure they don't overlap. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches. Now your calamari is ready to be cooked!
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Making the breading
You can also use gluten-free breadcrumbs, or substitute breadcrumbs altogether with almond flour, coconut flour, or gluten-free flour for a low-carb option. If you're not concerned about gluten or carbs, you can even crush up fried pork rinds and use them in place of breadcrumbs.
In a separate bowl, combine the breadcrumbs with seasonings and mix together. You can season the breading with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, Italian seasoning, or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. You can also add red pepper flakes instead of black pepper.
Before breading the calamari, you'll want to set up a breading station. First, coat the calamari rings in flour and shake off any excess. Then, dip them into an egg wash, allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, toss the calamari into the breadcrumb mixture and gently press to ensure an even coating.
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Coating the calamari
Next, take your calamari rings from the buttermilk marinade and let the excess drip off. You can also pat them dry with paper towels. Now you're ready to start coating! First, coat the calamari strips in the flour and shake off any excess. Then, dip them into the egg wash, letting any excess drip off again. Finally, toss the rings into the breadcrumb mixture and gently press to ensure an even coating.
If you want to use gluten-free breadcrumbs, you can substitute panko with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs. You can also add crushed fried pork rinds to the coating for a unique twist. For an extra crispy coating, crush the panko breadcrumbs before adding the other ingredients.
Before placing the breaded calamari in the air fryer, let them sit on a rack for up to 30 minutes. This helps the breading dry and adhere better. You can also chill them in the fridge to prevent the breading from falling off during cooking.
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Cooking the calamari
Now, it's time to bread the calamari. Set up three bowls for coating the calamari: one with flour, garlic powder, and any other seasonings; one with a egg and milk mixture; and one with the panko breadcrumb mixture. You can add various seasonings to the breadcrumb mixture to enhance the flavor, such as paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, or Italian seasoning.
Coat the calamari rings first in the flour mixture, then dip them in the egg wash, letting any excess drip off. Finally, toss the rings into the breadcrumb mixture and gently press to ensure an even coating. You can let the breaded calamari sit for up to 30 minutes before air frying to help the coating dry and adhere better. You can also chill them in the fridge to prevent the breading from falling off during cooking.
Before placing the calamari in the air fryer, preheat your air fryer to around 400°F (200°C). This temperature may vary depending on your air fryer model, so refer to the manual for the recommended setting. Lightly grease the air fryer basket with oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place the calamari rings in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they don't overlap. You may need to work in batches.
Finally, it's time to air fry the calamari. Cook the calamari for 4–5 minutes, then flip the rings, spray with oil or cooking spray, and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Keep a close eye on the cooking time, as overcooked calamari can become rubbery. The calamari is ready when it turns opaque and reaches a crispy texture. Allow the air-fried calamari to rest for a minute or two before serving to give the coating a chance to set.
You can serve the panko calamari with various dipping sauces, such as sweet chili sauce, tartar sauce, marinara sauce, or aioli. Enjoy your delicious and crispy homemade appetizer!
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Serving the calamari
Once your calamari is cooked, it's time to serve it! There are several ways to serve air-fried panko calamari.
Firstly, it is recommended to let the cooked calamari rest for a minute or two. This gives the coating a chance to set. You can also sprinkle lemon juice over the cooked calamari, adding a fresh flavour to the dish.
Secondly, you can serve the panko calamari with a variety of dipping sauces. Popular options include tartar sauce, marinara sauce, aioli, and sweet chilli sauce. For a spicy kick, you can add cayenne pepper to the coating mix or dip the calamari in a mixture of Old Bay seasoning and panko breadcrumbs.
Finally, if you are following a keto or low-carb diet, you can serve the calamari with a dip with no sugar added. You can also use coconut flour, almond flour, or pork panko as low-carb options to make crispy keto calamari.
Now you have everything you need to serve your delicious, crispy, and healthy panko calamari!
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Frequently asked questions
First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Then, prepare your calamari by marinating it in buttermilk or lemon juice. Next, set up three bowls for coating the calamari: one with flour, one with an egg wash, and one with a mixture of panko breadcrumbs and seasonings. Coat the calamari in flour, then egg wash, and finally the breadcrumb mixture. Place the calamari in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap, and cook for a total of 7-8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Panko calamari is often served as an appetizer with a variety of dipping sauces, such as tartar sauce, sweet chili sauce, marinara sauce, or aioli. You can also add cayenne pepper to the coating for a spicy kick.
Yes, you can make gluten-free panko calamari by substituting panko with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs.
