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Try this simple oven-baked salt and pepper squid as a light lunch or as an appetiser when entertaining. This baked calamari means no deep-frying, making it a healthier option for you to enjoy.
OVEN BAKED SALT & PEPPER SQUID
Salt and Pepper squid rings, or calamari, is a popular light lunch or entree choice when dining out.
Especially when accompanied with a delicious dipping sauce, such as aioli or tartare sauce.
It can also make a great sharing plate too, so it only seemed natural to want to make our very own crumbed salt and pepper squid dish at home.
For another great option, try my salt and pepper air fryer calamari recipe. So good!
Check out these recipes too:
- Air fryer pizza rolls
- Air fryer sweet potato fries with yoghurt dip
- Garlic chicken balls
- Lunchbox quiche
- Lemon garlic prawns
- Coconut air fryer prawns
Oven-Baked Vs Deep Fried Calamari
I am not a big fan of deep-fried food and tend not to eat it often.
The exception is definitely those occasional fish and chips by the beach family days, which often includes salt and pepper calamari!
In fact, despite having this conversation many times over the years with my husband, I actually refuse to own a deep fryer at all!
So instead I set about making a healthy oven baked squid alternative, that not only tastes great, but is actually really easy as well!
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Oven Baked Squid
This is a really simple healthy salt and pepper squid recipe alternative, simply because you do not require them to be cooked in oil.
They may not be as crispy as deep fried calamari, however, they taste lighter and with more of the salt and pepper flavours this way, I think.
If you are finding you are having trouble getting your crumb mixture to stick to your squid rings, you can first dip them in a mixture of the beaten egg before rolling in the crumbs, however as they are usually fairly moist, I usually skip this step.
It is important to avoid overcooking your oven baked calamari though, or they will taste quite rubbery so take care to keep a close eye on them.
Will They Be Crunchy?
Oven-baked salt and pepper squid will not be as crunchy and crispy as a deep-fried version.
If you do prefer a crunchier texture, you can still shallow fry them using the same steps to salt and pepper your squid rings, up until placing them in the oven.
Instead, heat some oil in a frying pan and fry until crispy.
Another healthier calamari alternative would be to use an air fryer. I haven’t tried this yet but I think it would work great.
Recipe Variations
You can do this same crumb coating with other seafood too. Try it with prawns or fish for a yummy salt and pepper crumb coating.
I hope you enjoy my oven-bakedsalt and pepper squid recipe for a lighter option to enjoy seafood at home. This baked calamari recipe is a delicious summer dish!
For more recipe ideas check out these easy air fryer recipes and healthy lunch recipe ideas.
Oven Baked Salt & Pepper Squid
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Enjoy a lighter alternative to a favourite with this salt and pepper oven baked squid recipe.
Ingredients
- 500 g squid rings
- 1/2 cup plain flour
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp cracked pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 190 degrees Celsius. Line trays with baking paper.
- Mix flour, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper in a medium-sized bowl.
- Coat squid ring in crumb mixture and place on a baking tray, ensuring squid rings are well spaced out on the tray and not piled on top of each other.
- Cook in oven for approximately 16-20 minutes, turning half way.
- Serve with dipping sauce such as tartare sauce or aioli, or squeeze lemon juice over calamari.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 283Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 291mgSodium: 1997mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 25g
Check out my air fryer sweet potato fries for a perfect side dish accompaniment:
