Fried Squid

part of: Squid

Fried calamari is one of Australia’s most popular seafood dishes, found on pub menus, fish and chip shops, and restaurant appetiser lists right across the country. The squid is typically cut into rings, coated in seasoned flour or light batter, and fried quickly at high heat for a crisp exterior and tender interior.

Getting the texture right is the key — overcooking turns calamari rubbery, while properly fried pieces stay tender with a satisfying crunch. It’s commonly served with lemon wedges and aioli, tartare sauce, or sweet chilli sauce.

Most calamari sold in Australia comes from wild-caught southern calamari and arrow squid, fished commercially in waters off South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania.

Wild
photograph to come — from twenty years of markets, farms and kitchens

How it's made

Squid is wild-caught by jigging or trawling in ocean waters. After catch, the squid is cleaned — the head, tentacles, and innards are separated from the tube, and the thin purple skin is peeled off. The tube is sliced into rings, coated in flour or batter, and fried without additional fat until crisp and cooked through.

Nutrition (per 100g)

Energy 98kcal
Protein 20.9g
Carbs 0g
Fat 1.5g
Fibre 0g Sugar 0g
Mass Distribution

What it costs the planet (per kilo)

Carbon ≈18.48kg
Freshwater ≈5408.02L
Land ≈4.95

≈ Estimated — worked out from a category-typical value further up its supply chain. Where this comes from →

Where it comes from

Made from

In the kitchen

Used as

fried seafood snack

Classic dishes
  • Calamari fritti
  • Seafood platter
  • Fried calamari rings

Keeping one at home? Track yours in your cubud →

Where this data comes from

Nutrition data from

FSANZ

How it was calculated

Recipe

Full credits, licences, and methods: the sources page →

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