Calamari Steak (Panko Breaded and Pan Fried)

This calamari steak recipe is five-star restaurant quality. The steaks are coated in seasoned panko breadcrumbs and pan-fried until golden brown resulting in a crispy outside and super tender inside. Add a little squeeze of fresh lemon juice and you'll be in seafood heaven. Plus, they're so, so easy to make. In fact, you can have these calamari steaks ready and on the table in just 15 minutes!

My Take On Calamari Steak

We've been doing something called "Seafood Saturdays" at my house lately and it seems like I've been making this calamari steak recipe on repeat. And it's not just me who's obsessed with it, my wife and 2-year-old daughter have been equally all about it as well.

This is one of those recipes that's easy to love though - yes, seafood recipes can fall into that category. The breaded calamari turns out so tender it almost melts in your mouth.

And, as I alluded to just a second ago, it takes no time at all to make. Just 3 steps are all you have to follow to make these calamari steaks. Basically, the recipe comes down to assembling the breading, coating the calamari in it, and then frying it all up. This recipe is the definition of easy peasy.

By the way, just so you know, this butter rice recipe is my go-to side dish to make with these calamari steaks. The two just go perfectly with each other. I highly recommend making it if/when you make this dish.

Why I Love This Recipe

It's foolproof. Even if you've never cooked calamari before, I guarantee you'll have no trouble making this recipe and getting perfectly cooked, crispy pan-fried calamari every time!

Simple ingredients. You'll only need 5 ingredients to put this dish together. As long as you've got some fresh calamari, the rest of the ingredients are just common pantry ingredients.

A winning combination. From the crispy and crunchy seasoned breadcrumb mixture to the tender calamari steaks, this recipe is one you'll want to make over and over again.

Ingredients

One of my favorite things about this calamari steak recipe is that it's made with just a handful of simple ingredients.

Here's everything you'll need to make it:

• 4 calamari steak
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 lemons
• 2 tbsp. mixed spices (paprika, oregano, salt and pepper, thyme)
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil for frying

By the way, if you end up with some extra panko bread crumbs you can put them to good use by making this baked cod with panko or this baked haddock with 'em next!

How To Make Calamari Steak

1. Make the panko breadcrumb mixture: Place the panko breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl and whisk them with paprika, oregano, thyme, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

2. Bread the calamari: Brush each calamari steak with a little olive oil and coat the steaks in the panko mixture. Press lightly to ensure the panko adheres to the calamari. Repeat with the remaining steaks, adding more panko if needed.

3. Fry the calamari steaks: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil on high heat. Add the calamari steaks to the hot oil and cook on high heat for about a minute or two until the steaks are golden on one side. Carefully flip the calamari steak and cook on the other side until golden. Repeat the pan frying process with the rest of the calamari.

4. Serve: Remove the calamari steaks from the pan and serve hot with a squeeze of lemon juice and your favorite salad, mashed sweet potatoes, or whatever sides you prefer. Enjoy!

Tips To Make The Best Recipe

• Let the oil heat up for a few minutes before deep frying.
• Make sure the calamari is completely dry before coating it in the seasonings. You can pat it dry with paper towels or a kitchen towel.
• Avoid overcrowding the pan while frying. Otherwise, the temperature of the oil will drop and make for uneven deep fried calamari.
• Make grilled calamari steaks. Instead of frying in oil, cook the steaks on a grill pan set to medium high heat and cook until they're golden brown.
• Make lemon caper calamari steaks. Simply make a lemon caper sauce with melted butter, capers, and fresh lemon juice. Drizzle the rich lemon butter sauce on top of the calamari steaks right before serving.
• Add a dash of fish sauce to the panko mixture for more umami goodness.
• Serve the calamari steaks with lemon wedges, parmesan cheese, tartar sauce, and a drizzle of olive oil for more flavor.

How I Recommend Storing And Reheating The Calamari Steaks

In the fridge: Transfer the leftover calamari steaks to an airtight container - or sealed bag with the excess air squeezed out - and keep them in the fridge for up to 4 days.

In the freezer: Allow your leftovers to cool completely, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container and freeze 'em for up to 2 months.

Reheating: In my opinion, the best way to reheat your leftover calamari steaks is to add them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake 'em at 275°F for 10-12 minutes or until they're hot. If you're starting with frozen steaks you'll have to add more time to that recommendation.

Alternatively, if you want to heat your calamari steaks up even faster you can use your microwave. Just heat 'em up in 1-minute intervals until they're warm. With that said, while this is the fastest option to reheat the calamari I don't think it's the best option. A lot of times reheating it back up in the microwave will give it a rubbery texture.

FAQS On This Calamari Steak Recipe

What is a calamari steak?

A calamari steak is made from a large squid. It's the same meat as the deep fried rings you'd get at a restaurant.

What does calamari steak taste like?

It has a slightly firmer and chewier texture than calamari rings, with a super crispy and crunchy finish.

What can I serve with calamari steaks?

Calamari steaks go great with a bunch of different things. A few of my favorite sides to serve with it though are things like this seafood pasta salad, this pasta with peas, this kani salad, or these spicy noodles.

More Seafood Recipes

If you're looking for even more seafood recipes, you're in luck! We've got a ton on the blog that you can try next.

Here are some of my all time favorites:

• Seafood rice
• Beer battered shrimp
• Salmon sushi bake
• Pan fried tilapia
• Shrimp scampi without wine
• Lobster pasta