Craving an easy main course that’s quick and tasty? Prepare breaded squid rings with me! It’s a seafood main that’s truly simple and delicious. The baked squid rings with breading are ready in no time! You can enrich them with your choice of vegetables to make it a complete dish. I added peppers and cherry tomatoes, but you can use whatever veggies you like or none at all!
They’re great to serve at a casual dinner with friends or for a romantic dinner! Thanks to the breading, you’ll get a crispy surface that almost feels fried! But actually, they’re baked making them lighter and even suitable for those on a diet. For this seafood dish, you can use squid rings, cuttlefish rings, or calamari rings. If you can’t find them fresh, frozen will do.
Squid is a mollusk often confused with calamari. Unlike the latter, it has tougher flesh, so it’s crucial to cook it properly to enhance its flavor. You’ll find all the tips at the end of the article.
As I’ve confessed many times, I’m not great at cleaning fish! I’ll admit I’m also rather lazy and always running late! That’s why I rely on my fishmonger for pre-cut and cleaned squid rings!
We can bake the squid rings in the oven or in an air fryer. Since air fryers are very powerful, I recommend keeping an eye on the cooking 😉
But enough talk! Let’s see how to prepare baked breaded squid rings!
Other seafood recipes you might find interesting!
- Cost: Medium
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4 people
- Cooking methods: Electric Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All Seasons
Ingredients
- 2.2 lbs squid rings
- to taste breadcrumbs (about 1 cup, gluten-free for those who are intolerant. Or ½ cup breadcrumbs and ½ cup crumbled bread)
- 1 lemon (grated zest)
- chopped parsley
- to taste black peppercorns (only if you like it)
- 1 bell pepper (large enough; replace with a zucchini if preferred)
- 10.5 oz cherry tomatoes
- to taste salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil (per person APPROXIMATELY)
Tools
- Bowl
- Ladle
- Baking Pan
- Grater
- Cutting Board
Steps
For this recipe, I used pre-cleaned squid rings.
Pat them dry with paper towels to help the breading adhere better.
Wash the vegetables. I chose cherry tomatoes and bell peppers, but you can change the vegetables or use only the squid.
Halve the cherry tomatoes. Cut the bell pepper in half, remove seeds and white parts, and cut into not too small pieces.
Dry the vegetables well with paper towels.
Now, place the squid rings and vegetables in a large bowl.
Add a bit of grated lemon zest, finely chopped fresh parsley, salt, and pepper.
Two cloves of garlic, a drizzle of olive oil, and then gradually add the breadcrumbs.
Mix with two spoons to ensure the breading sticks to the ingredients.
Take a baking sheet, line with parchment paper, and pour everything inside.
Another generous handful of fresh parsley, a nice drizzle of olive oil, and into a static oven at 375°F for about 30 minutes.
Cooking time varies if it’s fresh or frozen and depending on the size.
For safety, taste test. It should be tender and delicate.
Once everything has reached the right cooking, remove from oven and serve with a nice squeeze of lemon.
Anyone can cook the breaded vegetables first, just for about 5 minutes in fan mode.
Then add the breaded squid and continue for another 25–30 minutes approximately, in static mode. This way you’ll better control the cooking of the various ingredients.
If you choose to cook them in an air fryer, use the same temperature but check after 20 minutes because cooking will be faster.
Don’t like cherry tomatoes or peppers and want another side dish to go with this dish?
No problem! You can try smashed potatoes, so tasty they’ll become a family hit! Or sautéed kale. Also great are zucchini alla scapece in a light version. Or a nice fennel and orange salad.
If these simple and tasty side dish proposals aren’t enough, I leave you the link where you can find all my side dishes!
I hope you enjoyed this recipe! Come back soon! ❤️
Article protected by copyright © – Gabriella Geroni © All Rights Reserved
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
How do I know if the squid is cooked?
If it’s fresh and not very large, cooking will be short. Approximately, it will take about twenty minutes. If the product is frozen, cooking time may vary (it’s usually also indicated on the package). The important thing is not to overcook them to avoid them becoming “rubbery”.
I want to use frozen squid rings? What should I do?
You should first thaw them, leaving them in a strainer so they drain well. Pat them dry with paper towels as I did with the fresh ones, and then proceed as above, keeping in mind that the frozen ones might cook in less time if they are very small. Therefore, frequently check the cooking.
How can I cook squid?
We can prepare many tasty recipes with squid. For example, as with the preparation of cuttlefish and peas, we can make them stewed, optionally with the addition of potatoes or peas to create a complete dish. Grilled or fried. They can be boiled and served as a salad, accompanied by other vegetables of choice. Or to prepare a nice dish of pasta with squid, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes.
Can I prepare the squid rings the day before?
Baked breaded squid rings should be served immediately after cooking. This way, you’ll be sure to enjoy them at their best. Preparing them much earlier is not advisable, as they might harden and become rubbery. Especially since once cold, it would be necessary to reheat them, thus cooking them beyond the recommended time, risking making them truly rubbery.
