Warm crispy deep fried calamari is best paired with a savory dipping sauce to add a creamy finish to this exquisite appetizer.
You can use make classic dipping sauces for calamari such as tzatziki, lemon garlic aioli, or marinara sauce.
You can also pair fried calamari with lime tartar sauce, sundried tomato aioli, spicy mayo and more!
Tzatziki Sauce
Tzatziki is one of the most popular dipping sauces for calamari.
Tzatziki sauce is a tangy, yogurt based sauce with a hint of dill and cucumber.
Tzatziki sauce has a thick base of Greek yogurt.
Greek yogurt is strained through a cheesecloth for about 2 hours to remove the liquid from the yogurt.
Olive oil, dill, grated cucumber, vinegar, salt, and minced garlic are added to the strained Greek yogurt to create a creamy, dill and cucumber flavored dipping sauce for fried calamari.
Smoked Paprika Aioli
Smoked paprika aioli is a creamy dipping sauce for fried calamari with a hint of garlic.
Smoked paprika aioli is made by combining mayo, minced garlic and smoked paprika.
Smoked paprika has a “smoked” flavor to it, which is a bit different than regular paprika that is a little bit of heat.
The smoked flavor of the paprika goes well with crispy deep fried calamari.
Lime Tartar Sauce
Lime tartar sauce is a savory creamy sauce for deep fried calamari with a hint of lime flavoring.
Lime tartar sauce is made by combining together mayo, diced pickles, dill weed, chives, diced onions, parsley, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and salt.
Spicy Mayo
Spicy mayo is a sriracha infused mayo dipping sauce for calamari.
Spicy mayo adds a bit of a bite to your calamari appetizer.
The crispiness of the calamari, combined with the creamy spicy mayo, makes for a delicious savory dipping sauce for calamari.
Spicy mayo is a favorite sauce for calamari that also has a few deep fried sliced jalapenos mixed into the dish.
Sundried Tomato Aioli
Sundried tomato aioli has a hint of garlic and lemon .
Sundried tomato aioli is made by combining mayo, sundried tomatoes, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and a little salt to a food processor and is blended together until smooth.
Sundried tomato aioli is more of a fancy dipping sauce that you see in local upscale restaurants.
Marinara Sauce
Marinara sauce is a tomato based sauce to dip into calamari.
Marinara sauce has a rich, tomato flavor to it, with hints of garlic and herbs.
Marinara is made by adding oregano, basil, minced garlic, salt, and olive oil to tomato sauce. The flavors come together by heating them on the stove for a couple of minutes.
Lemon Garlic Aioli
Lemon garlic aioli is a creamy, citrusy lemon dipping sauce for a calamari with a hint of garlic.
Lemon garlic aioli is made by mixing together fresh minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, and mayo.
You can use a little leftover lemon to squeeze the juice onto your calamari right before serving.
Tosazu (Japanese dipping sauce)
If you’ve ever ordered deep fried squid at a Japanese restaurant, tosazu is typically the sauce served with the dish.
Tosazu is a vinegar based dipping sauce for fried calamari.
Tosazu is a combination of rice vinegar, sugar, salt, soy sauce, mirin (sweet rice wine), and bonito flakes (smoked tuna flakes).
