Oven Baked Salt & Pepper Squid Recipe

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-baked salt 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.

Check out my air fryer sweet potato fries for a perfect side dish accompaniment: