Wondering what the best sauces calamari are, besides the classic cocktail sauce? I’ve got you covered with this handy guide of tasty calamari sauces.
These are some of my favorite sauces to serve with calamari.
Why?
They’re made with simple ingredients. Plus, they come together so quickly!
Keep reading to discover a new favorite calamari dipping sauce. Add in a couple calamari side dishes, and you’re guaranteed an amazing dinner!
Fried Calamari Dipping Sauce Recipes
Simple Marinara Sauce
Easy 30 Minute Marinara Sauce offers rich and sweet flavors that can be enjoyed on plenty of dishes. Using basic ingredients & only 1 pot.
Marinara Sauce
Easy Remoulade Sauce
This Louisiana-style Remoulade Sauce is a smoky and tangy dipping sauce that’s perfect for fried calamari, po’ boys, fried green tomatoes, and crab cakes.
Remoulade Sauce
Romesco Sauce
Romesco Sauce is packed with flavor and easy to make with simple ingredients & your blender or food processor. This roasted red pepper based Spanish sauce is delicious with chicken, pork, seafood and roasted vegetables.
Romesco Sauce
Cocktail Sauce
This easy Cocktail Sauce recipe is a zesty and tangy dipping sauce that’s perfect for calamari, prawn cocktails, po’ boys, and crab cakes.
Cocktail Sauce
Bang Bang Sauce
Add a tangy, sweet and spicy kick to your fried shrimp, seafood, fries, burgers, and more with Bang Bang Sauce! It’s an easy, creamy chili and mayo dipping sauce made from ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Plus, it's a dead ringer for the Bonefish Grill namesake appetizer Bang Bang Shrimp!
Bang Bang Sauce
Easy Chimichurri Sauce
This easy Chimichurri Sauce is packed with flavor and easy to make with simple ingredients & your blender or food processor. This cilantro chimichurri steak sauce is also delicious with chicken, pork, seafood and roasted vegetables.
Chimichurri Sauce
Easy Seafood Boil Sauce
Learn how to make Seafood Boil Sauce from scratch! It’s a rich and layered butter sauce that’s perfect for Southern seafood boils and for sprucing up your usual weeknight dinner. Easy to make in 20 minutes!
Seafood Boil Sauce
Easy Lemon Dill Sauce
This lemon butter sauce, made with dry white wine and fresh dill, is the upgrade your Calamari dish craves!
Lemon Dill Sauce
Chipotle Crema
Add some smoke and spice to your favorite shrimp recipe with this Chipotle Crema. A Mexican-inspired sauce, this creamy mix is made with chipotles in adobo to give shrimp a spicy kick.
Chipotle Crema
Fra Diavolo Sauce
Diavolo Sauce – This spicy sauce is made with tomatoes and white wine. Toss some cooked shrimp with it and serve them over pasta for a full meal.
Fra Diavolo Sauce
Pesto Mayo
This easy, creamy Pesto Mayo Sauce combines mayo, pesto, and lemon juice to give you an addictively delicious condiment to spread on a sandwich, drizzle on a salad, and more!
Pesto Mayo
Creamy Harissa Dressing
This naturally dairy-free and gluten-free Creamy Harissa Sauce is addictively delicious! Tahini, harissa paste, lemon, and maple syrup are whisked until smooth, leaving you with a bold and tangy sauce to drizzle over everything, from salads to eggs to meat.
Harissa Dressing
Buffalo Wing Sauce
This Buffalo Wing Sauce recipe can be made mild, medium or hot to suit your taste preference. It's the BEST Buffalo Sauce and made with only 4-ingredients and is SO good on breaded fried shrimp.
Buffalo Wing Sauce
Dumpling Sauce
This super quick soy-ginger is easy to make with 4 simple ingredients. It’s savory, tangy, and a little spicy.
Dumpling Sauce
Creamy Garlic Sauce
This 5-minute Creamy Garlic Sauce recipe is an easy go-to sauce you can serve with pasta, chicken, shrimp, and so much more. The flavors are rich and savory, and will keep you coming back for more!
Creamy Garlic Sauce
Lemon Caper Sauce
This easy 6-ingredient lemon caper sauce has a delicious dimension of flavors and a velvety richness, making it the perfect match for fish, shrimp, chicken, and more! Ready in just 5 minutes, it’s a simple go-to sauce that always upgrades your weeknight dinner.
Lemon Caper Sauce
How to Make Ahead and Store
Many of these calamari sauces can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead.
More Seafood Sauce Recipes
Did you Make Any of These Dips for Calamari?
Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of calamari dipping sauces. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.
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Full Recipe
15+ BEST Sauces for Calamari
Wondering what the best sauces for calamari are, besides the classic cocktail sauce? I’ve got you covered with this handy guide of 15+ tasty calamari dipping sauces. Try this easy 30 Minute Marinara Sauce. It uses basic ingredients & only 1 pot.
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Serves 4 people
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 28-ounce can San Marzano whole tomatoes (with juices)
- 1 large fresh basil sprig
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus additional, to taste)
- ½ teaspoon sugar (plus additional, to taste)
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
For Serving (optional):
Instructions
- In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and saute about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add the tomatoes (with their juices), basil sprig, oregano, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium-high heat. Then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and continue to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, and using a sturdy spoon to crush the tomatoes as they cook.
- Remove and discard the basil sprig. Season with additional salt and sugar, to taste. (If you prefer a smooth sauce, you can also purée it with an immersion blender, blender or food processor until it reaches your desired consistency.)
Notes
This sauce keeps well, covered and refrigerated, for up to 5 days. Freeze it for up to 3 months.
Note: Amount of sugar needed will depend on the sweetness of your tomatoes, so be sure to season to taste.
Nutrition
Calories: 67kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 582mg | Potassium: 9mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
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