Italian fried seafood, referred to as fritto misto, is a well-liked dish in Italian delicacies. It consists of a wide range of blended seafood reminiscent of shrimp, calamari, and small fish, that are flippantly coated in flour and deep-fried till golden and crispy. The result’s a flavorful and pleasant mixture of tender seafood with a satisfying crunch.

So far as seafood goes, I have to admit I adore it all. From a easy seafood linguine at dinner to a scrumptious Italian fish soup for lunch, each is so gentle and recent!
This Italian fried seafood recipe, although, will all the time have a particular place in my coronary heart! Past that every piece has a crispy, crunchy exterior and a young, by no means robust inside, this beloved Italian fried seafood dish was the fourth course at my Italian wedding ceremony reception.
Scrumptious seafood, shrimp, calamari rings and small bites of halibut deep-fried to perfection in a lightweight flour coating, tossed with simply the correct amount of salt after which drizzled with a splash of lemon juice is what make fritto misto di mare each easy and distinctive. After my first style I knew I’d be making this seafood fry many times!
What’s Fritto Misto?
Fritto misto means ‘fried combine’. Typically served in Italy as a starter to a meal or on Christmas Eve, it’s an Italian dish containing bits of meat, seafood or greens dipped in batter after which deep fried. You may additionally see this dish known as fritto misto amalfitano or misto di mare.
This specialty dish can fluctuate from area to area and could also be depending on the native delicacies for the realm. Most frequently although it incorporates a fried blended seafood utilizing no matter native ocean substances are available.
Italian Seafood Recipe Elements
- Contemporary seafood: You’ll need 1 ½ lbs. I exploit calamari rings, chew measurement items of halibut or cod and medium shrimp that has been deveined and peeled. Squid or different seafood reminiscent of recent sardines can be utilized.
- Flour: All goal flour is what I usually use.
- Salt: To style.
- Vegetable oil: I sometimes use sunflower oil, however any frying oil with a excessive smoke level can be utilized for fried fish.
- Lemon slices: To serve with the fried seafood.
Tips on how to Make Italian Fried Seafood
To start out, clear and rinse the fish items in chilly water then place in a colander to empty. Pat dry if wanted.
Subsequent, place some flour on a medium-sized plate, then toss the drained fish just a little at a time with the flour combination. Toss different seafood items as effectively, shaking to take away extra flour as wanted.

Warmth the oil then fry the fish and seafood items for a couple of minutes till golden. I prefer to separate the sorts of fish I purchase and fry one sort at a time for one of the best blended fried seafood dish.

Drain the fish on a paper towel lined plate or a brown paper bag. Sprinkle with just a little salt and toss to mix.
Fry the following batch till all seafood is flippantly fried. Preserve completed seafood items in a heat oven set at a low temperature.
Serve with recent lemon wedges and luxuriate in this Italian restaurant high quality favourite!
Variations
- Fritto misto di verdure: This model of fritto misto consists of fried greens reminiscent of zucchini flowers, artichokes and broccoli and served with ciabatta bread that can also be freied.
- Autumn fritto misto: This variation depends on seasonal produce and sometimes consists of apples, mushrooms and zucchini. Generally cauliflower is used as effectively.
- Gluten free: Strive rice flour or a combination of tapioca flour and cassava flour. Cornstarch is in style for a barbeque as effectively.
- Dipping sauce: Widespread fritto misto dipping sauces embody lemon aioli, marinara sauce and even tartar sauce.

Knowledgeable Suggestions
- It’s finest to fry the identical fish one after the other earlier than transferring on to the opposite blended seafood selection.
- Preserve an oil temperature 350-360°F when frying your seafood. This implies bringing the oil again to temperature after every batch in any other case chances are you’ll find yourself with soggy seafood that’s bit heavy somewhat than gentle and crispy.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying your seafood items. In any other case each bit might find yourself with some areas that aren’t crunchy.
- To forestall the batter from sliding off, decrease the seafood items slowly into the new oil whereas additionally giving each bit just a little shake to take away extra batter.
- Stop moisture within the deep frying course of by draining your fish after which patting them dry.
- Conventional fritto misto is gentle and crispy as a substitute of closely fried. The perfect colour is gentle and clear somewhat than a deeper golden brown.
- Serve instantly! It’s best to make and eat fried meals as quickly as doable. Don’t let it sit too lengthy. If wanted you possibly can maintain the fried items heat at a low oven temperature whereas frying the remaining batches.
What to Serve with a Fried Seafood Platter
Serve your fried seafood with recent lemon wedges, a dipping sauce and even whipped ricotta if you need!
When I’m not serving this as an Italian starter to a meal, I serve it with do-it-yourself french fries or easy pan-fried potatoes to finish the seafood fry meal. Easy toss potato cubes with seasoning and olive oil then pan fry till crispy!
When you choose oven baked potatoes, you could possibly all the time serve oven roasted rosemary potatoes as a substitute.

Recipe FAQs
What’s the finest oil for deep frying?
When frying, select an oil that has a excessive smoke level, reminiscent of peanut oil, safflower, sunflower and even canola oil. These oils even have a impartial that won’t have an effect on the style of the fried meals.
What sort of fish is finest to make use of?
I like to make use of chew measurement items of haddock or cod, calamari rings and medium sized peeled shrimp. Italians additionally prefer to fry small fish reminiscent of anchovy however be at liberty to make use of no matter is widespread to your native space.
May I exploit an air fryer for this fritto misto recipe?
Whereas I’ve not examined that, I feel it might work. After coating your seafood flippantly spray it with cooking spray after which prepare in a single layer within the air fryer basket. Prepare dinner 8-10 minutes flipping midway by the cooking time and spraying extra with oil as wanted.
What wine pairs finest with fritto misto?
You may’t go mistaken with a dry Italian White wine or perhaps a glowing wine when serving this Italian seafood platter as an appetizer or with dinner.

No matter you select to serve with this dish, I’m positive this straightforward and scrumptious Italian Fried Seafood shall be loved. Buon Appetito!

Italian Fried Seafood
Italian Fried Seafood, or “Fritto Misto”, a straightforward blended seafood, tossed with flour, fried & flippantly salted.
Stop your display from going darkish
Elements
- 1½ kilos seafood* (750 grams)
- ¾ – 1 cup flour
- salt to style
- vegetable oil for frying (I often use sunflower oil)
*calamari rings, chew measurement items of halibut or cod, medium shrimp (cleaned and deveined).
Directions
-
In a medium to giant sized heavy backside pot add 2 inches (5 cm) of vegetable oil and warmth to 350F – 360F / 175-180C. At all times maintain the oil at this temperature whereas frying.
-
clear and rinse the fish items in chilly water then place in a colander to empty, roughly 10-Quarter-hour. Pat dry if wanted.
-
Place the flour on a medium-sized plate, toss the fish* (just a little at a time) with the flour.
-
Fry the fish a small quantity at a time, make sure that to not crowd the fish, (I often begin with the calamari), deep fry till golden.
-
Drain on a paper towel or brown paper bag lined plate, sprinkle with salt and toss to mix. Cowl and maintain heat (within the lowest temperature in your oven) whereas frying the remainder of the fish. Serve instantly with recent lemon wedges. Take pleasure in!
*It is best to do the identical sort of fish one after the other.
Notes
It’s finest to fry the identical fish one after the other earlier than transferring on to the opposite blended seafood selection.
Preserve an oil temperature 350-360°F when frying your seafood. This implies bringing the oil again to temperature after every batch in any other case chances are you’ll find yourself with soggy seafood that’s bit heavy somewhat than gentle and crispy.
Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying your seafood items. In any other case each bit might find yourself with some areas that aren’t crunchy.
To forestall the batter from sliding off, decrease the seafood items slowly into the new oil whereas additionally giving each bit just a little shake to take away extra batter.
Stop moisture within the deep frying course of by draining your fish after which patting them dry.
Conventional fritto misto is gentle and crispyinstead of closely fried. The perfect colour is gentle and clear somewhat than a deeper golden brown.
Serve instantly. It’s best to make and eat fried meals as quickly as doable. Don’t let it sit too lengthy. If wanted you possibly can maintain the fried items heat at a low oven temperature whereas frying the remaining batches.
Whereas I’ve not examined utilizing an air fryer, I feel it might work. After coating your seafood flippantly spray it with cooking spray after which prepare in a single layer within the air fryer basket. Prepare dinner 8-12 minutes, at 400F / 200C, flipping midway by the cooking time and spraying extra with oil as wanted.
Vitamin
Energy: 316kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 32gFats: 1gSaturated Fats: 1gLdl cholesterol: 80mgSodium: 516mgPotassium: 458mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gCalcium: 22mgIron: 3mg
December 22, 2019