Grilled Calamari Salad Recipes

SPICY GRILLED CALAMARI SALAD RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill. Toss the squid bodies with the oil, and generously season with salt and lots of black pepper. When the grill is very hot, add the squid and grill for about 5 minutes, until lightly charred all over. Combine the lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and chili sauce in a mixing bowl and whisk to blend. Slice the grilled squid into 1⁄2" rings. In a salad bowl, toss the squid, watercress, cucumber, tomato, onion, and peanuts with the dressing. Divide the salad among 4 plates.

GARLICKY GRILLED CALAMARI AND NECTARINE SALAD

Steps:

• For the dressing: Place the minced garlic cloves on a cutting board, then sprinkle with kosher salt. Using the back of your knife, mash the garlic to form a paste. Add it to a bowl with the lime juice, 1/4 cup oil, cumin, turmeric, garam masala and red chile flakes, if using. Whisk together, then season with salt and pepper, if necessary. Remove 3 tablespoons of the marinade and set aside for the squid.
• For the squid: Heat up a large grill pan over high heat. Don't put anything on the grill until it's screaming hot! That will prevent the excess sticking.
• Meanwhile, place the lemon juice in a large salad bowl and whisk in a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Add the arugula and toss to lightly coat. Transfer to a serving platter.
• Drizzle the nectarine slices with olive oil, and lay them on the grill, turning every minute or so until the fruit have nice grill marks all over. Remove them to a plate. Pat the squid dry with paper towels, if necessary, and add to the reserved marinade. Toss to coat. Shake the calamari of the excess marinade, and place the tubes and tentacles on the hot grill, cooking about 3 minutes per side. If the squid sticks, wait another 30 seconds or so. When it's well-seared, it will release!
• Remove the calamari from grill, and slice the calamari tubes (bodies) into rings. Add rings and tentacles to the bowl of reserved dressing and toss well to coat. Arrange the nectarine wedges and calamari on the platter, over the bed of arugula. Drizzle the remaining dressing over the bowl, as desired, and serve.
• Combine the cinnamon sticks, cloves, green cardamom seeds, black cardamom seeds, if using in a spice grinder or coffee grinder and grind until fine. Store the spice mix in an airtight container away from direct sunlight.

CLASSIC GREEK SALAD TOPPED WITH GRILLED CALAMARI SKEWERS

Steps:

• Soak 20 wooden skewers in water for about 20 minutes. Rinse the calamari tubes and pat dry. Split the bodies from top to bottom so you have 2 triangular pieces. Thread a soaked skewer through the length of each piece. Put the skewers on a platter and set aside. To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the oil, vinegar, garlic, dried and fresh oregano, thyme and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Pour 1/2 of the vinaigrette over the calamari; set the other 1/2 aside while you make the salad.
• In a large bowl, add the tomatoes, onion, cucumber, cheese, olives, and romaine. Pour the remaining vinaigrette over the salad and toss to combine. Let marinate while you grill the calamari.
• Heat the grill or a grill pan and oil it lightly. Grill the calamari for 2 minutes on each side, no longer or they will be tough. To serve, put the salad onto a large platter and top it with the calamari skewers. Garnish with fresh oregano leaves and lemon wedges.

GRILLED CALAMARI AND ARUGULA SALAD

Steps:

• For the vinaigrette: Add the grapefruit juice and vinegar to a medium bowl. Add the olive oil while whisking to combine. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
• For the calamari salad: Mix together the oil, chili flakes, garlic, lemon juice and zest, parsley and some salt in a large bowl. Add the calamari, toss together and let marinate for 20 minutes or up to 1 hour. Preheat a grill to high heat. Remove the calamari from the marinade and skewer them. Skewering the rings of the calamari onto 2 skewers each will help to keep them on the skewer and not fall off into the grill. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and grill for about 2 minutes per side. They should be slightly charred and opaque. Add the calamari, arugula, grapefruit segments, fennel and vinaigrette to a large bowl and toss. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

GRILLED CALAMARI SALAD

Steps:

• Put 1 cup of the herb oil in a mixing bowl. Add calamari, cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
• Preheat a grill to high heat.
• Remove calamari, season with salt and pepper on both sides and grill for approximately 4 minutes per side. While the calamari is cooking, put all other ingredients and the remaining 1 cup herb oil in a mixing bowl. Slice calamari into thin juliennes, and add to all of the ingredients. Mix thoroughly, season with salt and pepper.
• Combine all ingredients. This can be prepared in advance and used for multiple recipes.

GRILLED SQUID SALAD

Steps:

• Start a charcoal or gas grill; fire should be quite hot, with rack no more than 4 inches from heat source. If using wood skewers, soak them thoroughly in water.
• Toss squid with 2 tablespoons oil, juice of 1 lemon, garlic, salt and pepper. Let sit while grill heats, tossing occasionally. Skewer squid on parallel skewers to facilitate turning. When fire is hot, grill squid until nicely browned, turning once. Total cooking time will be about 5 minutes.
• Toss greens with remaining olive oil, juice of 1 or 2 lemons (to taste), salt, pepper and shallots. Top with squid, drizzle all with a little more lemon juice and serve.