Description
Bring those vacation flavors home with this simple to make and shockingly delicious grilled calamari recipe! Works great on your outdoor grill or indoors on a grill pan or cast iron skillet.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Calamari:
- 1 pound medium calamari tubes and tentacles, cleaned
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 lemons, halved
- Neutral oil, for grilling
For the Garlic Herb Sauce:
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (from grilled lemons)
- 2 tablespoons fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (more, to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Make the sauce: Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low. Add garlic, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Cook for 2 minutes until garlic is fragrant but not browned. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prep the grill: Preheat grill to high heat and lightly oil the grates.
- Prepare the calamari: Dry calamari tubes and tentacles with paper towels. Toss with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Grill: Place calamari and lemon halves (cut-side down) on the hot grill. Cook for 3-4 minutes total, turning calamari to get those char marks on all sides. Remove when opaque and lightly golden brown.
- Finish the sauce: Squeeze about 2 tablespoons of juice from one grilled lemon half into the garlic oil. Stir in fresh chopped parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serve: Transfer grilled calamari to a serving dish, drizzle with garlic herb sauce, and serve with remaining grilled lemon halves.
Notes
- Don't skip drying: Water prevents proper searing and char marks, so pat calamari completely dry with paper towels before grilling.
- Watch the timing: Calamari cooks fast and can go from tender to rubbery quickly. Stay at the grill so you don't overcook.
- Indoor option: This recipe works beautifully in a grill pan or cast iron skillet over high heat. You'll get some smoke, so turn your exhaust fan to high, too.
- Make ahead: The sauce can be made up to a day ahead. Reheat and add the parsley and grilled lemon juice just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 5
- Category: Easy Recipe
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 369
- Sugar: 6.3 g
- Sodium: 89987.4 mg
- Fat: 35.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 20.3 g
- Protein: 1.6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg