Calamari Salad

As a chef with years of experience, I can confidently say this calamari salad recipe is a winner. I recently made it for a family gathering, and it was a hit! Combining fresh vegetables, zesty lemon, and deep-fried calamari created a harmonious flavor profile that left everyone wanting more. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also a healthy and protein-packed option for seafood lovers.

If you’re a fan of calamari, you might also enjoy combining this recipe with two other seafood classics: shrimp scampi and grilled octopus. You’ll create a delightful seafood feast by serving all three dishes together with your guests raving about your culinary skills. Another option is to add a side of garlic bread to round out the meal and soak up any remaining sauce.

Why Would You Like Calamari Salad?

• This recipe is easy to make and uncomplicated. You can’t mess it up.
• You must use quality ingredients to make this salad a hit at your next cookout.
• It is an easy and delicious way to serve calamari.
• This dish is light and healthy; you can serve this as a main course and a side dish.
• You can customize it with various vegetables, herbs, and dressings to suit your tastes.
• It is an impressive dish perfect for impressing your guests and a great way to add seafood to your diet.
• You can enjoy calamari without deep frying it and serve it on summer BBQ or other picnic parties.
• With this salad’s help, you can easily add a variety of vegetables available at home.

Ingredients For Calamari Salad

Here is the list of ingredients needed to make this recipe;

• 1 packet of crumbled calamari frozen
• 2 bulbs of baby fennel
• 2 baby cos lettuce
• Avocado cooking oil for shallow frying
• ¼ cup caper drained berries
• 1 punnet cherry tomatoes
• ½ roasted bell pepper
• A handful of superb herb Italian parsley chopped
• ½ fresh red chili seeds removed and dice

For Dressing

• 1 clove of garlic
• ½ tsp wholegrain mustard
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 tbsp extra avocado oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• Extra parsley for garnishing
• ½ small red onion in slices

Ingredients Tips For Calamari Salad

Here are some tips for making the perfect calamari salad;

• Preparing Calamari: Soak it before cooking to get the best possible calamari. This soaking will help it to become soft, and the fishy smell also goes away with water. Add lemon to it to change the texture of the calamari and make it less chewy.
• Vegetables: Mostly, all the vegetables are finely chopped and then added to the salad bowl for mixing, but it is better to roast some vegetables, including bell pepper and onion, before adding them raw.
• Calamari: Take clean and sliced calamari and ensure it is tender.
• Crisp: You can add the crisp by adding crispy celery, roasted bell peppers, and olives to enhance the overall flavor.
• Salt and pepper: You can add salt and pepper according to your taste.
• Mustard: Mix the mustard with sesame oil before adding another ingredient to the salad bowl, giving your salad the perfect aroma and flavor.
• Dressing: You can also add lemon juice and olives on top of the soil.
• Garlic: Ensure adding garlic to the salad, finely chop it, and then mix it with the salad.
• Variety of ingredients: There are many other ingredients that you can add, as calamari salad is a versatile salad. You can add any other vegetable that you like to have to your salad.

How To Make Calamari Salad?

Here are the step-by-step instructions to make the best calamari salad;

Step 1: Cooking the Calamari

Read the packet of calamari and cook it according to the instructions. You can deep or shallow-fry it and cook it in the oven if you like. After cooking calamari, set it aside at room temperature to cool down.

Step 2: Preparing the Vegetables

Remove the base, cut the funnel bulb’s stalk, and divide them in half. Now, remove the cores with the help of a sharp knife, mandolin, or vegetable peeler, and make fennel slices. Now take the cos lettuce and tear it into pieces. Drain the vegetables well to remove any dirt.

Step 3: Roasting the Bell Peppers

Take bell peppers and celery to roast and let them cool down to room temperature. Cut the cherry tomatoes and also take out black olives (optional).

Step 4: Mixing all Ingredients

Add all the ingredients, including the vegetables, and sprinkle some salt and pepper for the perfect taste. Add sesame oil, red chili sauce, and sweet chili sauce to enhance the flavor.

Step 5: Plating the Salad

Now add the lettuce and fennel on a serving plate and sprinkle all the remaining ingredients, including parsley, caper berries, and chili. Also, add dressing and top the salad with calamari, and garnish with more parsley.

Expert Tips to Make the Best Calamari Salad

Here are some expert tips that will help you make the best calamari salad;

1. Season your calamari with salt and pepper before cooking to enhance the flavor properly.
2. Use a light batter, such as a beer batter, to prevent the calamari from becoming too greasy.
3. Heat your oil to the proper temperature before frying. Too hot and the calamari will burn; too cold and become greasy.
4. Don’t overcook the calamari. It should only take a few minutes in the hot oil.
5. Remove the calamari from the oil. Use a paper towel or an alternative on the plate to absorb extra oil.
6. Serve the calamari with a zesty and dripping sauce with garlic aioli or a lemon-butter sauce.
7. Sprinkle the calamari with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for extra flavor.
8. Before adding any extra ingredients to the salad, you need to ensure that the

How To Store Calamari Salad?

You can store your calamari salad in an airtight container and then in the refrigerator. Your calamari salad can stay in the refrigerator for a maximum of 2 days if you are not planning to use the calamari within two days after making it. The life of your salad inside the refrigerator is not more than 2 days; you must take it out afterward to prevent it from going bad.

How To Freeze Calamari Salad?

It is better to consume the salad fresh when you make it. But if you have some leftovers, you can put them in the fridge for 3 days, enough for you to reheat and eat your salad. But if you want to make it for freezing so you can eat it later, you can freeze your calamari salad for up to 2 months.

Reheating Instructions

For reheating the calamari salad, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, then place the calamari on a baking sheet. Use pepper, salt, and other desired spices to season it. Now bake them for 12 to 15 minutes, ensuring flipping occasionally. Now you can serve it with your favorite sauce as it will be good as new.

Alternative Ingredients You May Try for Variation

Calamari salad is a highly versatile recipe; you can change the ingredients easily. Here are some of the alternative ingredients that you can use for making calamari salad;

• ¼ cup of baking soda
• Mixed green vegetables
• 1 sliced cucumber
• 1 and a half cups panko bread crumbs
• ½ cup crushed almonds
• 2 and a half tbsp olive oil
• 6 tbsp of Greek yogurt
• 2 tbsp mayo

Alternative Recipes

You can serve this calamari salad as a main course and a side dish. Serve it with a lemon wedge or a hot and sizzling sauce to make it taste perfect. There are multiple dishes you can serve your calamari salad, including;

• Asian beef pilaf
• German Cabbage Salad
• Burmese Tea Leaf Salad
• German Cabbage Salad With Seasoning
• Surimi Salad
• Roasted Beets With Goat Cheese Salad
• Taco Salad Bowl
• Quinoa Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
• Vegan Quinoa Salad
• Shaved Brussels sprouts salad

FAQs

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5 from 1 vote

Calamari Salad

Although Calamari Salad may seem like a basic salad, don't be fooled by its simplicity. The crispy crunch of the deep-fried calamari brings a delightful flavor to every bite. This effortless jazzing up of your salad will leave your taste buds singing joyfully.

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 28 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Author Muhammad Kashif

Servings 4 persons

Calories 360kcal

Ingredients

For Salad

• 1 pack of crumbled calamari frozen
• 2 bulbs of baby fennel
• 2 baby Cos lettuce
• ¼ cup caper drained berries
• 1 punnet cherry tomatoes
• ½ roasted bell pepper
• ½ fresh red chili seeds removed and diced
• Avocado cooking oil for shallow frying
• A handful of superb herb Italian parsley chopped

For Dressing

• 1 clove of garlic
• ½ tsp wholegrain mustard
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 tbsp extra avocado oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• Extra parsley for garnishing
• ½ small red onion in slices

Instructions

• Read the packet of calamari and cook it according to the instruction.
• Remove the base of the calamari, cut the funnel bulb's stalk, and divide them in half
• Chop all the side ingredients, including tomatoes, black olives, and bell pepper. You can also roast them to enhance the flavor.
• Mix all the vegetables on top and sprinkle seasonings, salt, and pepper.
• Decorate lettuce and funnel on the serving plate and add all the vegetables to this plate.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 4.5g | Cholesterol: 265mg | Sodium: 840mg | Potassium: 380mg | Fiber: 1.2g | Sugar: 1.7g | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 1mg