Name: Grilled calamari salad with Sauce Vierge
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Cooking Method
Ingredients: 1 tomatoes; 15 ml coriander seeds, crushed; 125 ml fresh chillies 573; 1 garlic cloves, paste; 65 ml fresh basil coarsely torn; 65 ml fresh coriander or mint, finely chopped; sea salt and freshly ground black pepper; olive oil; 500 - 750 g calamari rings cleaned; fresh herbs

Recipe Disclaimer

Tap for method

Ingredients (10)

1	tomatoes
15 ml	coriander — seeds, crushed
125 ml	fresh chillies — 573
1	garlic — cloves, paste
65 ml	fresh basil — coarsely torn
65 ml	fresh coriander — or mint, finely chopped
	sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
	olive oil
500 - 750 g	calamari rings — cleaned
	fresh herbs

Tap for ingredients

Method:

You can if you want to, peel the tomato but I seldom do. Simply wash and quarter it and remove the ribs and seeds, reserving it for a stew or soup. Cut the rest of the tomato neatly into very small dice and set aside.

Heat a pan and add the coriander seeds and toast briefly until aromatic. Add the oil and allow to just-warm through then add the garlic paste, tomato dice and herbs. Immediately remove from the heat (the mixture should not become very hot or worse, cook!) and season to taste with the salt and pepper. Set aside to cool down to room temperature.

Splash a little of the extra oil over the calamari, season to taste with the salt and pepper and toss well to coat. Heat a griddle pan to high. Cook the calamari in batches for 1 – 2 minutes, tossing all the time until the rings turn opaque, no longer.

Place the cooked calamari in a glass or plastic dish and cover with clingfilm for 5 minutes. The steam that develops in the bowl will ensure succulent, tender calamari. Remove the cover and allow the calamari to cool down to room temperature.

Just before serving, line a platter with the lettuce leaves and arrange the calamari rings on top. Pour the calamari juices left in the bowl into the tomato mixture and taste. Adjust seasoning and then add lemon juice to taste. Stir the sauce then ladle over salad. Garnish and serve at once.