
Calamari salad with parsley and lemon (click HERE for the recipe), is a favorite summer dish, that I like to serve on a hot summer day.
In the following recipe, I wanted to give the recipe another twist, by using cilantro instead of parsley, lime instead of lemon, and by adding a bit of jalapeno pepper to the mix. The result was a salad with bolder flavors and aroma, and with a nice touch of heat.
The calamari rings I’ve used here were smaller than I expected, but the unique texture of the calamari was there, and absorbed the flavors beautifully.
Serving the salad with cooked golden potatoes and cherry tomatoes, created a dish that was perfect for serving as a main dish for a light lunch. A smaller portion can also be served as a first course. Try it and enjoy.
Makes: 2-4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 12 minutes (including the potatoes)
Ingredients:
For the cooking liquid:
A handful of fresh cilantro
½ large juicy lime
½ jalapeno, cut into large pieces
1 garlic clove, roughly chopped
½ tsp salt
For the calamari salad:
Juice of ½ large lime
½ tsp salt
1 small garlic clove, finely chopped
¼ jalapeno, small chopped
10.6 oz (300 grams) frozen calamari rings, thawed and washed
½ bunch cilantro, washed and dried, roughly chopped
2 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs capers
Freshly ground four peppers mix
For serving:
4-6 small golden potatoes
A handful of cherry tomatoes, cut in quarters
Lime wedges
- The cooking liquid: add the cilantro to a medium pot, squeeze in the lime, and add the squeezed lime to the pot. Add the jalapeno pieces, garlic, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat to medium-high, and cook for 2-3 minutes, to let the flavors develop.
- In a separate pot, cook the potatoes, in their skin, for about 10 minutes, or until they are soft but firm. Drain and bring to room temperate.
- The salad: meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix the lime juice, salt, garlic and chopped jalapeno.
- Bring the cooking liquid to the boil, add the calamari and cook for 1 minute. Drain, discard the half lime, cilantro stems and jalapeno pieces, and add to the bowl with the lime juice while still warm. Cover the bowl and let sit, to cool down to room temperature, and absorb flavors. Mix, taste and adjust seasoning.
- Add the chopped cilantro, olive oil, capers, and ground pepper, and mix well.
- Peel the potatoes, cut into quarters and arrange on a serving plate, along with the cherry tomatoes. Spoon some of the liquid from the calamari salad over the potatoes and cherry tomatoes. Add the calamari salad in the middle, and serve.












I’ll bet changing those ingredients really zipped up the flavor. I really like the idea of serving with the potatoes. Perfect light summer meal.
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Thank you Bernadette, I’m glad you liked the recipe. The potatoes added such a nice balance and texture to the salad. It’s a keeper! 🙂
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I could devour this all by myself. Fabulous!!!
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Thank you Mimi, I could too! The salad was so tasty and I was sorry I used a small amount of calamari. Next time, I’ll double it! 🙂
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This is beautiful Ronit! Love your swaps, especially the addition of the jalapeno. Great instructions.
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Thank you Dorothy, this version has bolder flavors and aroma. The jalapeno added a subtle heat, which worked so well with the lime and cilantro. Now it’ll be hard to decide which version to make. Guess it’ll have to be both! 🙂
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Sounds amazing!
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Thank you Aletta, this salad was so fresh and flavorful. Perfect on a hot day. 🙂
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☺️
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Ronit — this recipe is definitely one for us! We love all those ingredients (well, except the garlic) and I can only imagine these fresh flavors on our table. Soon, fresh calamari will be readily available again in the desert. Right now, I don’t feel comfortable buying them. (I know I can get them frozen, but it’s not the same.)
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Thank you David, I’m glad the recipe ticked the right buttons.
I would also prefer fresh calamari, with the tentacles if possible, but the frozen is quite decent, and obviously less probed to spoilage. I like having a pack in the freezer, just in case…
Hope you’ll find a good substitute for the garlic! 🙂
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I’ve ordered fresh calamari to pick up tomorrow. I can’t wait to try this!
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Fresh calamari will be so much better. Hope you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
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This was so good, ROnit! Fresh and healthy – it will become a regular on our table.
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Thank you David, for updating. I’m very glad to know! 🙂
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen frozen calamari in the stores. Gotta check next time I’m there.
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It’s not always available, so when I see it, I grab a few packages, just in case. Hope you’ll be able to find it. 🙂
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This sounds absolutely heavenly, I’m always looking for different new recipes for seafood 👌
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Thank you Myra, I’m glad you liked the salad.The flavors worked so well together. It was great to have it on a hot summer day. 🙂
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Absolutely awesome.
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Thank you Suni! 🙂
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So delicious 😋
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Thank you Anita. It definitely was. 🙂
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