We always love to eat salads, don't we? For some, these
sumptuous salad dishes have become a favorite appetizer but for the health buff, salads are an indispensable part of the regular diet. Most of the time, salads are made of green, leafy vegetables blended with mayonnaise and either tuna, meat or ham. However, my personal choice is calamari salad - a perfect concoction of squid, vegetables, and garnishes.
Here are the ingredients you need:
1.5 kg squid, cleaned
200g cooked small prawns or shrimp (optional)
1 cup diced red or green capsicum
1/2 cup sliced Kalamata olives
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano or 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
3/4 cup olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper
lettuce
cherry tomatoes or tomato wedges
First, is the
squid preparation. This is done by cutting the bodies of the squids crosswise into 0.5-1cm slices and the tentacles crosswise into halves or quarters. Boil a kettle of salted water and add the squid pieces into the boiling liquid. Simmer from 15 to 30 seconds or until opaque. Remove the squid pieces and rinse with cold water. Drain again and pat dry using paper towels.
In a large bowl, toss the cooked squid together with shrimp, if available, bell pepper, onion rings, olives, parsley and capers. Meanwhile, mix the vinegar, sugar, garlic, oregano and basil in a small bowl. Using a whisk, beat the oil a little at a time. Pour dressing over salad, toss to distribute. Apply a generous amount of salt and pepper. Garnish a platter of several plates with lettuce or other salad greens. Add tomatoes for a more attractive presentation. Use appropriate
cooking tools whenever necessary.
