Best Spiced Calamari Skewers With Grilled Lime Recipes

Fish Skewers With Herbs and Lime image

Provided by Melissa Clark

Time 20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 garlic cloves, finely grated, pressed or minced
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound thick, dense fish steaks, such as tuna or swordfish, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
Lime wedges, for serving
2 scallions, white and green parts, trimmed and thinly sliced
1/3 cup chopped dill, mint, parsley, cilantro or a combination

Steps:

Heat the grill to high. In a mixing bowl, combine garlic, fish sauce and red-pepper flakes. Whisk in oil. Add fish cubes and gently toss to evenly coat. Let marinate while the grill heats up.
Thread marinated fish onto metal or pre-soaked bamboo skewers (see Tip), pushing them up so they touch. This keeps them from overcooking.
When the grill is hot, lightly brush the grates with oil and add the skewers. Cook until slightly charred in places, about 2 to 4 minutes, rotating them carefully halfway through.
Transfer to a serving platter, and immediately squeeze 2 or 3 lime wedges on top of the fish while still hot. Garnish fish with scallions and herbs, and serve with more lime wedges on the side.

Spiced Calamari Skewers with Grilled Lime image

Categories Side Lime

Yield makes 40 pieces

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon cumin seed
1 teaspoon fennel seed
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1 teaspoon cayenne
1 tablespoon sea salt
20 small whole calamari, cleaned, tentacles reserved for another use
Extra-virgin olive oil
4 limes, halved

Steps:

Put the curry, cumin, fennel, peppercorns, cayenne, and salt in a spice mill or clean coffee grinder. Grind to a fine powder and set aside.
Rinse the calamari tubes under cool water and pat dry. Split the bodies from top to bottom so you have 2 triangular pieces from each. Thread a skewer through the length of each piece to secure. Put the skewered calamari on a platter and drizzle with a 3-count of oil. Place a large grill pan on 2 burners over medium-high heat, or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Fold a few paper towels into a thick square. Blot some oil on the paper towels and then carefully and quickly wipe the ridges of the grill pan or the hot grates of the grill. Grill the calamari for 2 minutes per side (no longer or they will get rubbery). Place the limes on the grill, cut side down, for 2 minutes or until slightly charred.
Sprinkle a little of the spice mix on the calamari and stack the skewers on a serving platter. Squeeze the grilled limes over the calamari and serve immediately.