This Grilled Calamari is grilled on a stick, which in my opinion, is just as good as fried! Sometimes the simplest dishes are the best and this is no exception. A squeeze of lime, some silky virgin olive oil and sprinkle of salt and pepper – so good and such an easy fish dish!
Why This Grilled Calamari
- A quick and delicious fish dish!
- Great for BBQ’s.
- Easy 5 ingredient recipe.
- Healthy tasty alternative to fried calamari.
Ingredients For This Grilled Calamari Recipe
- Squid
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Lime wedges
- Salt & pepper
- Bamboo skewers
How To Make This Grilled Calamari – Step by Step
Start by rinsing the squid and pat dry with a paper towel.
Cut the tubes of squid into 2-inch tubes.
Thread the squid onto bamboo skewers and season both sides with salt and pepper. (Be sure to soak the bamboo skewers for 30 minutes before using to prevent burning).
Grill over medium-high heat for 4 minutes each side or until edges slightly charred. Then, drizzle olive oil over the cooked calamari, squeeze some lime and top with parsley.
Fried Vs Grilled Calamari
Most of the calamari we order from restaurants is the traditional battered ‘n deep fried (LOVE!) but somehow I lost my deep fryer during the move. It’s a mystery — where is my electric deep fryer full of slightly used canola oil?
In the meantime, our calamari is grilled on a stick, which in my opinion, is just as good as fried (so THERE!). It’s a healthier alternative to fried squid but still have a lovely mix of texture from the grilling and it’s less greasy!
Cleaning Squid For Calamari
Buying squid…errrrr…..calamari can be a little scary – what do you do with the slippery tubes and funny fingers? For this recipe, I buy already cleaned squid, which you can get frozen in a bag or your nice fishmonger might have some already defrosted in the glass case for ya.
Now…I know some of you can’t get already-cleaned squid…so I ventured out to the interwebs to find you some videos. But I gotta say, since handling slimy squid with a giant eyeball staring at you and long tentacles waiting to (eeeeks STOP IT!! I watch too many horror flicks) isn’t the most easy thing to do, I was hoping that I could find a happyhappyjoyjoy video about cleaning squid.
Finally, I found one from About.com, no scary words and they even have soothing music in the background.
If you don’t want to put yourself through this – then just buy them already cleaned!
Grilled Calamari Salad
If you’ve got leftover calamari, toss them in a salad.! I promise you won’t be disappointed. Pair it with a lovely glass of fruity white wine or a vibrant rose. Also, pairs well with Prosecco too!
Top Tips For This Grilled Calamari
- If possible get your fishmonger to clean the squid for you.
- To tenderize the meat and remove some of the chewiness, soak the squid in either lemon juice or kiwi fruit juice for half an hour before cooking. The acidity helps to break down the texture. Alternatively, tenderize by soaking the squid in milk overnight, covered and refrigerated.
- When grilling, thread squid bodies lengthwise onto skewers so they lie flat.
- Calamari is a high protein, low fat meal so if you’d like to keep things healthy, serve it with a Greek Salad.
Check Out These Other Delicious Seafood Dishes
- Steamed Fish with Black Bean Sauce
- Thai Fish Soup
- Grilled Fish with Citrus Herb Crust
- Grilled Whole Fish on Banana Leaf
Have you tried this Grilled Calamari recipe? Feel free to leave a star rating and I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
Grilled Calamari
Ingredients
- 1 pound squid calamari, tubes only
- salt and pepper
- extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lime cut into wedges
- few sprigs fresh parsley finely minced
- bamboo skewers soaked
Instructions
- Preheat grill. Wash squid, pat dry with paper towel. Cut squid into 2-inch tubes and thread onto bamboo skewer. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Grill over medium-high heat for 4 minutes each side or until edges slightly charred.
- Drizzle olive oil over cooked calamari, squeeze lime over and top with parsley
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comment section! I always appreciate your feedback and I know other readers do, too!
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Excellent recipe for a quick homemade grilled squid.
This site helps to clear your all query.
To tenderise .. try covering calamari in boiling water for 2 mins then strain and pat dry before grilling.
This is sicilian way of cooking.
Bought a huge squid yesterday. The tube by itself was just shy of 12 inches. These can be tough when grilled without pre-cooking. So I think I’ll gently braise it whole in a seasoned stock then grill it after. Thanks for all your wonderful inspirations!
Can use lemon instead of lime
Absolutely!
Has anybody tried to grill the calamari on a George Forman type grill?
Hi Eric – yes, I have! It turned out perfect. jaden
love i
This looks so delicious and healthy, thank you.
FANTASTIC!!! Thank you for this… My wife and I were talking about trying to do cuttle fi… squi… I mean Calamari just the other day. 🙂
I’m so tempted to buy calamari from the grocery store, but am fearful that it will turn out terrible. This looks like an easy way to start!
we love calamari. this looks wonderful. glad i found your site. thanks a bunch
I know it may not sound like it would make much of a difference but using lime instead of lemon had a noticeable effect with this dish – I remember the days when for me as a younger, less adventurous cook lime was only ‘a lemon substitute’ – used in lemon-less emergencies – instead of an ingredient in its own right!
Interesting fact about the video that you liked – Chef Roble is going to be on a reality show on Bravo starting December 4th – it’s no wonder his video is awesome! Totally not afraid of squid now!
The simplicity of this recipe is what makes it so good. Fresh squid can’t be beat!
To be honest, I have not tried grilled-skewered calamari before and I am very interested to try this, Jaden. Thank you for sharing this idea and recipe.
Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
~ ray ~
grilled calamari! great recipe that my kid will love! thx.
This is nice, easy and yummy. I think grill the squid head with the tentacles should be nice too. I love the tentacles texture in mouth. :)Just wondering can I grill them in oven and also get good outcome. 🙂
Chris’s comment is too funny! 🙂 I love the fried calamari in restaurants, but I never make it at home. This looks so light and delicious! YUM! Your photos are gorgeous, Jaden! 🙂
When I lived in Tokyo with my uncle I had to cook this for him at least 3x a week. Stir fried with some garlic and shoyu, so good 🙂 I need to find some calamari ASAP, cant remember the last time I ate it. Wanna try them grilled, maybe mix some cilantro with parsley… YUM!
When we lived in Japan I actually ate squid that was still moving on the plate, with eyeballs looking at us. So this looks very tame in comparison, and I’m sure is a lot tastier with the lime and parsley. I could get my chopsticks around this, for sure!
Healthy, delicious and oh so easy. Thanks for sharing.
The last time I grilled a squid I shined a bright light in his eye and shouted questions like, “Where were you on the night of the 5th?” and “You know we will find the weapon, why don’t you just confess”?
😉
Grilling calamari is so smart! Why do we always feel the need to fry it? Beautiful picture!
This is my FAAAAAVOOORRRRIIIITTEEEEE way to eat it. Swear it.
Love that soothing music! Ha! Think I’ll buy mine already cleaned and ready to go!
Grilled calamari is our favorite thing to get when we go out and you make it look deceptively easy. Can’t wait to try it. Fingers crossed I can find already-cleaned squid. 🙂