FEATURE RECIPE
Grilled calamari with fennel and lemon salt

Grilled calamari with fennel and lemon salt

This is the ultimate summer barbecue dish that tastes simply wonderful washed down with a cold one. You can serve this as a starter or as part of a larger feast.

Serves 2

Cooking Time Prep time 15 mins, cook 15 mins



600 gm   calamari (about 4), cleaned and scored (see Masterclass), tentacles reserved
50 ml   extra-virgin olive oil
1   fennel bulb, halved, thickly sliced lengthways, fronds reserved
Fennel and lemon salt
2 tsp   fennel seeds
2 tbsp   sea salt flakes
1   lemon, finely grated rind only
1 tsp   lemon juice
2 tsp   olive oil


1 For fennel and lemon salt, dry roast fennel seeds in a small frying pan for 2-3 minutes. Coarsely crush with a mortar and pestle, stir through salt, lemon rind, juice and olive oil, then set aside.
2 Preheat char-grill over high heat. Cut calamari into large pieces and combine with half the olive oil and reserved tentacles in a bowl. Season to taste, then grill, scored-side down, until golden (1-2 minutes). Turn and grill other side until opaque and just cooked through (1-2 minutes). Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
3 Brush fennel slices with remaining olive oil and grill, turning once, until tender (2 minutes each side). Add to calamari, toss to combine. Scatter coarsely chopped fennel fronds over grilled calamari and fennel and serve with fennel and lemon salt.


Drink Suggestion Off-dry riesling.

RECIPE Rodney Dunn PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Dearnley STYLING Vanessa Austin and Lisa Featherby DRINK SUGGESTION Max Allen


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