Grilled Calamari

5 from 1 vote

Cook Grilled Calamari for an easy to make dinner that everyone will love. The calamari cooks quickly on the grill with these simple steps.

Prep Time15

Cook Time5

Marinating Time:30

Total Time50

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Grilled Calimari

Servings:

Calories: 209kcal

Author: Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

1 pound fresh calamari cleaned and cut into rings
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced
1 lemon zested and juiced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, and dried oregano.
Add the cleaned calamari to the bowl and toss to coat evenly with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat the grill to high heat (about 450°F to 500°F).
Remove the calamari from the marinade and season with salt and pepper.
Grill the calamari for 2-3 minutes per side, or until it turns opaque and has light grill marks.
Remove the calamari from the grill and transfer to a serving plate.
Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side.

Notes

If you're starting with a whole squid, make sure to clean it thoroughly, removing the skin, innards, and beak. Cut the body into rings about 1/2 inch thick, and leave the tentacles whole.

Don't marinate the calamari for more than 30 minutes, as the acid in the lemon juice can start to "cook" the squid, affecting its texture.

To prevent the calamari from falling through the grill grates, you can use a grill basket or thread the calamari onto skewers before grilling.

Calamari cooks very quickly. Overcooking will result in a rubbery texture, so keep a close eye on it and remove it from the heat as soon as it's opaque.

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Nutrition