By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 3, 2026
Serves 4
138 cal · 15 min
Grilled Calamari
Recipe GLPR256fd6aaef2474
Tender squid tubes seasoned simply with salt and pepper, then grilled over medium-high heat until lightly charred. Finished with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, fresh lime juice, and bright parsley. Ready in just 15 minutes, this Mediterranean-style appetizer makes an elegant starter or snack.
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Ingredients
4 skewers Bamboo skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes
1 pound Fresh squid (calamari), tubes only, about 1 pound
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
3 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
1 Fresh lime, cut into wedges
2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, finely minced
Directions
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Rinse the squid tubes thoroughly under cold water and pat them completely dry with paper towels to ensure proper browning.
Cut the squid tubes into 2-inch segments. Thread the squid pieces onto the soaked bamboo skewers, spacing them evenly. Season both sides of the squid generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Place the skewers on the preheated grill over medium-high heat. Cook for approximately 4 minutes on the first side without moving, until the edges are lightly charred. Carefully flip the skewers and cook for another 4 minutes on the second side until the squid is opaque and lightly charred.
Transfer the grilled calamari to a serving platter. Drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil, squeeze fresh lime juice over the top, and garnish with minced fresh parsley. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
Comments
Fresh squid is the gatekeeper here: it's not a standard item at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Kroger, or Walmart in Charlotte, and you'll need to make a special stop at a seafood market or the rare Publix with a full fish counter—a real inconvenience on a weeknight. The fifteen-minute claim ignores cleaning and prep (squid takes ten minutes alone to gut, blanch, and slice), so budget thirty minutes realistically. The cost per serving lands around $6–8 depending on squid pricing, which is restaurant-quality but not bargain cooking. That said, the technique is genuinely straightforward once you have the squid, it grills fast, and the dish feeds four as a light appetizer or side without fussiness.
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