Citrusy Shrimp and Calamari Salad

Seafood salads are a staple on menus along the Adriatic coast of Abruzzo, Italy, where an abundance of calamari, shrimp, mussels and tiny clams are readily available. Serve it with a crisp white wine, such as a Vermentino from Sardinia, for a refreshing late-summer meal.

 

Citrusy Shrimp and Calamari Salad

 

Ingredients

 

• Juice of 2 lemons (about 1/4 cup/2 fl. oz./60 ml)
• 2 Tbs. red wine vinegar
• 1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
• 1 garlic clove, pressed through a garlic press
• Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lb. (500 g) cleaned calamari bodies and tentacles
• 1 lb. (500 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/4 cup (1 oz./30 g) thinly sliced red onion
• 1 small fresh hot chile, thinly sliced crosswise, or a generous pinch of red pepper flakes
• 2 Tbs. coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 fresh bay leaves, or 4 dried bay leaves
• 3 long strips lemon zest
• Crusty bread for serving

Directions

 

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, garlic, 1 tsp. salt and a generous grinding of pepper. Set aside.

 

2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Cut the calamari bodies into rings 3/4 inch (2 cm) thick. Add the calamari rings and tentacles to the boiling water and cook for 2 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook until all the seafood is opaque throughout but still tender, about 4 minutes longer. Drain well and transfer to a bowl.

 

3. Pour the dressing over the seafood. (It will seem like a lot, but the ample amount is necessary for marinating.) Add the onion, chile and parsley and stir to mix well. Tuck in the bay leaves and lemon zest, cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours. Stir occasionally so that all the pieces marinate thoroughly.

 

4. Discard the lemon zest and the bay leaves. Divide the salad among small plates and serve with the bread on the side for sopping up the juices. Serves 4 to 6.

 

 

 

Find more recipes like this one in our enticing collection of authentic dishes made modern, Rustic Italian, by Domenica Marchetti.