What are squid salads ? This dish is distinguished by its extraordinary taste and incredible lightness. It does not matter what kind of squid you used - canned or boiled, salads with this ingredient always turn out to be delicious and truly festive. We have prepared for you a selection of recipes for salads with squid - simple and complex, with various dressings and ingredients.
How to choose a squid
Before moving on to recipes, we will share with you information on how to choose the right seafood. Note that there are more than 200 types of squid. They are usually sold frozen and chilled. They belong to perishable products, and therefore, without preliminary cooling, squids are not stored and not sold. Usually carcasses are on sale, that is, whole squids, rings - chopped carcasses or fillets.
Some manufacturers offer peeled seafood, but we do not recommend buying them: the thing is that you can clean the carcass without damaging it at the same time only with your hands. And for cleaning on an industrial scale, special compositions are used that corrode the film. After this treatment, squids lose not only their taste, but also a significant part of the nutrients.
Experts recommend purchasing small frozen carcasses that are not peeled. You need to pay attention to the following criteria:
- carcasses of squid should not be stuck together;
- the film on seafood cannot be monophonic, usually the shade changes from barely pink to gray-purple;
- meat of fresh high-quality squid can only be white or delicate cream color;
- there should be no mechanical damage to the carcass.
You should refuse to buy if the carcasses are stuck together, the meat has an unusual shade, there is snow or frost inside the package. You can identify low-quality seafood by their smell. So, the squid, smelling of old fish, will taste bitter, and its preparation will take more time.
Squid and Pickles
This squid salad turns out to be incredibly tasty and yet quite satisfying. The peculiarity of this recipe is that seafood complements the taste of pickles, which soften the eggs. To make a salad you will need:
- squid carcass (not very large) - 1 pc.;
- large red onion - 1 pc.;
- pickles (we recommend taking not very sour) - 2 pcs.;
- fresh chicken egg (we recommend taking homemade ones - their yolk is brighter, and therefore they look better in the finished dish) - 2-3 pcs.;
- not very fat sour cream (you can replace it with natural yogurt or mayonnaise) - 2 tablespoons;
- more greens;
- salt and pepper to taste.
Recipe
First of all, you need to boil the eggs, while they cool, you should cut the cucumbers with a thin straw, you need to cut the onion in half rings. So that it is not bitter, it can be scalded with boiling water, or you can simply marinate it in a mixture of olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, sugar and salt. The squid carcass should be cleaned and boiled for no more than five minutes. After that, it should be cut into thin rings. Grate cooled eggs, finely chop the greens, combine all the ingredients in a beautiful salad bowl. It remains only to add dressing and spices to taste.
Squid and rice
Another popular recipe is squid and rice salad. Mistresses appreciate this salad for minimal effort and maximum taste. This cold dish turns out to be both hearty and light. And the ingredients for it need the simplest:
- squid carcass - 2 pcs.;
- chicken egg (best homemade) - 1 pc.;
- rice - 100-120 grams;
- half a white onion;
- sweet pepper - a quarter is enough;
- small cucumber - 1 pc.;
- mayonnaise - enough and a couple of tablespoons;
- salt.
Cooking method
To start, prepare the rice: boil it, fold it onto a sieve and rinse thoroughly with cold water. After this, be sure to let the water drain. Small cubes need to cut fresh cucumber, eggs, boiled squid, pepper, onion. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, season the salad, add salt. Delicious squid salad is ready!
Squid and Tomatoes
This salad is just perfect for the festive table, can diversify the daily menu. In addition, if you replace mayonnaise with natural yogurt or low-fat sour cream, it is quite suitable for those who carefully monitor their figure and weight. You will need the following products:
- carcasses of squid - 4-5 pcs.;
- large fresh ripe tomatoes - 2 pcs.;
- red or white onion - 1 pc.;
- boiled and chilled chicken eggs - 2 pcs.;
- mayonnaise;
- salt, pepper - we need peppercorns and allspice, bay leaf.
Cooking salad
Start cooking this salad with squid and mayonnaise is with the main ingredient. Squids for this dish should be especially fragrant. To do this, bring the water to a boil, salt it, put allspice, peas, bay leaf in a saucepan. With spices, the water should boil for at least a quarter of an hour. Immediately after this, it is necessary to put seafood in the water, boiling after boiling for exactly a minute. After that, remove the pan from the heat, leave the squid in hot water for 15-20 minutes. After that, get the seafood and leave to cool. Straws need to cut tomatoes, squid, boiled eggs. Onions are best sliced in half rings, pickled in vinegar, oil, salt and sugar. All ingredients must be combined in a salad bowl, season, salt and mix. Garnish with greens. Done!
The vinaigrette
Speaking of recipes for simple squid salads, one cannot but say about a lean salad, which, in addition to seafood, includes beets and pickled cucumbers. In order to cook it, you should prepare:
- pickled cucumbers - 3 large or half a can of small;
- beets - 1 pc.;
- onion - half a piece. or one small one;
- squid - 200 grams;
- garlic - 4 cloves;
- pickle pickle;
- any vegetable oil - a couple of tablespoons.
Step by step recipe
The first thing to do is boil the squids, peel them and cut into thin strips. Then pickle the onions and garlic. They need to be finely chopped, pour a large amount of cucumber pickle. Put in the microwave for three minutes. After - throw in a colander. Raw beets must be peeled, cut into strips, pour brine and boil over medium heat 15 minutes after boiling. Drain the water.
In a deep plate, lay the beets, chopped cucumbers, squid, garlic and onions in layers. Tamp everything well, pour oil on it and place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. After that, you should take a flat dish, turn the vinaigrette on it and serve. Enjoy your meal!
Squid and Seaweed
All seafood lovers will surely enjoy the squid and seaweed salad. The last ingredient, by the way, is very useful for those who want to get rid of extra pounds. The list of products is quite simple:
- squid fillet (not very large size) - 2 pcs.;
- sea kale - 100 grams;
- chicken egg (best homemade) - 2 pcs.;
- a handful of green onions and dill;
- any vegetable oil - a teaspoon;
- salt to taste.
Salad recipe
First, consider the rules for choosing seaweed. You should examine the cabbage for foreign objects. On the packaging with kelp should not be any damage, and deformation is also unacceptable. Please note: in contact with plastic, cabbage can deteriorate quickly enough, and therefore, be sure to check the container in which the kelp is located. There should be no condensate, it is better to refuse to buy the grounded cabbage. Tasty and high-quality kelp has a green color, a brown shade indicates that it is not ripe.
For this salad, you should take small squids - they are more delicate in taste, moreover, they look better in the cut. You will need a large pot. It is necessary to bring water to a boil, put the squid and cook for three minutes. After this, seafood is recommended to be dipped in cold water, after they have cooled, they should be cleaned of films, cut into thin rings or neat straws.
Boiled and cooled eggs must be cut into cubes, combined with pickled seaweed. By the way, we recommend using seaweed without additives (for example, cranberries or Korean carrots) for this squid salad - they can kill the delicate taste of seafood. Squid, greens should be added to eggs and cabbage. You can fill with both vegetable oil and marinade left over from cabbage. If possible, leave the salad at room temperature for twenty minutes and only then serve it.
Squid and crab sticks
If you want to slightly diversify the daily menu or the festive table, pay attention to the salad with calamari and crab sticks. Its taste is both rich and original, and the recipe is so simple that even a beginner can cook it. The list of components is also uncomplicated;
- squid - 0.5 kg;
- crab sticks - one big package;
- red caviar - 150 grams;
- eggs (we need only protein) - 8-10 pcs.;
- greens and mayonnaise - to taste.
To prepare this salad with squid and crab sticks, you need to prepare all the ingredients, cut them into strips and combine in a salad bowl. You can decorate the dish with parsley leaves, on which eggs are laid. Salad ready!
Squid with cabbage and ham
Another incredibly simple recipe that any housewife will cope with. The composition of this salad includes such products;
- Chinese cabbage - 300 grams;
- carcasses of squid - 3 or 4 pcs.;
- ham - 200 grams;
- feta cheese (you can replace it with Suluguni) - about 200 grams;
- for refueling - oil or mayonnaise.
First you need to prepare seafood: boil them and peel them, then grind them. It is best to cut them into thin strips. The same straw should chop cabbage, ham. Chop feta cheese into small pieces. After that, it remains only to fill the salad.
Squid with vegetables
If you want to make a light squid salad without mayonnaise, try making a seafood and vegetable dish. For salad you will need the following products:
- squid - 400 grams;
- potatoes - 300 grams;
- red onion (instead of it you can take a white onion) - 1 pc.;
- fresh cucumbers (not very large) - 2 pcs.;
- corn or sunflower oil - a tablespoon;
- sea salt and black pepper.
Seafood must be boiled, cut into neat straws. Onions are best cut into thin rings or half rings, boiled and chilled potatoes into cubes. Cucumbers can be cut into cubes or straws. Mix everything well, season, add pepper and salt.
Squid, Cheese and Pickle
The recipe for this salad with canned squid is incredibly simple. You can cook it in ten minutes. Fresh onions add spice to the dish, and a combination of seafood with eggs will soften it. This salad is not greasy, it is suitable for those who follow their figure. Need such products:
- canned squids - 170-200 grams;
- red onion - 1 pc.;
- a bunch of fresh chives;
- chicken egg (can be replaced with a pair of quail) - 1 pc.;
- small pickled cucumber - 1 pc.;
- any hard cheese - 100-120 grams;
- olive oil.
The first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing canned squid is the expiration date. It is important to clarify the shelf life - if squids can be stored for more than 15 months, most likely, artificial preservatives were added to them! Another secret: buy canned food made in October or April - such raw materials were fresh or chilled, while squids that were made in other months were frozen.
Squids must be boiled, peeled and chopped lightly. Red onion should be cut into small cubes, green onion - thin diagonal rings. Cucumber and egg must be grated, cheese - cut into small cubes. All ingredients must be combined in a salad bowl, if desired, salt, mix, add oil. Thanks to this dressing, squid salad will be incredibly light!
Squid, corn and cheese
This salad with confidence can be called a perfectly suitable dish for the festive table. To prepare a salad with canned squid, you need to prepare the following products:
- squid - 200 grams;
- chicken eggs - 3-4 pcs.;
- small fresh cucumber - 1 pc.;
- corn - one small jar;
- crab sticks - 6-8 pcs.;
- favorite cheese - 50-70 grams;
- salt to taste;
- mayonnaise.
Cooking secrets
Cucumbers should be grated, squeeze the juice. Boiled eggs and squids must be cut into cubes. Cheese is best chopped on a fine grater. Cut the crab sticks into neat thin strips. We lay out the layers in the following order:
- squid;
- cucumber;
- eggs
- corn;
- crab sticks.
Please note - each layer of lettuce needs to be well lubricated with a small amount of mayonnaise. Ready salad should be sprinkled with cheese. In order to ensure that all layers are well saturated, you can put the salad in the refrigerator for 40-60 minutes. In order to make the taste more delicate, peas can be added to the dish. Aromatic olives will add piquancy.
Squid and grapefruit
Light and delicate, aromatic and satisfying - all this is about a salad, which, in addition to seafood, includes grapefruit and fennel. By the way, oil, citrus juice, oregano, pepper and salt are used here as a dressing. The following products are needed:
- squid - 300 grams;
- half a grapefruit;
- fennel - 200 grams;
- oil (olive or corn) - 3 tablespoons;
- pepper, salt, oregano.
It’s very simple to make such a squid salad without mayonnaise: you need to peel the squid from the film, cut into strips and simmer in olive oil for a couple of minutes. After that, add fennel to the seafood - peeled and finely chopped, mix well and simmer for another three to five minutes. Grapefruit needs to be peeled, remove the white film, disassemble into slices, cut each into three parts. The juice of a quarter of grapefruit should be mixed with olive oil, add spices. The resulting dressing needs to pour squid spread on plates with fennel and grapefruit slices. Enjoy your meal!