Tip : The Mediterranean Sauce can be made a day ahead. Simply warm it gently while you grill the calamari, and it will be ready to spoon into serving bowls for the finished dish.
Ingredients
Calamari
1smallwhole calamari and tentacles /person
olive oilto drizzle
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Mediterranean Sauce
1/2mediumfinely diced red onion
1/2cupsliced kalamata olives
1largelemon, zested and juiced
6-8clovesroasted garlic
1/3cupchicken stock
2tbspolive oil
1/3cupcapers
1tbspdried thymeor 3 sprigs fresh
2tbspunsalted butter
2tbspolive oil
1 mediumtomatocut into 1/4" dice
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Instructions
Gather all ingredients before starting the recipe.
Roasted Garlic
Preheat oven to 450℉
Place 6-8 cloves roasted garlic in an oven proof dish. Add 1/3 cup chicken stock and 2 tbsp olive oil and cover tightly with aluminum foil and set on a sheet pan.
Place sheet pan on the middle rack in the preheated oven and set the timer for 30 minutes.. Check after 30 minutes, the garlic should be soft. Remove roasted garlic, reserve the juices.
Sauce
Heat 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 tbsp olive oil in a small skillet over medium high heat.
Add 1/2 medium finely diced red onion, 1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives, the zest of 1 large lemon, 1/3 cup capers, and 1 tbsp dried thyme to the small skillet. Stir to combine and sauté over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until the onions begin to soften.
Add the juice of one lemon and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir to combine.
Add the roasted garlic and any juices remaining from the roasting dish to the sauce. Press the garlic with the back of a spoon to break up the roasted garlic and stir to combine.
Add 1 medium tomato cut into 1/4" dice and gently stir to combine. Reduce heat to low. The tomatoes should just be warmed though and still hold their shape.
Calamari
Rinse and pat dry 1 small whole calamari and tentacles /person.
Using a pair of scissors and a wooden spoon inserted into the calamari, cut slits about 1/3" apart.
Transfer to a platter and drizzle with olive oil and turn to cover both sides as well as the tentacles. Season well with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Preheat oven to broil.
Transfer the calamari to a non-stick foil lined sheet pan and place it on the top rack of the oven. Broil for 3 minutes, then turn and broil for another 3 minutes. The calamari should separate into rings and start to char, allowing another minute or two to get the desired color.