Willie's Cacao - Cacao Salt & Pepper Squid
Fresh squid weren’t that easy to come by in Choroni; you could only get them on a first-come, first-served basis at the port in Puerto Colombia. There is nothing as tender as squid that are only a few hours old. With the colours still brilliant, they’re like jewels from the sea.
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time2 minutes mins
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Venezuelan
Keyword: grilled, Quick, seafood, spicy
Difficulty: Easy
Brand: Cacao Barry
Servings: 4
Method
Cut the tentacles off the squid and set aside. Open out the squid tubes and lightly score with a crisscross pattern. Pat dry with kitchen paper, wrap in cling film and store in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
Place the peppercorns, chilli flakes and salt in a dry pan and toast over a medium heat until fragrant. Grind using a pestle and mortar. Stir in the cacao. Preheat a griddle pan over a high heat.
Remove the squid from the refrigerator. Drizzle over the oil, then dust with the cacao-spice mix.
Grill for 1-2 minutes – larger ones for 1 minute each side, smaller ones for 1 minute on one side only – or until the edges of the squid curl up. Serve with a garnish of lemon wedges and coriander.