Dana's Recipe 48 Beast Brainteasers

Summer never tasted so good.

Chilli, Garlic and Lemon Calamari with Salad of Pea, Mint and Feta

Words Dana Sims Instagram @stone_and_twine

This is fresh calamari prepared and cooked simply. We want it to be tender and flavourful. In this recipe, the oil is infused with chilli, garlic and lemon, and the calamari is flash fried and then brought together so the oil coats the calamari in the bowl. Adding some charred sourdough on the side is the perfect vehicle for mopping up the intensely flavoured oil along the way.

In the interest of keeping it fresh and light for summer, make a quick, green salad of pea, mint and feta to serve with the calamari.

This recipe serves two and is perfect for summer and those that love the idea of a super quick, delicious plate. A glass of crisp, chilled white wine will add to the experience!

Ingredients

200gm whole calamari (you can have the fishmonger clean it) 4 small red or green chillies, finely chopped Juice of half a lemon ⅓ cup olive oil 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped Wedges of lemon to serve Salad ¾ cup frozen peas ¼ cup fresh mint leaves 100gm Greek feta, crumbled 3-4 slices of sourdough ½ tbsp olive oil for brushing the sourdough

Method

1. To prepare the salad, cook the frozen peas for 1 minute in the microwave, then transfer to a strainer and place the strainer in a bowl of iced water to keep fresh and stop cooking further. Strain well and add to a small serving bowl. Add the fresh mint and crumbled feta. Set aside in a cool place. 2. Heat a frypan on medium heat, brush the sourdough with olive oil before placing it in the frypan and cook for 1-2 minutes either side. Remove from the pan and set aside. 3. Pat the calamari dry with paper towel and slice it thinly. 4. In a frypan set on low heat, add the olive oil. When the oil heats a little, add the chilli, garlic and lemon. Cook gently for 3 minutes to let the oil infuse, ensuring the garlic does not burn. 5. Meanwhile in a separate frypan set to very high heat, add a drizzle of olive oil and fry the calamari quickly. Toss to separate the pieces and cook for approximately 1½ minutes. It will have a bite to it, but it shouldn’t be chewy. 6. In a large serving bowl, add the calamari, then pour in the chilli, lemon and garlic infused oil and toss to coat the calamari. Squeeze extra lemon over the top and add the sourdough on the side. 7. Eat while hot, with the fresh pea salad on the side.

Dana Sims is a Sydneybased food and prop stylist who has grown up in the Eastern Suburbs and loves to create delicious food for entertaining and family. She is inspired by the fresh produce we have access to in Sydney. For ideas, recipes and styling inspiration, check out her Instagram, @stone_and_twine.

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27 6 ACROSS

1. Merriam Webster’s word of the year (11) 7. Protection (6) 9. Argentinian footballer (5) 10. More than one ovum (3) 11. Aussie hat (6) 13. Dishonest acts (5) 14. Abbreviated disco biccies (1’1) 15. Landing place of Noah’s Ark (6) 16. Any beer other than lager, stout, or porter (3) 18. Tin’s chemical symbol (1,1) 20. Opposite of days (6) 23. Donkey (3) 24. Pig sound (4) 25. Liquid preparation for the skin (6) 27. Piece of metal used for locking and unlocking (3) 28. Long limbed (5)

DOWN

1. Socceroos coach (6,6) 2. Anise-flavoured Italian liqueur (7) 3. Hospital unit for seriously ill patients (1,1,1) 4. Gluten free soy sauce originating in Japan (6) 5. External opening of the nasal cavity (7) 6. Slightly intoxicated (5) 8. Expose to dry heat (5) 12. Respond (6) 17. Festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus (6) 19. Household employee (5) 21. Frozen rain (4) 22. A set of words set to music (4) 26. 15th and 5th letters of the alphabet (1,1)

Trivial Trivia

Words Lisa Anderson Photo Stephen Lightfoot Instagram @lightfootsj

1. Who is the United States Ambassador to Australia? 2. Who was the 2022 Australian of the Year? 3. After which Australian male tennis legend is centre court at Melbourne Park named? 4. A bunch of otters is known as a gang, romp or pack? 5. A cluster of jellyfish is called a smack, company or muster? 6. A congregation of rhinoceroses is known as a bouquet, band or crash? 7. Which chocolate bar has the Matterhorn mountain on its packaging (and is bigger at airports)? 8. A slang term for what type of professional is a ‘hoofer’? 9. What animal name refers to someone pretending to be a different person online? 10. The mask worn by Scream villain Ghostface was used because it resembles art by which famous artist?