Grilled tiger prawns & squid

TAKE A TIP FROM THE EXPERT. MELIZ BERG WARMS THIS SPICY MARINADE FIRST SO THAT THE FLAVOURS INFUSE TOGETHER, AND USES HALF ON THE SEAFOOD BEFORE COOKING AND THE REST AS IT COMES OFF THE BARBECUE. IF YOU CAN’T FIND PUL BIBER, MIX TOGETHER A QUARTER TEASPOON EACH OF CRUSHED CHILLI FLAKES AND PAPRIKA

SERVES 4-6

Ingredients

 12 tiger prawns, raw, shell-on, 1kg

 whole squid, tubes and tentacles cleaned, 500g

 ½ tsp sea salt flakes

 ½ tsp cracked black pepper, plus extra to serve

 Sunflower oil, for brushing, optional

For The Marinade

 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

 1 tsp smoked paprika

 2 tsp pul biber

 1 tsp crushed garlic

 2 tbsp Turkish sweet red pepper paste (tatli biber salçası)

 4 tbsp pomegranate molasses

 1 tsp clear honey

 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, plus extra to serve

 1 tsp finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley leaves, plus extra to serve

 1 tsp dried oregano

Method

1 In a small pan over a low heat, add the olive oil, and once hot, add the smoked paprika, pul biber and garlic, and cook for 30 seconds, before adding the sweet red pepper paste.

2 Spread out the sweet red pepper paste with the back of a wooden spoon so that it starts to sizzle, then add the pomegranate molasses, honey and lemon juice and cook until it begins to bubble. Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little.

3 Prepare the prawns. Do not peel, but gently score along the back of one prawn with a sharp knife, slicing through the shell and a little into the flesh. Remove the vein, discard it, and carefully open up the back of the prawn slightly to half-butterfly it; this will enable the marinade to soak through into the flesh. Repeat this with the remaining prawns.

4 Score the squid tubes slightly in a crisscross pattern with a sharp knife and keep the tentacles whole.

5 Take two tablespoons of the marinade and gently rub over the prawns and squid. Season with the salt and pepper.

On The Barbeque

Make sure that the coals are at a high heat and the grill is very hot as the prawns and squid need fast cooking. Barbecue the seafood for 3–4 minutes on each side until the prawns turn pink inside and the squid is chargrilled on the outside. Slice the squid into rings and coat everything in the reserved marinade. Serve with an extra squeeze of lemon juice, fresh parsley and cracked black pepper.

On A Griddle Pan

Brush a griddle pan with some sunflower oil and heat on the hob until very hot. Continue as above.

In Meliz’s Kitchen (Ebury Press, €28.97) Meliz Berg serves up dishes that are flavour-packed. Prepare them on the barbecue for a real spring treat. Photography by Meliz Berg and Dan Jones will get your tastebuds tingling.

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