🐓 Portuguese · Salad · Easy difficulty · Pescatarian
Portuguese Squid Salad
A comforting Portuguese salad built around squid, seasoned with red onion and tomatoes.
- Prep time
- 6 min
- Cook time
- 14 min
- Total time
- 20 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 270 kcal
- Protein
- 26 g
- Carbs
- 14 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Course
- Salad
About this Portuguese salad
Portuguese Squid Salad is a Portuguese salad built around squid. It takes about 20 min from start to finish, 6 minutes of prep and 14 minutes of cooking, and serves 4.
Cooking method: salad. Difficulty is rated easy. Pescatarian, and marked gluten-free in our data.
Good for: under 25 minutes, light & low calorie, everyday healthy.
Ingredients
Quantities are for 4 servings. Change the servings in the app to rescale them automatically.
- 400 g squid, cleaned and sliced
- 1 red onion
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 red pepper
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp vinegar
- Fresh coriander
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Method
Step 1. Prepare the squid: cook, roast or slice it as needed, then let it cool slightly.
- Heat
- Off, no heat yet
- Look for
- Pieces are roughly the same size, so they all finish cooking together.
- Why it matters
- Even pieces cook at the same speed. Prepping everything first (mise en place) stops you scrambling once the pan is hot.
- Avoid
- Cutting pieces of mixed sizes: small ones burn while big ones stay raw.
Step 2. Combine the red onion, tomatoes and red pepper in a large bowl.
- Heat
- Off, no heat
- Look for
- Everything is evenly coated or just combined, with no dry pockets.
- Why it matters
- Mixing spreads salt, fat and flavour through the food so every bite tastes the same.
- Avoid
- Overmixing batters and doughs makes them tough; stop once just combined.
Step 3. Whisk a dressing from olive oil, citrus or vinegar, salt and pepper.
- Heat
- Off, no heat
- Look for
- Everything is evenly coated or just combined, with no dry pockets.
- Why it matters
- Mixing spreads salt, fat and flavour through the food so every bite tastes the same.
- Avoid
- Overmixing batters and doughs makes them tough; stop once just combined.
Step 4. Add the squid and dress lightly.
- Heat
- Keep the heat steady
- Look for
- The new ingredient is coated and the mixture returns to a gentle bubble.
- Why it matters
- Adding things in order lets each ingredient cook for just the right time.
- Avoid
- Dumping everything in at once: delicate items turn mushy before tougher ones are done.
Step 5. Toss gently and top with the olive oil, vinegar and fresh coriander.
- Heat
- Off, no heat
- Look for
- Everything is evenly coated or just combined, with no dry pockets.
- Why it matters
- Mixing spreads salt, fat and flavour through the food so every bite tastes the same.
- Avoid
- Overmixing batters and doughs makes them tough; stop once just combined.
Step 6. Serve immediately while everything is crisp.
- Heat
- Warm plates
- Look for
- Hot food on warm plates with a fresh, bright garnish on top.
- Why it matters
- Garnish adds colour, crunch and freshness. Tasting and adjusting salt or acid at the end lifts the whole dish.
- Avoid
- Waiting too long: the dish cools and crisp parts go soft.
Chef's tip
Salt your tomatoes and let them sit for extra flavour.
Equipment you will need
- Large bowl
- Whisk
- Salad tongs
Nutrition per serving
Estimated per serving: 270 kcal, 26 g protein, 14 g carbohydrate and 12 g fat. Roughly 39% of the energy comes from protein, 21% from carbohydrate and 40% from fat, using standard energy values.
Nutrition values are estimates from typical ingredient profiles. They are not medical data, and brands and portions vary. Consult a doctor or registered dietitian about your diet.
When to cook Portuguese Squid Salad
Substitutions and variations
- Dress just before serving so the leaves stay crisp.
- Swap the base for quinoa, bulgur or roasted potatoes to change the character of the dish.
- Add chickpeas, eggs or grilled fish to turn it into a full meal.
Frequently asked questions about Portuguese Squid Salad
How long does Portuguese Squid Salad take to make?
It takes about 20 min in total: 6 minutes of prep and 14 minutes of cooking. Times are estimates and depend on your stove, pan and how small you cut the ingredients.
How many calories are in one serving?
Each serving has about 270 kcal, with 26 g protein, 14 g carbohydrate and 12 g fat. These are estimates for the recipe's 4 servings.
Is Portuguese Squid Salad gluten-free?
It is marked gluten-free in our data. Still check labels on stock, sauces and spice blends, which can contain gluten.
Is it suitable for vegetarians or vegans?
It is pescatarian: it contains fish or seafood but no meat or poultry.
How difficult is it to cook?
It is an easy recipe with simple steps and minimal timing pressure, so it suits beginners.
Can I make Portuguese Squid Salad ahead or freeze it?
Best eaten fresh, because crisp or fresh textures do not survive storage. Prepare components ahead instead, and store leftovers in airtight containers for up to 2 days.
How many servings does it make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. To change the amount, scale each ingredient in proportion. The interactive app's servings control does this automatically.