Confit calamari with cheat’s aioli, peppers, orange and saffron

Serves: 4
Course: Starter
Cooking Time: 0 hr 30 mins
Ingredients
  • 120ml light olive oil
  • 100ml sunflower oil
  • Juice of 1 orange
  • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and halved
  • A small pinch of saffron
  • A small pinch of chilli flakes
  • A sprig of rosemary
  • 1 red pepper, quartered and thinly sliced
  • 1 yellow pepper, quartered and thinly sliced
  • 2 tubes of squid (about 250g), cleaned and cut into thin strips
  • Salt and pepper
  • FOR THE CHEAT’S AIOLI:
  • 6tbs good-quality mayonnaise
  • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
  • 2tbs cooking juices
  • A squeeze lemon juice

1 Put all the ingredients (except those for the aioli) into a pan.

2 Turn together so everything is coated in the oil. Cover and bring to a bare simmer, then cook for 15-20 minutes until the squid is soft and tender and the peppers melting.

3 To make the aioli, remove two tablespoons of cooking liquid and allow to cool. Whisk this into the mayonnaise along with the garlic and lemon juice.

4 I like to serve this warm, along with the oil, in some of those lovely tapas dishes that we remember so fondly from our holidays.

Paul Flynn

Paul Flynn

Paul Flynn is a chef, restaurateur and contributor to The Irish Times. He and his wife, Máire, run the Tannery restaurant and cookery school in Dungarvan, Co Waterford