Calamari Veggie Rice and Garlic-Lemon Dip
Delicious crumbed Calamari, served over Vegetable Rice and a Garlic-Lemon Dip on the side. Complete meal in no time at all !
Calamari, Veggie rice and Garlic-Lemon dip make a complete, delicious meal and is ideal to serve anytime, over the weekend or on a busy weeknight.
I have to admit, I have never made my own crumbed Calamari rings, but buy a couple of bags from our local butchery.
They have started to stock all kinds of seafood, gourmet bottled goodies and I just love their meats. Always fresh, and they are very competitive with their prices !
The Vegetable Rice is a simple recipe, which I have made since I can remember cooking. The only change being, the rice – I used to use one particular rice only, white and brown.
However, over the years I changed over to Basmati, Jasmin and all those delicately fragrant rices, which are now our favorites.
I needed a Garlic dip recipe a year or two ago and threw together a couple of ingredients and ended up with this zesty Garlic-Lemon Dip.
Versatile Garlic-Lemon Dip !
The dip is so versatile, you can dip just about any savory appetizer or snack in it. To make the Garlic-Lemon dip a little lighter, you can use half Mayonnaise and half Greek Yogurt, or simply Lite Mayonnaise.
We like a dip with Calamari rings, even when it is served on a bed of rice.
Never been a huge fan of sauce-doused Calamari rings, but we do enjoy something in that line now and then.
I have always cooked my rice in Vegetable Stock, either homemade or I used a cube. The past couple of years I have changed over to these little Stock Pots from Knorr. (Nope, not getting paid to say this!) and I am absolutely in love with these !
So far, I have used the Vegetable, Beef and Chicken Stock Pots. I am definitely not planning on going back to the cubes ever again, homemade – yes always my first choice.
If you can not get hold of these Stock Pots, a cube or two will do just fine.
More Seafood recipes you might like:
- Mussels In Lemon Garlic-Butter Sauce
- Easy Lemon and Onion Fish
- Sweet And Sour Shrimp Fried Rice
- Red Prawns And Mussels
- Shrimp Springrolls
Calamari Veggie Rice and Garlic-Lemon Dip
Calamari Veggie Rice and Garlic-Lemon Dip
Ingredients
VEGETABLE RICE:
- 1 ½ cups Basmati Rice
- 1 Vegetable Stock Pot {*or similar}
- Water
- Salt to taste (if needed as the stock pot adds salt already)
- 1 ½ cups Frozen Mixed Vegetables
- 1 cup Spring Onions chopped
GARLIC-LEMON DIP:
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- 2 t Fresh Garlic crushed
- ¼ cup Fresh Lemon Juice
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 TB Parsley chopped
CALAMARI:
- 900 g Crumbed Calamari Rings 2 pounds - see notes
- Oil for Deep-fry
Instructions
- Vegetable Rice: Cook the Rice in lightly salted Water as usual, but add the Vegetable Stock Pot – drain if needed
- Whilst the Rice is cooking, cook the Frozen Vegetables until just tender – drain and season to taste with Salt and Pepper – stir through the cooked Rice – add the Spring Onions, stir gently and keep warm
- Dip: Combine all the ingredients and keep chilled until ready to use
- Calamari: Heat the Oil and deep-fry the Calamari Rings until golden and done
Notes
Spoon Calamari rings over a plateful of Veggie Rice and serve the Dip on the side.
Looks really interesting Linda. This is now on my list to do! Pinned and shared!