Grilled Squid With Pumpkin Seed Pesto Africa Food

GARLICKY GRILLED SQUID WITH MARINATED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast hazelnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until golden brown, 7-10 minutes. Let cool, then crush nuts using the side of a chef's knife or coarsely chop. Transfer to a small bowl. Mix in 2 Tbsp. oil and season with salt. Set aside.
• Prepare a grill for high heat and place a wire rack on one side, orienting it perpendicular to grill grate. Place bell peppers directly on grate (not on wire rack) and grill, turning occasionally, until charred all over and flesh is very soft, 8-10 minutes.
• Transfer bell peppers to a medium bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let sit 10-20 minutes (doing this extends the cooking and softens the skins). Remove skins from peppers and scoop out seeds; discard. Tear or slice peppers into large pieces and place in a clean medium bowl. Add vinegar, paprika, and 1/4 cup oil and finely grate 1 garlic clove into bowl. Season with salt and toss well to coat peppers.
• Return grill to high heat. Finely grate remaining 2 garlic cloves into a large bowl; stir in remaining 1/4 cup oil. Pat squid dry, then add to oil mixture; toss well to coat. Working in batches, grill squid on wire rack on grill until marks appear on bodies and tentacles begin to crisp around the edges, 45-60 seconds per side. Transfer to a clean large bowl and season with salt.
• Place onion and mint in a small bowl. Finely grate zest from lemon half over, then squeeze in juice. Season with salt and toss to combine.
• Divide marinated peppers and squid among plates. Spoon hazelnuts over and top with mint salad.

GRILLED SQUID WITH RED WINE SAUCE

Steps:

• Whisk together ¼ cup of oil, 2 tblsps cilantro and half of garlic in a small bowl.
• Using kitchen shears, cut squid bodies down one long side; open flat.
• Using sharp knife, lightly score squid.
• Arrange in large, shallow baking dish in single layer.
• Pour garlic mixture over.
• Let marinate atleast 3 hours or overnight.
• Prepare grill (medium-high heat).
• Heat ¼ cup oil in heavy, large skillet over medium heat.
• Add vegetables, remaining garlic and tentacles.
• Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Season.
• Add 2 tblsps cilantro.
• Grill marinated squid just until opaque, about 45 seconds per side.
• Divide sauce among plates.
• Top with squid.

PUMPKIN SEED PESTO

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook pumpkin seeds with salt and pepper to taste, stirring constantly, until seeds are puffed and beginning to pop (some will brown, but do not let all of them), about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Transfer to a plate and cool completely.
• Pulse seed mixture in a food processor with water, cilantro, scallions, and remaining 4 tablespoons oil until mixture forms a coarse paste (not finely ground). Transfer to a bowl and stir in lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.

BASIL, LIME AND PUMPKIN SEED PESTO

Steps:

• Lightly toast pumpkin seeds and grind unil they stick to the walls of the food processor. Add the remaining ingredients. Add more olive oil or lime juice to thin if necessary.

GRILLED SQUID

Steps:

• Rub the squid with salt and rinse.
• Slit and flatten the squid sac and make diagonal cuts on the inside surface.
• Cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Set aside in a bowl.
• In another bowl, mix all the ingreduents, EXCEPT THE FIRST FOUR INGREDIENTS, making the marinade. Mix for thirty seconds.
• Put the squid inside the bowl with the marinade and leave for 1 hour.
• When one hour is finished, grill the squid over a charcoal grill until just tender (about three minutes each side).
• Arrange on a serving platter and garnish with half-a-cup of coriander leaves.
• Serve with fish sauce dip.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH CORIANDER AND PUMPKIN SEED PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/350°F/gas 4.
• Remove skin, fibres and seeds of the squash/pumpkin and cut into cubes (mine were approximately 5-6cm). (You may also want to leave the skin on and remove after roasting if this is easier with the particular squash/pumpkin you are using.) Rub the squash pieces with sunflower oil and season well with salt and pepper. Put them into a small roasting tin (skin-side down if skin wasn't removed). Roast for about 40 minutes or until tender.
• Remove squash from oven and remove skin when cool enough to handle if you haven't done so earlier. You may also want to cut squash into smaller chunks if your pieces are rather big. I didn't cut mine any smaller, as I preferred to cut my squash into smallish chunks before roasting.
• Melt the butter in a large pan, add the onion and cook gently for about 10minutes until the onion is very soft but not browned. Add the roasted squash, and any juices from the plate and the stock. Note: I used 1.2 litres of water, but only stock cubes for 1 litre, as you have salted your squash before roasting it, and you will also add parmesan. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until squash is ready to be liquidised.
• Meanwhile, make the PESTO:.
• Heat a dry, heavy-based frying pan over a high heat. Add the pumpkin seeds and shake them around until lightly toasted. Cool, reserving 1 tablespoon of seeds to garnish.
• Put the rest of the seeds into a food processor with the chilli, garlic, fresh coriander and oil. Blend to a paste. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the parmesan, seasoning to taste.
• Finish SOUP:.
• Leave the soup to cool slightly, then liquidise in batches until smooth. Note: I always use a high pan and a hand-held liquidiser, so I don't need to remove and return the soup. Return to a clean pan and bring back to a gentle simmer. Stir in 4 tablespoons of the pesto (I stirred in all of it, although it was more than 4 tablespoons, but stir in four and check how you like it)and adjust the seasoning.
• SERVE:.
• Ladle into warmed bowls and add a spoonful of sour cream, and sprinkle with the reserved pumkin seeds and coriander leaves.
• If you haven't used the whole amount of pesto before, serve it at the table, so everybody can stir in more if desired. Another possibility is to top crackers or toasted bread with it and serve together with the soup.