Starters – The Salty Nerve

Kalamarakia (Greek Fried Squid)

carinakyriacos — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 18:04:10 +0000

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

The one appetizer that is on just about every Greek menu is Kalamarakia or Greek fried squid. It’s that perfectly fried fresh from the sea taste. It’s lightly fried to allow for the flavors of the squid to shine through. It’s the perfect pair with some freshly made marinara sauce or tzatziki sauce.

To start with you will need fresh squid that has been cleaned. Next, grab a shallow bowl to add the flour, salt and pepper.

That’s it! Seems pretty simple to make right?

All-purpose flour works great for this recipe, but you can substitute it with coconut or semolina flour. If you have another flour alternative that you have tried and loved, let me know in the comments below.

Cut the cleaned squid body into 1-inch thick rings, and leave the tentacles intact. Rinse the squid under cold water thoroughly.

This is a very important step. FULLY DRY the rinsed squid on a couple of pieces of paper towels. You don’t want any of the pieces to be wet still or the flour won’t stick properly when frying.

Take your shallow bowl of the flour mix and dredge the pieces one by one in the flour to fully coat them. Set aside while you heat the oil to 375F.

Fry the floured pieces a small handful at a time to avoid overcrowding the pan. It will take around 2-3 batches to do. I get a cooling rack pan that I put them on to drain the excess oil in the oven on the keep warm setting (around 170F).

Serve Kalamarakia warm with some classic marinara or tzatziki sauce. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over it all and top with chopped fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Kalamarakia (Greek Fried Squid)

That lightly fried fresh from the sea taste that you can find on every Greek menu. It’s simple to make and only takes 15 min to make.

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Prep Time: 15

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keyword: 25 min, 25 min or less, calamari, easy, easy appetizers, fried seafood, fried squid, greek squid, marinara dip, quick

Servings: people

Ingredients

1 cup flour
1 tsp sea salt + pepper each
½ lemon
1 tsp fresh parsley chopped
olive oil enough to cover ¼ inch bottom of pan
1 lb squid cleaned, rinsed and dried

Tried this recipe? Take a pic!Tag Us @TheSaltyNerve + #thesaltygram!

Street Corn Salsa

carinakyriacos — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 15:24:58 +0000

Hold onto your seat because this Street Corn Salsa is about to have you wanting to put it on everything. Perfect for any Mexican-style dish like these spicy chicken adobo quesadillas or have it out at your next party. This savory mix is so easy to make and tastes like festival season from the moment it touches your taste buds.

What you will need.

Yellow corn · Mayonnaise · Jalapeno · Lime · Garlic · Green Onions · Olive Oil · Smoked Paprika · Fresh Cilantro · Cotija Cheese

Yellow Corn: Fresh corn is always best, BUT canned Crispy Sweet Yellow Corn works perfectly if fresh corn is not in season. Just brown it in a pan like you would a whole corn cob before tossing it in the bowl so you have that charred taste.

Cotija Cheese: If you can’t find it, you can substitute grated Parmesan or Romano in place of the Cotija cheese.

Smoked Paprika: This is a MUST for that hint of smoky flavor. If you are wanting more of a smoky chipotle flavor, you can add 1/2 tsp of the adobo sauce the chipotle peppers come in and use it to replace the smoked paprika.

Start with brushing the corn with olive oil. Heat up a cast iron skillet over medium heat and sear the corn on all sides for about 2-3 minutes per side. If you are using canned corn, toss the corn in olive oil before placing it on the pan.

You want the corn to have a slightly golden brown color, but not burnt. Using a serrated or sharp knife, cut the kernels off the cob and place them in a large bowl.

Add in the remaining ingredients and mix them together to incorporate them all together. Then chill in the fridge for 15-20 minutes for the best flavor or you can eat it right then and there. Once it’s chilled serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

WARNING: Try to save some before you put it out as this will go FAST!

This Street Corn Salsa is a major crowd pleaser and won’t last long so make sure you get a few bites in before it’s all gone. I usually keep some set aside in a food container hidden in the fridge so I can snack on some later since I NEVER have leftovers when I make it.

Go ahead, get creative and add in your favorite ingredients like avocados, red onions, diced bell peppers, cucumbers, or even tomatoes. There are so many variations you can do with this to spice it up to your liking. Try it out and then play with it to find that perfect blend of flavors you like.

It’s the perfect pair with some Easy Chipotle Shrimp tacos or Chicken Adobo Quesadillas, and so many other Mexican-based dishes. Need a quick snack to put out at the food table for your party? This Street Corn Salsa has your back and will be the hit of the party. You’ll get asked on more than one occasion for the recipe. Just send them this way for the recipe!

Store Leftovers: Trust me, you won’t have many leftovers unless you stash some away before putting them out. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days. No heating is required. Just enjoy it cold.

Make Ahead? This is the perfect salsa to make ahead. Just make it as instructed and store it in an air-tight food container until you need it the next day. Need to make it for a large crowd? Double up the recipe and you’ll have plenty to go around.

Street Corn Salsa

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword 25 min, 25 min or less, appetizer, chip dip, corn, corn salsa, easy, quick, side dish, Sides, snack, vegetarian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings (2 cups salsa)

Calories 114kcal

Ingredients

2-3 cobs corn shucked
2 tsp olive oil extra virgin
1 tbsp mayonaise
1 clove garlic minced
1 tsp lime zest
1 tbsp fresh lime juice ½ whole lime
1 tbsp scallion chopped
1 tbsp crumbled Cotija cheese or Parmesan cheese
1 tsp fresh cilantro finely chopped
½ tsp smoked paprika or chili powder
1 jalapeno diced
¼ tsp kosher salt

Instructions

Brush the shucked corn cobs with 1 tsp olive oil.
Using a cast iron skillet (or grill) cook the corn for about 2-3 min on each side until kernels start to turn golden brown and are tender.
Once cooked, cut kernels off the cob and set aside to cool.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the remaining ingredients.
Toss the corn kernels into the bowl and toss to fully coat.
Serve at room temp with tortilla chips or use to top any mexican based dish.

Notes

Go ahead, get creative and add in your favorite ingredients like avocados, bell peppers, cucumbers, or tomatoes.

Store: Put leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days.

Nutrition

Flame-Grilled Chicken Wings

carinakyriacos — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 15:48:41 +0000

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This recipe for flame-grilled chicken wings will make you think ‘Where has this been all my life?’ as soon as you take that first juicy bite. You’ve been making chicken wings wrong this whole time!

It’s perfect for game days, any finger-food-friendly party, or just an easy meal on the grill while patio side on a perfect summer afternoon.

So easy to make (even for those who are not yet grill masters), and absolutely perfect for grilling season. So save this recipe and make it the next time you fire up the grill.

Let’s make these Flame-Grilled Chicken Wings!

Grab one of those large party packs of chicken wings that are about 4 lbs. Cut each wing into two parts for the flats and drumettes discarding the wing tips. You’ll need some olive oil, garlic powder, salt + pepper, and a grill (I use a Propane Grill).

SECRET TIP: Want to unlock the secrets to juicy wings on the grill? All you will need is a timer (5 minutes) for the juiciest, mouthwatering chicken wings you’ll ever need in your life.

In a small prep bowl, mix 1 tbsp garlic powder and 2 tsp EACH of salt + black cracked pepper for the seasoning. Drizzle 2 tbsp of olive oil and toss to coat the wings.

Next, grab a large mixing bowl and toss the wings with the seasoning until all the wings are fully coated. Cover with plastic food wrap and keep cool until the grill is ready.

Heat your grill up to 450F (usually it takes only 2 burners at around medium-high heat). Once heated up to 450F, coat the grates with any high temp cooking oil or non-stick spray made for grilling so the wings don’t get stuck to the grates before placing them on the grill.

When you place the wings on the grate, make sure they are all laying flat and as few gaps between the wings as possible.

HUDDLE UP THOSE WINGS!

Now, for the important step, set your timer to flip the wings every 5 minutes for roughly 20 minutes.

I use to always be so intimidated by the grill until recently. It was always so hit or miss for me and I hated that. My husband, on the other hand, can always conjure up some amazing grill master-worthy food each time he grills. So, I learned his secrets to these juicy finger-lickin’ charred wings of glory.

I promise these wings will impress even those chicken wing connoisseurs. Go ahead and show off your new cooking skills like a pro at the next backyard gathering and wear that new chicken wing grill master title with pride (don’t forget to pass along this recipe to success).

Now for the good part, the SAUCES! These are great by themselves, but even better tossed in a little sauce for maximum flavor explosions in your mouth.

My GO-TO sauce is by Braswell’s, which is made with locally grown ingredients. They have my favorite staple sauces like Hot Wing Sauce, Honey Habanero BBQ Sauce, and Carolina Tangy Mustard BBQ Sauce. These sauces are good on so many other recipes so it’s definitely worth the purchase!

Have a wing sauce that you love??? Leave it in the comments below!

Try some of these other great dishes.

Flame-Grilled Chicken Wings

This recipe for flame-grilled chicken wings will make you think 'Where has this been all my life?' as soon as you take that first juicy bite. You've been making chicken wings wrong this whole time!

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Pin Recipe

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Chicken

Keyword: 20 min, 25 min or less, chicken wings, crowd pleasing, easy, easy appetizers, fingerfood, grilled, party food

Servings: people

Equipment

Grill

Ingredients

4 lbs chicken wings cut into flats + drumettes
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp garlic powder
2 tsp salt
2 tsp black pepper freshly cracked

Instructions

Cut each wing into two parts for the flats and drumettes discarding the wing tips.
In a small prep bowl, mix 1 tbsp garlic powder and 2 tsp EACH of salt + black cracked pepper for the seasoning. Drizzle 2 tbsp of olive oil and toss to coat the wings.
Next, grab a large mixing bowl and toss the wings with the seasoning until all the wings are fully coated. Cover with plastic food wrap and keep cool until the grill is ready.
Heat your grill up to 450F (usually it takes only 2 burners at around medium-high heat). Once heated up to 450F, coat the grates with any high temp cooking oil or non-stick spray made for grilling so the wings don't get stuck to the grates before placing them on the grill.
When you place the wings on the grates of the heated grill, make sure they are all laying flat and huddle the wings together with as few gaps between the wings as possible.
Now, for the important step, set your timer to flip the wings every 5 minutes for roughly 20 minutes.
In a large bowl toss the wings in your favorite wing sauce. These are great by themselves, but even better tossed in a little sauce for that maximum flavor explosion in your mouth.

Tried this recipe? Take a pic!Tag Us @TheSaltyNerve + #thesaltygram!

Mango Strawberry Salsa

carinakyriacos — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 01:48:36 +0000

Looking for the perfect summertime salsa? This Mango Strawberry Salsa is packed with lots of tasty tropical flavors that make it so refreshing to snack on. It’s SO easy to make and is ready in under 15 minutes! It pairs so well with some Cinnamon Churro Strips or your favorite tortilla chips.

When I first brought it up to my husband that it was a mango and strawberry salsa he was very hesitant, but once he tried it he got hooked! It’s basically my new favorite snack while watching our favorite shows. It just screams summer and you can’t go wrong with that!

It’s perfect as a topping on tacos for a refreshing twist compare to regular salsa. Use it as a dip at your next gathering and it will be the most talked about dish on the table.

Mango Strawberry Salsa

Looking for the perfect summertime salsa? This Mango Strawberry Salsa is packed with lots of tasty tropical flavors that make it so refreshing to snack on. It's SO easy to make and is ready in under 15 minutes!

Course Appetizer

Keyword 15 min, 15 min or less, appetizer, chip dip, cilantro lime, crowd pleasing, easy, easy appetizers, fingerfood, mango, quick, salsa, snack, strawberry, Under 15 min

Prep Time 5

Chill Time 15

Ingredients

1 mango diced
1 cup strawberries diced
1 small jalapeno diced
¼ cup red onion finely diced
½ lime juiced
1 tbsp honey
¼ tsp sea salt
2 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped

Instructions

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving for a more refreshing taste.