RETIRED professional chef Paul James, author of travel and food blog Recipes From My Travels, writes for our paper.
I’ve visited Albufeira a couple of times, firstly staying at the Hotel Real Bellavista Spa, then more recently at The Auramar Beach Resort just half a mile from the strip.
Portugal is such a beautiful and interesting country and my stay in Albufeira on the Algarve was perfect, strolls around the mesmerising old town with its array of shops, bars and restaurants, then off to the famous strip in the new town area with its lively clubs and bars.
But best of all, seeing the dancing dolphins joyfully playing in the waves as we sat in a boat exploring the coastline with is many caves.
Truly beautiful and can’t wait to visit once again.
After my first visit to the Algarve about five years ago, on return I thought I would try to recreate a dish called lulas fritas (fried calamari).
Personally I thought it tasted quite nice, with a tartare sauce dip to accompany it.
It was to the disgust of my son Jay, who was only about 14 years old at the time, who said it was the worst onion rings he had ever tasted….
Safe to say he hasn’t touched them since.
But honestly trust me, it’s a cheap dish, perfect for a summer’s day, tastes beautiful and so simple to make.
Enjoyed with a nice glass of white wine it is perfect!
Search for ‘Recipes From My Travels’ on Facebook for Paul’s blog and visit amazon.co.uk to check out his Recipes From My Travels ebook about his trip to New York with his son Jay.
Proceeds go to the Cancer Centre at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital which treated his other son Mark last year.
This week’s recipe –
SALT AND PEPPER CALAMARI WITH NOODLE AND MANDARIN SALAD.
INGREDIENTS
Ready cooked Calamari.
1 pack of Ready to cook noodles.
1 small tin of mandarins.
Sea salt.
Ground black pepper.
1 chilli finely sliced.
1 onion finely sliced.
1tsp of garlic paste.
Mixed salad leaves of your choice.
1 tbsp of oil.
METHOD
In a hot frying pan add your Oil, garlic paste, chilli and onion.
Cook until the onions have become soft, but not burnt. Throw in the ready cooked calamari (defrosted) and coat it with all the ingredients that you have in your pan.
Add your rock salt (amount to your liking) a good quantity of ground black pepper.
Give it all a mix then add your ready to cook noodles (cook to packet instructions)
When cooked through, serve with your mixed salad leaves and mandarin segments.
It’s that simple and without the hassle of preparing the squid.
All the best and enjoy.