Spicy Grilled Squid and Watercress Salad is a bold and refreshing dish that brings together the tender texture of grilled seafood with the peppery bite of fresh greens. It’s perfect for warm days or whenever you’re craving something light yet full of flavor.
The squid is the highlight here. Cleaned and scored lightly to create those signature grill marks and curly edges, it’s marinated briefly in a mixture of garlic, chili flakes, lime juice, fish sauce, and a touch of sugar. This combination adds a balanced heat and tang that soaks into the squid without overwhelming its natural taste. Grilling it quickly over high heat ensures it stays tender, not rubbery, and develops a slight char that adds depth.
Watercress makes an ideal base for this salad because of its crisp texture and sharp, peppery flavor, which cuts through the richness of the squid and adds freshness to each bite. You can add thinly sliced cucumbers, red onions, or radishes for crunch and color, along with fresh herbs like mint or Thai basil to lift the whole dish with a burst of aroma.
The dressing is light but zesty. A simple mix of lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and chili creates a classic Southeast Asian-style vinaigrette that ties all the elements together. Drizzle it over the warm squid and greens just before serving to keep everything vibrant and crisp.
To finish, top the salad with toasted peanuts or cashews for texture, and maybe a few slices of fresh chili if you want to dial up the heat. If you’re serving it as a main dish, consider pairing it with jasmine rice or chilled rice noodles.
This salad is not only beautiful to look at, with its mix of greens and grilled squid, but also satisfying and layered in flavor. It’s spicy, tangy, and fresh, making it a standout choice when you want something different from the usual salad lineup.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs squid cleaned and scored
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 Lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups watercress
- 1 red onion thinly sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds toasted
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped fresh
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- In a bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Add cleaned and scored squid to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Let marinate for 30 minutes.
- Grill squid for 2-3 minutes per side, or until opaque and lightly charred. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine watercress, sliced red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, toasted sliced almonds, and chopped cilantro.
- Slice grilled squid into rings and add to the bowl with the salad ingredients. Toss gently to combine.
- Serve the spicy grilled squid and watercress salad immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition
Wow, this recipe is a keeper. Next time, I might add some avocado!
Avocado sounds great! It adds creaminess. I’ll try that next time too!
Honestly, avocado? It’s already a fish dish, don’t make it weird.
Sooo good! Who knew grilled squid could be like, gourmet? Definitely recommending this recipe. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Squid? Really? Nah, I don’t think this sounds good at all. Who even eats that stuff? 1 star.
GROSS! Why would anyone eat squid? What’s wrong with you people? Stick to chicken 😡
Too much prep work for little result. Who has time for this?!
I get what you’re saying! But honestly, it’s so worth it. The flavors are amazing, and it impresses guests! 🤤
I don’t know, the marinade was too spicy for me. Maybe less cayenne next time?
This is truly refreshing, but what do you do with leftover squid? Can u heat it again? Asking for a friend.
My husband said it was ‘weird’ but I loved it! Watercress is a game changer. Will make again!
This was amazing! The flavors really pop. I will definitely make this again!
Made this for a dinner party, it was a hit! Even the picky eaters cleared their plates.
That sounds amazing! I gotta try it myself. How spicy was it for the picky eaters?
I didn’t have watercress, so used spinach. Still tasted okay, but not as good, maybe. Idk.
Delicious salad! I added avocado, it was the cherry on top!
Just tried it. It was okay, but I expected more. Don’t know if I’ll make again.
I think the flavors are really bold! Maybe you just didn’t let the squid marinate long enough? Give it another shot, it’s worth it!
Honestly, I don’t get why squid is so popular. It’s kinda rubbery. Just stick to chicken or fish for salads, much better!
Absolutely loved this recipe! The spices give the squid a fantastic flavor. It was a hit at my dinner party!
Mmmm, so yummy! My kids loved it and they’re picky eaters! I might add more lemon next time.
That’s great to hear! More lemon sounds like a yummy idea. Can’t wait to try it myself!
I didn’t like it at all. The calamari was too chewy for me. Maybe I cooked it wrong?
Squid?? Really? Who even eats that! Not for me, sorry.
Nice twist on salad! The almonds add a good crunch. I used spinach coz couldn’t find watercress.
Delish! But I forgot the cilantro and it was still great.
Glad it turned out great even without the cilantro! Sometimes simplicity makes it better. 😊
Cilantro really is key tho! You missed out big time if you ask me. But I guess it was still okay?
Why do you have to grill the squid? Can’t you just boil it? Seems too complicated for a salad.
Boiling might be easier, but grilling gives a nice smoky flavor that makes the dish special! It’s worth a little extra effort in my opinion.
Yum!! I added some avocado to mine. It was really good! Trying this again for sure.
This recipe was absolutely delicious! The squid was cooked just right and the watercress added a refreshing crunch.
I tried this, but the squid was too rubbery. I think I grilled it too long. Anyone else have this problem?
Rubbery squid? That usually means overcooked! It’s a fine line with squid; you gotta be careful. Or maybe your grill was too hot?
I totally get you! My squid turned out like rubber too. I think it’s all about timing on the grill. Maybe try less time next time?
Simple and delicious. I’ve never tried watercress before, but it was a great addition!
Honestly, not my fav. The spices were too much for me. I like things plainer. 🙁
Wow, my friends loved this at the BBQ I hosted. It looked fancy too! Thanks for sharing!
To all the haters, get outta here! Squid is great, and this recipe nailed it! Can’t wait to make it again!
I totally agree! Squid is underrated, and this recipe looks awesome! Can’t wait to try it myself!
I don’t know about the squid. It was kinda chewy and I didn’t really get the spice from the cayenne. Maybe I did it wrong.
Chewy? I love squid but I guess it can be tricky. Some people really don’t like it. Honestly, stick to chicken next time 😂.
I think the squid can be tough if overcooked. Maybe try grilling it for less time next time? Also, adding a little more cayenne might help bring out the spice. Don’t give up!
The marinade smelled amazing, like restaurant-level. I didn’t have cayenne so I used extra paprika and it was still spicy enough for me. Loved tossing it all together with watercress.
Idk, 2-3 minutes per side seems too fast for squid? I overcook mine and it gets rubbery, so I’m always nervous. Also watercress + lemon + grill smoke sounds like it’ll be super sharp… but maybe that’s the point.
This is *exactly* the kind of marinade I wish restaurants would share—bright, garlicky, and just enough heat. I’ve tried paprika-only before and it’s good, but your “extra paprika still spicy” makes me want to replicate it.
Sounds good but squid?? I don’t know if I can eat that stuff… pretty weird.