Braised Squid Recipes

BRAISED SQUID WITH FENNEL & TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a flameproof casserole dish over a medium-high heat. Cook the fennel seeds, onion, fennel, chilli and preserved lemon with a pinch of salt for 5 mins until softened and fragrant, then add the garlic and cook for 1 min more.
• Add the chopped tomatoes and cook down for a few mins, then turn down the heat and add the squid. Cook gently for 3 mins, then add the wine and reduce by half. Add the stock and herbs, bring to a simmer, cover loosely with baking parchment and cook for 1½ hrs, until the squid is tender and meaty.
• To make the mayo, whisk the yolks, garlic, lemon juice and a pinch of salt until combined, then add the squid ink and whisk again. Slowly whisk in the oil until you have a thick, silky mayo. Serve the squid with rice and a spoon of mayo, with fronds of dill scattered over. Keep leftover mayo in the fridge (to use within one day).

WINE-BRAISED CALAMARI WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• In a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven, warm olive oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add garlic, thyme, sage, red pepper and saffron (if using), then cook 1 minute more. Raise heat to high. Add squid and season generously with salt and pepper, stirring well to coat. Cook, stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, then add wine and boil for 1 minute.
• Add broth and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer 20 minutes, tasting the broth occasionally and adjusting the seasonings with salt and pepper.
• Add carrots and turnips, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes more, until tender.
• Add leeks and peas and cook 5 minutes more.
• Serve in wide soup bowls. Garnish with chopped parsley and chives.

STUFFED BRAISED SQUID

Steps:

• Place half the capers in a bowl with the breadcrumbs, egg, 1 tablespoon of oil and 2 tablespoons of water. Finely grate in the pecorino, peel the garlic, finely chop with the parsley (stalks and all), then scrunch it all together.
• Peel and finely slice the onion and place in a casserole pan on a medium heat with 2 tablespoons of oil, stirring occasionally. Now, a great nonna trick: squeeze the tomatoes while submerged in a bowl of water to remove the seeds (and prevent them going everywhere!). Add the tomatoes to the pan with the passata. Simmer on a low heat while you stuff the squid.
• Keeping the tentacles to one side, just over half-fill each squid tube with the breadcrumb mixture, pushing it right down into the tube but being mindful not to pack it too tightly. Use a cocktail stick or toothpick to seal or, like Franchina learnt from her grandparents, use a needle and thread. Stir the remaining capers into the sauce, then add the stuffed squid and tentacles. Simmer on a low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, or until tender.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a pan of boiling salted water according to the packet instructions. Use tongs to move the squid pieces to a board. Removing the sticks or thread, slice the tubes to reveal the filling, then arrange on a platter, spoon over a little sauce and pick over the basil. Drain the pasta, reserving a mugful of starchy cooking water, then toss with the remaining sauce, loosening with a splash of cooking water, if needed. Serve with a grating of pecorino, alongside that tasty braised squid.

BRAISED SQUID WITH ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Cut the lemon in half, squeeze the juice into a bowl of water, and add the lemon halves. Cut the trimmed artichokes into 4 pieces each, and as they are done, add them to the lemon water.
• Place a large skillet or broad saucepan over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of the oil; a minute later, add the garlic and anchovies. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the anchovies break up and the garlic begins to color, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the squid and the artichokes, stir, cover and turn the heat to medium.
• Uncover and stir the mixture every 5 minutes or so. When the squid and artichokes begin to become tender, after 15 or 20 minutes, uncover and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated and the squid and artichokes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes longer. Season with pepper. It's highly unlikely this dish will need added salt, especially if you use anchovies, but taste and see. Stir in the remaining olive oil, garnish with the parsley and serve.

GARLIC-AND-HERB-BRAISED SQUID

Steps:

• Rinse squid under cold water and pat dry. Halve any large tentacles lengthwise and cut bodies (including flaps, if attached) crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide rings.
• Chop enough parsley to measure 2 tablespoons and reserve. Chop remaining parsley and garlic together. Heat oil in a 4-quart heavy pot over low heat until hot, then cook parsley-garlic mixture and red-pepper flakes, stirring, until garlic begins to sizzle, about 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and add squid, then cook, stirring occasionally, until squid is barely opaque, about 1 minute. Add wine and briskly simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with their juice, water, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until squid is very tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Season with additional salt and pepper and stir in reserved parsley.

BRAISED SQUID AND PEAS

Steps:

• Halve the onion and finely slice. Heat the olive oil in a heavy-based pan, add the onion and garlic and cook gently for 10 minutes. Cut the squid bodies into 2cm-thick strips and each cluster of tentacles in two. Add the squid and fry for 3 minutes until it is lightly coloured, turning occasionally. Add the white wine and let it bubble for a minute or two. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, water, paprika, sugar, salt and pepper and simmer very gently for 30 minutes. Add the peas and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes or until the sauce is thick, rich and juicy.