Grilled Squid With Carrots And Polenta Recipes

BAKED POLENTA CARROT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a pot combine vegetable broth and milk and bring to a boil. turn off heat, stir in polenta and cook until thickened (abut 3-5 minutes). Set aside to thicken further.
• Clean, wash and peel the carrots. Slice lenghtwise.
• Heat butter in a skillet and add carrots. Saute for some minutes, then add 5 tbs of water and cook covered on medium heat for another ten minutes until soft. Season with sugar, salt and pepper.
• Add sour cream or yoghurt, sage and half of the cheese to the polenta and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour into a casserole dish (about 20X12 cm) and top with the carrots (I used their liquid too since it was full of flavour, but that way the casserole may get a bit soggy).
• Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake in the preheated oven at 200°C (~400°F) for 20 minutes.
• Let stand for about 5 minutes until polenta has set and can be sliced.

SQUID WITH GRILLED POLENTA AND COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Clean the squid. Hold the sac with one hand and with the other reach inside and pull away the head and tentacles. With your fingers, scrape away the dark skin on the outside of the sac under cold running water. It will come away easily. Inside the sac is a transparent cartilage that acts as though it is made of plastic. Pull this out and discard it. Thoroughly rinse inside the sac. Cut the tentacles from the head above the eyes. Reserve the tentacles and discard everything else. Cut the squid in rings a quarter of an inch wide. Cut the tentacles in half. Rinse everything several times under cold running water.
• Heat two tablespoons olive oil and gently sautee the onion, 1 clove garlic and pepper flakes until the onion is soft but not brown.
• Add the squid. Add the wine and tomatoes and salt and pepper and cook for 45 minutes, covered, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, boil six cups water in a saucepan and add the polenta. Cook for three minutes, stirring frequently to get rid of all the lumps. Turn into a square or rectangular tin and cool. Preheat grill or broiler.
• After the squid has cooked for 45 minutes, check the sauce. If it is very liquid, continue cooking uncovered for a further 15 minutes. If too dry, add a little water and cook covered.
• Meanwhile, cut the stems from collard greens. Steam leaves five minutes or until wilted. Drain and refresh under cold water. Set aside.
• Turn the polenta out of the tin, cut into slices about 2 by 4 inches, place on foil and broil on each side until lightly browned. While the polenta is browning, heat the remaining olive oil and lightly sautee the remaining garlic. Add the greens and stir-fry for three minutes. Place the squid in a heated serving dish and garnish with parsley or basil. Arrange the greens around the squid and place the polenta slices on top. Serve immediately.

STUFFED SQUID SICILIAN-STYLE

Steps:

• Make the filling: Blanch the chard in boiling water for 1 minute, then drain and cool under running water. Squeeze chard completely dry and finely chop. Set aside.
• Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or wide saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and fennel, season with salt and pepper, and cook until softened and lightly colored, about 10 minutes.
• Add fennel fronds, fennel seed, anchovy, garlic, oregano and red pepper. Cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes more.
• Turn off heat and transfer mixture to a mixing bowl. Add pine nuts, lemon zest, bread crumbs, cheese and reserved cooked chard. Mix well with a wooden spoon. Taste and correct seasoning.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Using a teaspoon, put some filling in each squid body, taking care not to overstuff. Place stuffed squid in an earthenware baking dish in one layer. Season squid on both sides with salt and pepper and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season tentacles with salt and pepper and arrange them around the edge of dish (alternatively, arrange tentacles in a separate baking dish). Drizzle tentacles lightly with oil. Spoon any remaining stuffing over tentacles.
• Roast uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, until squid bodies are puffed, sizzling and lightly browned. If desired, run pan under the broiler for more color. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with lemon wedges. (May also be served at room temperature.) Serve each person 3 or 4 squid, with tentacles.

GRILLED SQUID WITH CARROTS AND POLENTA

Steps:

• For the polenta: Bring broth to a low boil. Slowly whisk in polenta until blended. Reduce heat and continue to stir until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add butter, red pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Stir. Add heavy cream and grated Parm. Stir.
• Finely chop the roasted garlic and stir into the polenta. Season to taste with additional salt, broth and heavy cream. Set aside.
• For the squid: Combine the olive oil, parsley, salt, pepper, red pepper, garlic, thyme, lemon juice and shallots in a food processor and process. Pour the marinade over the squid and toss well, then let stand at room temperature 10 to 15 minutes.
• Transfer to a preheated grill pan and cook, turning occasionally, until tender with a slight char, 12 to 15 minutes. Toss with more lemon juice and salt, as desired.
• For the carrots: Add the duck fat, garlic, shallot and thyme to a cast-iron skillet preheated over medium heat and let it all brown, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. Add carrots to the pan and add generous salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring every few minutes, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Deglaze the pan, a few teaspoons at a time, with the dry sherry. Continue to cook until tender, an additional 5 to 10 minutes, then add more salt and pepper to taste. Halve carrots lengthwise.
• For the ghee Marsala sauce: Add the ghee, Marsala, parsley, red pepper, garlic, thyme and shallot to a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer 8 to 10 minutes, then strain through a fine mesh strainer to get all large pieces out.
• Spoon 1/2 cup polenta into each plate, followed by 6 to 8 pieces of squid each, about 3 pieces of carrot and 1 to 2 tablespoons ghee Marsala sauce.