Stuffed Squid Lisbon Style Recipes

STUFFED SQUID

Steps:

• Finely chop tentacles. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a wide 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté tentacles, stirring, until just cooked through, about 1 minute. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl and cool.
• Stir tomatoes into oil in pot along with basil, sea salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes.
• While sauce simmers, stir together Pecorino, bread crumbs, parsley, garlic, eggs, sautéed tentacles, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Gently stuff each squid body with a slightly rounded tablespoon of bread-crumb mixture and pat squid to distribute filling evenly. Weave a wooden pick horizontally across wide opening of each squid to seal. (During cooking, stuffing will expand and squid will shrink, forming a rounded, well-stuffed squid.)
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté squid, turning over once, until browned and any liquid given off is evaporated, about 6 minutes total. Add squid to tomato sauce and simmer, covered, turning occasionally, until squid is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Discard picks and serve squid with sauce.

STUFFED SQUID, LISBON STYLE

Steps:

• In a small, heavy skillet, saute the bacon in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over moderate heat 5 to 6 minutes, or until the bacon bits are crisp; remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings into a large, heavy kettle, add the remaining olive oil and turn heat to high; reserve remaining 1 tablespoon dripping for the stuffing. When oil is very hot, add the onions, carrots and garlic. Saute over moderate heat, stirring often, about 5 minutes or until onions turn glassy. Mix in fish stock, wine, tomato paste and lemon juice; add the bay leaf. Bring to a low boil, then lower heat and simmer gently while you make the stuffing.
• Make the stuffing: In a large, heavy skillet, heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil and the reserved 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings. Add the onion, garlic and carrot and saute over moderate heat 5 minutes, or until the onions begin to turn glassy.
• Add the chopped squid tentacles; turn heat to low, cover and steam 20 minutes.
• Mix in the prosciutto, tomato paste, bread crumbs, wine, water, pepper and parsley and cook, stirring, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the mixture is very thick and pastelike.
• Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then blend in the egg yolks.
• Push the stuffing into each squid until about 3/4 inch from the top; close top with a toothpick. Do not stuff too near the top or too compactly, since the stuffing will expand when cooked.
• Lay the squid in the kettle of simmering sauce; cover and simmer 1 hour. Remove the squid, spoon the sauce over it and serve with bacon bits sprinkled on top.

SQUID STUFFED SQUID

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions and salt and sweat until the onions turn translucent, about 1 to 2 minutes. Do not brown. Add the garlic and continue to cook for another minute. Transfer the mixture to a medium mixing bowl and set aside to cool.
• Clean the squid thoroughly and remove the heads from the tentacles and discard the heads. Turn the tubes inside out (since the outside skin tends to curl outward, it'll hold the stuffing better inside out), put into a bowl and set in the refrigerator until ready to use. Place the tentacles and the shrimp into the bowl of a food processor and pulse 6 to 8 times or until there are no large pieces visible. Do not process until smooth. Transfer to the mixing bowl along with the onions and garlic. Add the bread crumbs, tomato, lemon zest, ginger, parsley and pepper. Stir to combine well.
• Place the mixture into a resealable freezer bag and snip 1 corner. You may use a pastry bag with a tip just small enough to fit into the end of the tubes. Pipe the stuffing into the tubes, dividing the mixture evenly between them. Do not over-stuff.
• Place the tubes into an 8 by 11-inch glass baking dish and cover with the tomato sauce. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. 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.