Whole Roasted Squid With Tomatillo Salsa Recipes

GRILLED SQUID SALAD

Steps:

• Soak the capers in a bowl of water. Squeeze all the lemon juice into a large shallow bowl and add 4 tablespoons of oil. Peel the garlic and finely chop with the chilli, anchovies, pistachios, drained capers and mint leaves. Scrape it all into the bowl and mix together well.
• Reserving the tentacles, run a sharp knife down the length of each squid tube, cutting through one side only so you can open each one out like a book. Lightly score the inside of each tube in a criss-cross fashion at ½cm intervals. To cook the squid, follow Franchina's guidance and get the tentacles on early, then add the tubes, from largest to smallest. In a screaming hot griddle pan or on a barbecue, cook each piece for about 1 minute per side - with no oil or seasoning - until lightly charred and starting to curl. Start with the cut side when you do the tubes, and keep the squid moving for even cooking. As each piece is done, use tongs to dunk it straight into the salsa, turning and coating it in all that flavour.
• Slice the tomatoes and lay over a serving platter. Finely slice the squid tubes, pull the tentacles apart, then arrange on top of the tomatoes. Spoon over all the remaining salsa, and serve hot or at room temperature.

WHOLE ROASTED SQUID WITH TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Make the salsa: Put the tomatillos, jalapeño, cilantro, salt and lime juice in a food processor or blender. Pulse until all components come together to make a rough purée. Transfer salsa to a serving dish.
• Wash potatoes, put in a small pot, cover with 1 inch of water, add a teaspoon of salt and cook at a brisk simmer, covered, over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes. When done, drain and set aside until cool enough to handle, then cut in half with a small sharp knife (leave skins on).
• Meanwhile, roast the poblanos: Place whole chiles directly on flames of a full-blast stovetop burner, turning with tongs frequently until blackened and blistered all over. Alternatively, blacken chiles on a sheet pan as close to broiler as possible or on a grill over coals. Set aside to cool on a plate (do not wrap in plastic film - you want the chile flesh to stay firm).
• To clean poblanos, wipe off their charred skin with paper towels or the back of a knife. Do not rinse; a few bits of char is O.K. Cut chiles lengthwise in half and scrape out seed and veins with knife. Cut chiles lengthwise into 3/8-inch-wide strips and set aside.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Rinse squid and drain well. Pat dry on layers of paper towel or cloth kitchen towel. Transfer squid bodies to a sheet pan in one layer. Arrange tentacles on a smaller baking sheet. Season bodies generously on both sides with salt and pepper, and season tentacles. Drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil evenly over squid bodies and 1 tablespoon olive oil over tentacles. Place baking sheets in oven and roast until bodies have puffed and tentacles have firmed, about 6 to 8 minutes. (Alternatively, cook squid in batches in a cast-iron pan over high heat or on a grill over coals.)
• To assemble the room-temperature salad, arrange potatoes on a large platter. Distribute the squid over potatoes, then scatter poblano strips, avocado, sliced onion and cherry tomatoes over squid. Sprinkle lightly with salt and drizzle with a little more olive oil, if desired. Add cilantro sprigs and jalapeño slices, if using, and garnish with lime wedges. Serve the salsa at the table, to be spooned over each serving, and warm tortillas, if desired.

QUICK ROASTED TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Cover a baking sheet with foil and place the tomatillos on top, stem side down. If you wish to roast the chilies, place them on the baking sheet as well. Place under the broiler at the highest rack setting and broil two to five minutes, until charred on one side (the chilies will be charred after a minute or two). Turn over and broil on the other side for two to five minutes, until charred on the other side. Remove from the heat. If you have roasted the chilies, peel and stem them, and coarsely chop.
• Transfer the tomatillos and chilies to a blender, tipping in any juice that may have accumulated on the foil. Add the onion, cilantro and 1/4 cup water to the blender and blend to a coarse purée. Transfer to a bowl and thin out as desired with water. Taste and adjust salt. Set aside for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to develop.