Stewed Chickpeas And Calamari Food

STEWED CHICKPEAS AND CALAMARI

Steps:

• Quick soak the chickpeas by putting them into a large heavy bottomed pot and covering them with water by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes; remove from heat, cover, and let soak for 1 hour. Drain the chickpeas and return them to the pot. Cover them with fresh water by about 2-inches, add 1 tablespoon salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the beans until they are tender, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Drain and set aside.
• Clean out the pot and put it back on the stove over medium-high heat. Heat the olive oil and cook the onion, garlic, chili, thyme, and bay leaves until the onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the paprika and cumin and cook for 1 minute. Hand-crush the tomatoes and add them with their juice to the pot along with 1 cup of water. Add the chickpeas, roasted peppers, and calamari and season with salt and pepper. Turn the heat down and simmer until all the flavors have blended and the calamari is tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Serve in small dishes with a drizzle of olive oil.

LIDIA'S STEAMED CALAMARI

Steps:

• Rinse the trimmed tentacles and the body, holding it open under running water to flush the cavity. Slice the cleaned body crosswise, in rings 1/3 inch thick. Drain all the tentacles and rings in the steamer basket colander.
• Meanwhile, pour enough water into a steamer or deep pot so that when you set the basket in position it doesn't touch the water.
• Shave off the lemon peel (zest layer only) with a vegetable peeler, in short strips. Squeeze the juice of the lemon and reserve. Drop the zest into the water with the bay leaves, cover the pot, and simmer the water for about 1/2 an hour, to infuse it with the aromas of lemon and bay.
• Keep the water simmering, and set the steamer basket with all the calamari in it inside the pot. Put on the cover, making sure it fits snugly inside, and steam the calamari gently. After 2 minutes, lift the cover, tumble the calamari over a couple of times in the colander, and sprinkle over it a couple of pinches of salt. Cover and steam another 2 minutes, tumble, and salt again. Repeat after 2 more minutes-you should have used 1/4 teaspoon salt in all. Steam for a total of 8 to 10 minutes.
• When the calamari is tender but slightly resilient to the bite, remove the colander, season the pieces with another 1/4 teaspoon salt, mix well, then let them drain and cool for 5 minutes.
• Turn the calamari into a bowl while still quite warm. Toss with the olive oil and lemon juice, sprinkle over the remaining salt, the peperoncino, grated orange zest, and parsley, and toss well again. Taste, and adjust the seasonings.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

SPICY CALAMARI STEW WITH GARLIC TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Warm the olive oil over low heat in a medium pot. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Increase the heat to medium. Slowly add the white wine and cook for 1 minute, then add the tomato sauce, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 8 minutes. Stir in the calamari and continue to cook just until the mixture comes back to a simmer and the squid is opaque, about 2 more minutes.
• While the stew simmers, drizzle the bread slices with olive oil. Toast until the bread is crisp and turning golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and rub the top of the toasts with the whole garlic cloves. Serve immediately with the calamari stew.