Stuffed Squid Sicilian Style Food

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.

ITALIAN STUFFED SQUID

Steps:

• Clean squid or tubes and pat dry.
• If using whole squid, chop tender parts of the tentacles and mix them with the bread crumbs, parsley, cheese, 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic, egg and 1 teaspoon vegetable oil to make stuffing.
• Blend well, add salt and pepper to taste.
• Spoon stuffing mixture loosely into each squid tube and close with a toothpick. Do not over stuff because the squid will shrink during cooking.
• Add remaining oil to skillet large enough to hold squid in a single layer.
• Heat oil and cook sliced garlic until golden brown. Arrange the squid in oil and brown all sides lightly.
• Add tomatoes, basil, oregano, rosemary, green pepper, remaining minced garlic, wine and salt and pepper to taste. Cover tightly and cook 25 to 30 minutes.
• Remove toothpick from squid and serve whole or sliced, alone or with pasta.

STUFFED CALAMARI, SICILIAN STYLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Clean the 12 large squid tubes; remove skin and cartilage inside the squid and rinse and clean. In a large pan saute onions in 2 tablespoons olive oil until soft. In a large bowl, combine the Sauteed onions, 1/2 cup of olive oil, garlic, 1 cup pecorino, 1/2 cup parsley, and the bread crumbs and mix well. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of oil to make the bread crumbs soft. Add the raisins last. Fill the squid tubes with the mixture and secure with a toothpick at the top opening. Lay the tubes in a baking pan with a little oil in the bottom of the pan, and bake for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove from oven and top with tomato sauce. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of pecorino and an additional 1/4 cup of parsley. Put pan back in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, 10 to 15 minutes.
• In a large frying pan, mix crushed tomatoes, garlic, basil, salt, pepper and sugar. Cook for 5 minutes and set aside.

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.