Stewed Calamari

Here is a classic Italian recipe for preparing delicious stewed calamari.

Ingredients

• 500 g of cleaned squid
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 400 g of canned peeled tomatoes or fresh ripe tomatoes
• Fresh parsley to taste
• 1 glass of white wine
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Start by cleaning the squid, removing the innards and the cartilaginous quill. Rinse them under running water and cut them into rings or leave them whole, depending on preference.
2. In a wide pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and add the peeled and crushed garlic cloves (which you will remove after they have browned).
3. Add the squid and let them sauté for a few minutes over medium heat until they turn golden.
4. Deglaze with the glass of white wine and let the alcohol evaporate.
5. Add the peeled tomatoes, roughly crushing them with a fork. If using fresh tomatoes, peel them, remove the seeds and chop them before adding.
6. Season with salt and pepper, then cover and let cook for about 30 minutes on low heat, until the sauce has reduced and the squid are tender.
7. At the end of cooking, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.

Curiosity

Stewed cooking is a typical method in Mediterranean cuisine, especially for cooking seafood. The term “stewed” refers to the liquid, in this case the wine and tomatoes, which during slow cooking blends the flavors and makes the squid particularly tender and tasty.

If you prefer a spicier touch, you can add chopped chili pepper during the sauté phase with the garlic. Enjoy your meal!