Squid (calamari) is boiled, stuffed with a garlic, sun-dried tomato, bread, thyme, and scallion mixture, then grilled. The stuffed calamari is served with a fresh tomato, olive oil, and chive topping.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Ingredients:
- 8 small whole calamari (about 1 pound)
- .
- Stuffing:
- 4 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 cup toasted bread crumbs
- 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped Italian parsley
- Salt and pepper
- .
- 4 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 plum tomatoes, chopped into 1/4-inch dice
- 1 bunch chives, chopped
Preparation:
Remove the tentacles and clean the calamari, leaving the bodies whole. Set the tentacles aside. Place the calamari in an 8-quart pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cook for 1 hour or until quite tender. Drain and cool.
Make the stuffing: Heat the olive oil in a 10- to 12-inch saute pan until smoking. Add the garlic and sun-dried tomato and saute until light golden brown, about 30 seconds. Add the bread crumbs and continue cooking until well mixed. Allow to cool then stir in the thyme, scallions, and parsley. Preheat the grill or broiler.
Stuff the cooled calamari with the bread crumb mixture and season with salt and pepper. Brush the stuffed calamari and tentacles with 1 tablespoon of the oil and grill or broil until nicely charred, about 10 minutes, turning once.
While the calamari grills, place the tomatoes, remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, and the chive in a small mixing bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the calamari on a platter, top with spoonfuls of the tomatoes and serve.
Yield: 4 servings
• How to clean squid and harvest ink
Recipe Source: Simple Italian Food: Recipes from My Two Villages by Mario Batali (Clarkson Potter)
Reprinted with permission.
Make the stuffing: Heat the olive oil in a 10- to 12-inch saute pan until smoking. Add the garlic and sun-dried tomato and saute until light golden brown, about 30 seconds. Add the bread crumbs and continue cooking until well mixed. Allow to cool then stir in the thyme, scallions, and parsley. Preheat the grill or broiler.
Stuff the cooled calamari with the bread crumb mixture and season with salt and pepper. Brush the stuffed calamari and tentacles with 1 tablespoon of the oil and grill or broil until nicely charred, about 10 minutes, turning once.
While the calamari grills, place the tomatoes, remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, and the chive in a small mixing bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the calamari on a platter, top with spoonfuls of the tomatoes and serve.
Yield: 4 servings
• How to clean squid and harvest ink
Recipe Source: Simple Italian Food: Recipes from My Two Villages by Mario Batali (Clarkson Potter)
Reprinted with permission.
