How To Cook With Whole Squid, Tentacles And All
It's time to embrace the cephalopod; it's a new year filled with new experiences and a Brand-New You. A You who wants to cut back on cholesterol and saturated fat by embracing leaner proteins! A You who wants to expand your kitchen repertoire by testing new ingredients! A You who isn't afraid of slimy stuff! And, not to be understated, a You who wants to save money.
Squid, octopus and cuttlefish are some of the most overlooked fruits de mer. Isn't the French term for seafood so much more complimentary? Outshined by glamorous bivalves and crustaceans like clams and lobster, squid is a humble ingredient that with patience and creativity can be transformed into $25-a-plate dishes at home. Squid is cheap (about $6 per pound — and a pound is a lot of squid) and easy to find. Perhaps best of all, because properly cooking squid only takes a few minutes, it's conducive to dinner-in-a-flash.
Cook It Now: Charred Squid With Boudin Noir, Peas and Herb Oil
Deep-fried calamari, while delicious, voids all the health benefits of using fresh squid. Squid is a lean protein low in saturated fat and sodium but high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Squid steaks, made from the bodies of larger specimens, can be quite meaty and make excellent alternatives to pork and red meat. So shelve the panko crumbs and beer batter and opt for herbaceous, Mediterranean-influenced dishes that embrace the freshness of the ingredient while keeping your waistline trim.
Many recipes call for flash-cooking the squid for just a few minutes to avoid overcooking (which leads to rubbery texture), but I like to roast the bodies whole in a fresh sauce. Instead of sautéed or pan-fried rings and slices, the whole bodies are excellent for stuffing, creating more robust, heartier and flavorful dishes. The recipe below uses whole grains and herbs to elevate the modest filling and act as a grounding base note against the acidity of the tomato sauce. A dash of harissa in the sauce gives the whole dish a subtle kick, which is always welcome. Stuffing the squid can be a little tricky, so just be patient (and use toothpicks). Or recruit an unsuspecting significant other and call it Date Night.
Stuffed Squid
For the squid:
For the sauce:
Directions: