Stuffed Squid
Squid (calamari ) is very popular in Greece. Its firm body and strong sea smell make it a perfect ingredient for different dishes. It can be sliced into rings and deep-fried, it can be chopped and cooked in sauces to accompany pasta or rice and of course it can be stuffed in so many ways. In the following recipe the calamari is stuffed with a mixture of calamari tentacles, shrimps, Feta cheese and herbs and then cooked in a tomato sauce. The result is just mouthwatering!
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12 large squids, cleaned, body separated
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Sauce:
1 white onion
5 ripe tomatoes
3-4 garlic cloves
3 bay leaves
½ tsp thyme
1 cup dry white wine
salt
black pepper
olive oil
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Filling:
1 red onion
12 squids heads and tentacles
20 shrimps
2 garlic cloves
5 tbsp. chopped parsley
3 tbsp. chopped dill
150 gr (5 oz) Feta cheese
3 slices white bread
salt
black pepper
olive oil
Preparation time: 1 hr. 30 mins
Difficulty level: Medium
Servings: 6
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Ingredients
Preparation
We start with the tomato sauce. Chop the onion. Grate the tomatoes on a coarse grater and discard their skin. Slice the garlic into thin slices.
Heat a pan, put some olive oil and sauté the onion until golden brown. Add the garlic and sauté a minute more. Add the grated tomatoes and bring to a boil, add the spices and the wine and cook for another 10 minutes, then add 2 cups of hot water, boil again, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook covered for 30 mins.
In the meantime prepare the filling. Chop the onion. Heat a pan, put some olive oil and sauté the onion until it is transparent. Chop the squid heads and the shrimps and add to the pan. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 min, then remove from heat and put into a bowl. Add herbs and Feta. Soak the bread in water, remove the crust and squeeze to drain. Add to the bowl, mix well and season with black pepper and salt if needed.
Fill the squid bodies and "sew" with a toothpick. Heat a cast iron pan, brush it with some oil and sear the squids 4 minutes from each side, transfer to the pan with the sauce and cook for another 30 mins, turning from time to time to the other side.
Don't forget to remove the toothpicks before serving.