Best 10 Stuffed Calamari Recipes

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Stuffed calamari is a delicious and versatile dish that can be prepared in a variety of ways. Whether you're looking for a light and refreshing appetizer or a hearty and satisfying main course, there's a stuffed calamari recipe out there for you. With its tender texture and mild flavor, calamari is the perfect canvas for a variety of fillings, from classic seafood stuffing to creative vegetarian options. In this article, we'll explore some of the best stuffed calamari recipes, providing you with all the information you need to create this delicious dish at home.

Let's cook with our recipes!

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS STUFFED CALAMARI



Absolutely Delicious Stuffed Calamari image

Calamari tubes are stuffed with seafood and baked in a rich cream sauce before serving over a bed of linguine. This is probably the best calamari, if not the best entree, you'll ever have!

Provided by UNREFINEDNERD

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 40m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

12 calamari tubes
2 green onions, finely chopped
8 cloves garlic, minced, divided
½ pound chopped cooked shrimp meat
½ pound cooked crabmeat, diced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¾ cup butter
12 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups milk
10 ounces freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 pinch ground black pepper
¾ cup freshly grated Romano cheese
1 (8 ounce) package linguine pasta

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Rinse the calamari tubes and pat dry.
  • In a large bowl, stir together the onions, 6 cloves garlic, shrimp, crabmeat and lemon juice. Spoon some of this mixture into each squid tube and seal the ends by 'sewing' with a toothpick. Arrange in a single layer in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Set aside.
  • Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in cream cheese and 2 cloves garlic. Cook and stir until cream cheese has melted. Gradually whisk in the milk. Cook until heated through and then remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese and pepper. Pour over all of the calamari tubes in the baking dish. Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of Romano cheese on top of each one.
  • Bake uncovered until the cheese is browned and sauce is bubbly. While the calamari is baking, Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add linguine pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain. Serve the stuffed calamari and sauce over a bed of linguine.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1018.6 calories, Carbohydrate 41.7 g, Cholesterol 479.1 mg, Fat 65.6 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 65.6 g, SaturatedFat 39.9 g, Sodium 1548.7 mg, Sugar 7.8 g

BRAISED CALAMARI STUFFED WITH SHRIMP, SPINACH AND HERBS



Braised Calamari Stuffed with Shrimp, Spinach and Herbs image

Provided by Anne Burrell

Categories     appetizer

Time 1h15m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

11 clean medium calamari tubes, about 5 to 6 inches long
1/2 pound peeled, deveined medium shrimp, roughly chopped
3 cloves garlic, smashed and coarsely chopped
2 cups coarsely chopped baby spinach
2 eggs
1/2 to 3/4 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1/2 bunch fresh oregano, leaves chopped
2 pinches crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 large or 2 small onions, finely diced
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, smashed and finely chopped
3/4 cup dry white wine
1 (28-ounce) can Italian plum tomatoes

Steps:

  • To make the calamari:
  • Roughly chop 3 of the calamari tubes and add to a food processor with the coarsely chopped shrimp and garlic. Pulse into a coarse paste. Remove to a large bowl and add the spinach, eggs, bread crumbs, cheese, herbs, and pinch of crushed red pepper. Season with salt and stir to combine. The mixture should be a little chunky but moist and holding together. Test the seasoning of the mix by making a mini patty, cooking it in a small pan and eating it. It should taste really good! If it doesn't it is probably missing salt. Add more salt, to taste. Divide the stuffing among the 8 remaining calamari bodies and secure closed with toothpicks.
  • To make the sauce:
  • Coat a large, wide skillet or saucepan with olive oil and add the onions and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Season with salt and put the saucepan over medium heat. Saute the onions until they are soft and aromatic, about 7 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in the wine and cook until the wine has reduced by half. Pass the tomatoes through a food mill or puree them in a food processor and add them and 1 cup of water to the pan. Season with salt, to taste, and simmer the sauce for 15 minutes.
  • Add the calamari to the pan and cook for 20 to 25 minutes turning them over halfway through the cooking time. Remove the calamari from the pan and remove the toothpicks. Reduce the sauce to thicken, if needed. Arrange the calamari on a serving platter and cover with the sauce before serving.
  • Deliciouso!

GRILLED SAUSAGE-STUFFED CALAMARI



Grilled Sausage-Stuffed Calamari image

Provided by Kay Chun

Categories     Pork     Appetizer     Quick & Easy     Backyard BBQ     Sausage     Squid     Summer     Grill     Grill/Barbecue     Breadcrumbs     Gourmet     Sugar Conscious     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

3/4 cup fine fresh bread crumbs
1/3 cup whole milk
3/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/2 pound ground pork
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon paprika (preferably pimentón dulce)
12 cleaned small (3-to 4-inch) squid bodies plus tentacles (about 1 pound total)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus additional for drizzling
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
Accompaniment: lemon wedges

Steps:

  • Soak bread crumbs in milk in a large bowl.
  • Toast fennel seeds in a dry small skillet (not nonstick) over medium-low heat, shaking skillet occasionally, until fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Chop fennel seeds and add to bread-crumb mixture along with pork, garlic, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Gently mix with your hands until well blended. Using a small spoon, loosely stuff squid with fennel sausage, leaving a 1/2-inch space at top (you may have some stuffing left over). Seal tops using wooden picks.
  • Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (medium heat for gas); see Grilling Procedure .
  • Coat stuffed squid and tentacles with oil and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Oil grill rack, then grill stuffed squid, turning frequently, until golden in spots and an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of filling registers 150 to 155°F, 13 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a platter. Grill tentacles until opaque and curled, about 1 minute, then add to platter. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with parsley.
  • What to drink:
  • Fontaleoni Vernaccia di San Gimignano '07

GRILLED SAUSAGE-STUFFED CALAMARI



Grilled Sausage-Stuffed Calamari image

I usually go out of my way to simplify the recipes we post here, but for some things, like this Spanish-inspired, sausage-stuffed calamari recipe, there just are no acceptable shortcuts to take. However, your efforts will be rewarded with something that tastes every bit the effort it took to make. Serve with lemon wedges.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Appetizers and Snacks     Seafood

Time 2h5m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided, or as needed
½ cup diced onion
½ cup diced red bell pepper
salt and ground black pepper to taste
6 ounces spicy Italian sausage, removed from casings and crumbled
4 ounces calamari tentacles, minced
¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 large egg
⅛ teaspoon smoked paprika
1 ½ pounds cleaned calamari tubes
18 toothpicks, or as needed

Steps:

  • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and red pepper with a pinch of salt in hot oil until onion is soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
  • Stir sausage, minced tentacles, onion mixture, parsley, egg, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper together in a bowl until evenly combined. Transfer mixture to a piping bag.
  • Pipe sausage mixture into tubes, filling about each tube about 2/3 full. Thread a toothpick through the top of each tube to fasten the opening together. Place stuffed tubes on a plate, cover the plate with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until completely chilled, about 1 hour.
  • Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
  • Brush tubes with remaining olive oil to coat on all sides and season with salt.
  • Cook stuffed calamari on the preheated grill, turning occasionally, until stuffing is cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 155 degrees F (68 degrees C).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 228.3 calories, Carbohydrate 7.9 g, Cholesterol 235.6 mg, Fat 13.5 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 17.8 g, SaturatedFat 3.4 g, Sodium 399.3 mg, Sugar 0.9 g

STUFFED CALAMARI



Stuffed Calamari image

This is a simple and delicious supper for your family any night of the week!

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Seafood Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 large onion, finely chopped
2 poblano chiles, seeded and finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
15 to 18 small whole calamari bodies, tentacles removed (about 1 pound)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 (14-to-16-ounce) can whole tomatoes, lightly crushed by hand
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Creamy Polenta for Stuffed Calamari

Steps:

  • Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Add onion and poblano and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and butter and cook until butter has melted. Remove from heat. Add breadcrumbs, 3 tablespoons parsley, and 1/4 cup water; stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper; transfer to a bowl to cool.
  • Using a spoon, stuff each calamari body with about 2 tablespoons breadcrumb mixture; thread a toothpick through the open end to enclose. Sprinkle stuffed calamari with any remaining breadcrumb mixture.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add calamari and cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and continue to cook 2 more minutes. Add wine; let reduce for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and cook, until sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining tablespoon parsley. Remove toothpicks and serve immediately with creamy polenta.

GRILLED STUFFED CALAMARI



Grilled Stuffed Calamari image

If your experience with calamari is limited to the deep-fried or boiled preparations, this grilled version will be a revelation.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Seafood Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 large ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 1/2 heads frisee, coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons capers
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 lime, zested and juiced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound squid, bodies only, rinsed and halved crosswise (about 8)

Steps:

  • Prepare a stove-top griddle or an outdoor grill.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, frisee, and capers. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons olive oil, lime juice and zest, and salt and pepper. Drizzle over the frisee mixture and toss to coat.
  • Stuff 1 tablespoon of the frisee mixture into each squid. Brush the remaining teaspoon of olive oil on the squid.
  • Grill for 5 to 7 minutes, turning frequently.

CALAMARI RIPIENI (STUFFED SQUID)



Calamari Ripieni (Stuffed Squid) image

Provided by Nancy Harmon Jenkins

Categories     appetizer

Time 55m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 head red radicchio
6 medium-size squid or calamari
2 ounces bacon, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs moistened in water and squeezed dry
1 egg
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup white wine

Steps:

  • Core and slice the radicchio into 1/4-inch slices.
  • Clean squid by removing the ink sac and the intestinal matter and discard. Cut off the tentacles and set aside both the squid and the tentacles.
  • In a frying pan, saute the bacon until slightly brown. Add the radicchio and tentacles, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and cook over low heat until the radicchio goes limp, about 4 minutes, adding water if needed. Remove ingredients to chopping board or food processor. Chop finely.
  • Place the chopped mixture in a medium-size bowl and add the bread crumbs and egg. Mix thoroughly.
  • Stuff each squid with the mixture. Place the squid with the extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet and cook over moderate heat about 20 minutes, basting with wine.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 237, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 11 grams, Fat 13 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 17 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 342 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams

STUFFED CALAMARI IN TOMATO SAUCE



STUFFED CALAMARI IN TOMATO SAUCE image

Categories     Fish     Bake     Christmas     Dinner

Yield 6-8 people

Number Of Ingredients 13

You will need:
2-4 pounds of calamari (squid)
Bread crumbs
Salt
Pepper
Fresh grated parmesan and/or romano cheese
Eggs
Garlic
Basil
Water
Milk
Basic tomato sauce
Any leftover portions of other seafood you're serving

Steps:

  • We purchase our calamari frozen. Thaw them under cool water, removing the weird plastic-like peices that you'll find in the body cavity. Remove the tentacles (they will be used0we boil and marinate some, fry some without brfeading and other with), leaving only the body cavity. Prepare the sauce: heat the olive oil, add garlic (but do not burn), add tomato sauce, basil, salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar if you like. Allow to simmer while preparing the stuffing. In a large bowl, add two 15oz. cans of bread crumbs (or four cups of fres), one head of minced garlic, a cup of water or milk, and an egg. Add as much cheese as you'dlike, and copious quantities of the chopped fish and squid. Mix by hand until you get a moist mixture, one that will stick together of its own accord (which means you can add water, milk, whatever until you achieve the consistency of, say, a meatball). Now it's time to stuff the calamari. We use those disposable aluminum trays from the super market, but you could also use a casserole dish. Cover the bottom with olive oil. Stuff the calamari-tight but not too tight, as the mixture will expand. Lay the stuffed calamari in the tray in rows (feel free to do more than one layer). Drizzle olive oil and cheese over the calamari, then add more basil to the sauce and pour the sauce over the entire thing. Cover with foil and a lid and then put in an oven that has been pre-heated to 450 degrees. Cook for about an hour (not really an exact science).

GRILLED CALAMARI STUFFED WITH SAUSAGE



Grilled Calamari Stuffed with Sausage image

My brother Michael is an inspiration to me because he is not afraid to try new things. He made this appetizer once and it has become a go-to. Give it a try.

Provided by Susan McGreevy

Categories     Seafood Appetizers

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 10

3/4 c fine fresh bread crumbs
1/3 c whole milk
3/4 tsp fennel seeds, optional
1/2 lb ground pork
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp paprika
12 small squid bodies plus tentacles, cleaned (about 1 lb)
3 Tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
1 Tbsp flat leaf parsley, chopped
lemon wedges

Steps:

  • 1. Soak bread crumbs in milk in a large bowl. Meanwhile, toast fennel seeds in a dry small skillet over medium low heat, shaking skillet occasionally, until fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Chop fennel seeds and add to bread crumb mixture along with pork, garlic, paprika, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Gently mix with your hands until well blended.
  • 2. Using a small spoon, loosely stuff squid with fennel sausage, leaving a 1/2 inch space at top. Seal tops using wooden picks. Prepare grill for direct heat cooking over medium hot charcoal or medium heat for gas.
  • 3. Coat stuffed squid and tentacles with oil and season with 1/2 tsp salt. Oil grill rack, then grill stuffed squid, turning frequently until golden in spots and an instant read thermometer inserted into center of filling register 150 to 155 degrees, about 13 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a platter. Grill tentacles until opaque and curled, about 1 minute and add to platter. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with parsely and serve with lemon wedges.

STUFFED CALAMARI



Stuffed Calamari image

Long a star on Camille Orrichio Loccisano's traditional Italian-American Feast of the Seven Fishes table, these stuffed squid were also a hit at her restaurant, the appropriately named Casa Calamari. After a slow simmer in briny tomato sauce, diced shrimp and peppery crumbs plump up into a rich stuffing that fills tender calamari bodies; they're like seafood dumplings in reverse.

Provided by Francis Lam

Categories     main course

Time 1h30m

Yield Serves 3-4

Number Of Ingredients 16

1/2 of an 8- or 10-ounce bag black-pepper taralli *see note
1 1/2 pounds large squid (about 12), cleaned, bodies and tentacles separated
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
Red-pepper flakes, to taste
3/4 pound peeled shrimp, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Kosher salt
1/4-1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Red-pepper flakes, to taste
4 garlic cloves, crushed
2 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 handful Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Steps:

  • In a food processor, pulse the taralli until it forms coarse crumbs. Measure 1 1/4 cups of the crumbs. Pulse the squid tentacles in the food processor to chop them fine, and pat them very dry with paper towels.
  • In a large skillet, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium heat. When shimmering, add the squid tentacles, and spread them out. Sear until golden brown, about 5 minutes, then add the butter, garlic and red-pepper flakes to taste. Cook, stirring, until the garlic just starts to color, about 1 minute.
  • Add the shrimp, season with salt and cook until just pink, about 2 minutes. Add the wine, and simmer for 1 minute. Turn off the heat, and stir in the taralli crumbs and lemon zest. The crumbs should look like wet, clumpy sand. If the mixture is too dry, sprinkle in a little more wine, and allow the filling to cool until just warm.
  • Stuff each squid body with the filling, leaving the bottom and top inches unfilled (the stuffing will expand as it cooks). Secure the tops with toothpicks, and season all over with salt.
  • Make the sauce: In a wide, deep pan, warm 1/4 cup olive oil over medium heat. Add red-pepper flakes to taste and the garlic, and cook until fragrant and just beginning to color. Stir in the tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper.
  • Bring the tomatoes to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer the sauce for 15 minutes. Add the calamari and any extra stuffing, and bring back to a very gentle simmer.
  • Cover the pan, and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally and adjusting the heat to make sure the sauce maintains a lazy bubble. Adjust with salt to taste. Garnish with the parsley. Serve with bread or pasta.

Tips:

  • Prep the Calamari Properly: Clean and remove the ink sac, beak, and entrails from the calamari. Score the body in a criss-cross pattern to help it cook evenly.
  • Use a Flavorful Stuffing: Experiment with different fillings to create unique flavor combinations. Consider using a mixture of seafood, vegetables, herbs, and seasonings.
  • Cook the Calamari Carefully: Overcooking can make the calamari tough and rubbery. Cook it quickly over high heat or bake it in the oven until it is just tender.
  • Serve with a Delicious Sauce: A flavorful sauce can enhance the taste of the stuffed calamari. Try a simple marinara sauce, a creamy pesto sauce, or a tangy lemon-butter sauce.

Conclusion:

Stuffed calamari is a versatile dish that can be prepared in a variety of ways. With its tender texture and delicious flavor, it is a popular choice for appetizers, main courses, and even street food. Whether you prefer a classic Italian recipe or a more modern twist, there is a stuffed calamari recipe out there to suit your taste. So, grab some fresh calamari and get creative in the kitchen!

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