Wine braised calamari with vegetables is an elegant and flavorful dish that requires only a few simple ingredients. The key to success is to use high-quality calamari that is cooked quickly over high heat. The result is a tender and succulent seafood dish that is sure to impress your guests. This article will provide you with a step-by-step guide to preparing this delicious dish, along with tips and tricks for achieving perfect results every time.
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WINE-BRAISED CALAMARI WITH VEGETABLES
With the right treatment, squid (a.k.a. calamari) can make a satisfying, almost meaty stew. Simmered in white wine and chicken broth, the squid becomes tender in about 30 minutes. And paired with carrots, turnips and peas, it produces a rich and flavorful winter braise.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories soups and stews, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven, warm olive oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add garlic, thyme, sage, red pepper and saffron (if using), then cook 1 minute more. Raise heat to high. Add squid and season generously with salt and pepper, stirring well to coat. Cook, stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, then add wine and boil for 1 minute.
- Add broth and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer 20 minutes, tasting the broth occasionally and adjusting the seasonings with salt and pepper.
- Add carrots and turnips, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes more, until tender.
- Add leeks and peas and cook 5 minutes more.
- Serve in wide soup bowls. Garnish with chopped parsley and chives.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 305, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 25 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 23 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 902 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams
CALAMARI ON PASTA
Provided by Food Network
Categories appetizer
Time 50m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cut squid bodies in half lengthwise and then cut in half widthwise. If the tentacles are large, cut them in half lengthwise. Set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large saute pan. Add garlic and shallot and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce, 1/4 cup water and white wine. Cook sauce over high heat for 5 minutes, until it reduces and thickens. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Add all but 1 tablespoon of the parsley to the tomato sauce, lower heat, and simmer, uncovered, for about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add linguini or spaghetti and cook until tender (time will vary according to freshness of pasta, but it should take at least 7 minutes). Drain well, shaking colander gently to remove excess moisture.
- Add calamari to tomato sauce, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until just cooked through. Taste for seasoning, and add more salt and pepper, if desired. Add the drained pasta and toss well. To serve, garnish with remaining parsley.
BRAISED CALAMARI STUFFED WITH SHRIMP, SPINACH AND HERBS
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!
GARLIC-AND-HERB-BRAISED SQUID
Categories Garlic Tomato Braise Dinner Squid White Wine Healthy Gourmet New York Sugar Conscious Pescatarian Paleo Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free
Yield Makes 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Rinse squid under cold water and pat dry. Halve any large tentacles lengthwise and cut bodies (including flaps, if attached) crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide rings.
- Chop enough parsley to measure 2 tablespoons and reserve. Chop remaining parsley and garlic together. Heat oil in a 4-quart heavy pot over low heat until hot, then cook parsley-garlic mixture and red-pepper flakes, stirring, until garlic begins to sizzle, about 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and add squid, then cook, stirring occasionally, until squid is barely opaque, about 1 minute. Add wine and briskly simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with their juice, water, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until squid is very tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
- Season with additional salt and pepper and stir in reserved parsley.
CALAMARI IN A CREAMY WHITE WINE SAUCE
This dish looks like you slaved over it and has such a rich taste that you don't need any sides. It is a creamy spicy calamari in white wine sauce over pasta. Dinner for two but easily doubled. Serve with the rest of the wine!
Provided by NUKA1
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 35m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add crushed garlic, and cook for a few seconds until it turns golden brown. Stir in the squid, and cook until it turns white. Pour in white wine and cherry pepper slices; bring to a simmer, and cook until the wine is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
- Stir cornstarch into the cream, and add to the simmering calamari. Season with red pepper flakes, basil, salt, and pepper; stir until thickened. To serve, toss pasta with sauce, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1229.5 calories, Carbohydrate 104.3 g, Cholesterol 417.3 mg, Fat 67.2 g, Fiber 4.8 g, Protein 38.9 g, SaturatedFat 32.5 g, Sodium 306 mg, Sugar 6.9 g
WARM CALAMARI WITH WINTER VEGETABLES
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories appetizer
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Mix tomatoes, vinegar and 4 tablespoons oil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Bring a couple of quarts of salted water to a boil. Add the brussels sprouts, cook 2 minutes, scoop out with a slotted spoon, drain and transfer to a cutting board. Add the fennel to the water, cook 90 seconds, drain and transfer to a large bowl. Trim away the bottom half-inch of the brussels sprouts. Pull the leaves off what remains of the sprouts until they no longer come off easily. Discard what's left of the sprouts. Add the leaves to the fennel.
- Heat a cast-iron skillet until very hot. Add the remaining oil. When hot, add the calamari, separating the pieces, and cook a couple of minutes. Add the shallot and garlic, lower heat to medium and sauté another minute, until softened. Add the beans, fennel and brussels sprout leaves. Sauté briefly, until everything is warmed through.
- Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper, and transfer to a shallow bowl for serving. Drizzle with the tomato vinaigrette.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 361, UnsaturatedFat 15 grams, Carbohydrate 29 grams, Fat 19 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 22 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 844 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams
STUFFED CALAMARI BRAISED WITH FRESH PEAS
Yield makes 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Leave the calamari bodies whole and chop the tentacles into 1/4-inch pieces.
- To make the stuffing: Heat 4 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic and cook, shaking the pan, until golden, about 1 minute. Scatter the chopped tentacles over the oil, sprinkle the thyme over them, and season lightly with crushed red pepper and salt. Cook until the liquid given off by the tentacles is evaporated and the tentacles begin to brown, about 6 minutes. Stir in the cognac, bring to a boil, and cook until it is almost completely evaporated. Stir in the bread crumbs and cook until they begin to toast, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the parsley, and set aside until cool enough to handle.
- Divide the stuffing evenly among the calamari, packing it lightly into the body cavities. An espresso spoon or small teaspoon is a good tool. (It will seem as though there is not enough stuffing, but the stuffing will expand and the calamari will shrink.) Seal the open end of the calamari with a toothpick.
- Heat 4 tablespoons of the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Slip as many of the stuffed calamari into the skillet as fit in a single layer. Cook, turning as necessary, until caramelized on both sides, about 8 minutes. Slip more calamari into the oil as those in the pan shrink. Transfer the calamari to a plate as they are done, leaving behind as much oil as possible. Stir the onion into the oil remaining in the pan and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 4 minutes. Stir in the peas and season lightly with salt and crushed red pepper. Lower the heat to low and cover the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the peas are tender, about 20 minutes for fresh peas or 10 minutes for frozen peas.
- Return the calamari to the pan. Sprinkle the scallions over them, pour in the stock, and season lightly with salt. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat so the sauce is simmering. Simmer, uncovered, until the calamari are tender and there is barely enough liquid to moisten the peas, about 20 minutes. Drizzle in the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Transfer the calamari to warm plates or a platter and spoon the sauce and peas over and around them. Serve immediately.
Tips:
- Mise en Place: Before you begin cooking, ensure all your ingredients are prepped and measured. This will help the cooking process run smoothly.
- Choose Calamari Wisely: Select fresh calamari with a firm texture and translucent appearance. Avoid any with a slimy or discolored look.
- Clean Calamari Properly: Clean the calamari thoroughly by removing the head, ink sac, and any remaining entrails. Rinse the tubes and tentacles under cold water, then pat them dry with paper towels.
- Use a Dutch Oven or Large Skillet: A Dutch oven or large skillet with a lid is ideal for braising the calamari. This will allow the flavors to develop and the calamari to cook evenly.
- Brown the Calamari: Before braising, brown the calamari in a hot skillet with olive oil. This will add depth of flavor and color to the dish.
- Use a Quality Wine: Choose a dry white wine that you enjoy drinking. The wine will add flavor and acidity to the braising liquid.
- Add Aromatics: Enhance the flavor of the dish by adding aromatics such as garlic, onion, celery, and carrots to the braising liquid.
- Use a Variety of Vegetables: Choose a mix of vegetables that will hold up well during the braising process. Good options include bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, and tomatoes.
- Cook on Low Heat: Braise the calamari and vegetables on low heat for at least 1 hour, or until the calamari is tender. This will allow the flavors to meld and the vegetables to soften.
- Serve Immediately: Once the calamari and vegetables are cooked, serve immediately. You can garnish the dish with fresh herbs like parsley or basil.
Conclusion:
Wine-braised calamari with vegetables is an easy-to-make yet elegant dish that showcases the deliciousness of calamari. With its tender texture and vibrant flavors, this dish is sure to impress your family and friends. Whether you're hosting a special occasion or simply looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, this recipe is an excellent choice. So, gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and get ready to create a culinary masterpiece that will tantalize your taste buds!
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