Hi, friends! I’m so excited to share with you one of my favorite recipes of all time: Portuguese style stuffed squid. This dish is a staple in my family, and I grew up eating it on special occasions. It’s a dish that always brings back happy memories and makes me feel cozy and comforted.
If you’ve never had stuffed squid before, you might be wondering what it tastes like. Well, let me tell you: it’s absolutely delicious. The squid are tender and juicy, and the filling is savory and flavorful. The filling is made with bacon, chorizo, onion, garlic, flour, and milk, and it’s seasoned with salt, pepper, and parsley.
The filling is stuffed into the squid bodies, which are then secured with toothpicks. The stuffed squid are then cooked in a rich tomato sauce with peas and carrots, which adds more color and texture to the dish.
The tomato sauce is made with olive oil, onion, garlic, tomato, white wine, salt, and pepper. It’s simple but so tasty. The sauce complements the stuffed squid perfectly, and it also goes well with the side dishes. You can serve this dish with french fries or white rice, or both if you’re feeling extra hungry. And don’t forget the lemon slices for a burst of freshness.
This dish is not hard to make, but it does require some time and patience. You’ll need to clean the squid, chop the ingredients, make the filling, stuff the squid, make the sauce, and cook everything together. But trust me: it’s totally worth it. The result is a hearty and satisfying meal that will impress anyone who tries it.
I love making this dish for my family and friends, especially on cold or rainy days. It’s a dish that warms you up from the inside out. It’s also a great dish to make ahead and reheat later, as the flavors get even better over time. You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If you’re looking for a cozy and delicious meal that will make you feel like you’re in Portugal, you have to try this Portuguese style stuffed squid recipe. It’s one of those dishes that will make you happy and satisfied every time you eat it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Ingredients
- 3.5 oz bacon
- 3.5 oz chorizo
- 8 medium cleaned squid
- 2 tbsp virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1 cup low-fat milk
- 1 tsp salt
- black pepper to taste
- 2.8 oz butter
- 2.8 oz peeled tomato
- 3.5 oz frozen peas Pingo Doce
- 4.2 oz carrot
- 0.2 cup white wine
- lemon to taste
Instructions
- Wash the squid under running water, separate the body from the tentacles and season with a little salt.
- In a food processor, chop the bacon, the chorizo and the squid tentacles coarsely.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat some olive oil and sauté half of the onion and garlic until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the bacon, chorizo, and tentacle mixture and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir well to combine. Gradually whisk in the milk and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
- With a spoon, stuff the squid with the filling and secure with a toothpick. Reserve a tablespoon of filling for later.
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, heat some more olive oil and sauté the remaining onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped tomato, peas, carrot, and reserved filling and stir well.
- Pour in the white wine and bring the sauce to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until slightly reduced, about 15 minutes. Add some water if needed to adjust the consistency of the sauce.
- Carefully add the stuffed squid to the sauce and spoon some sauce over them. Cover the pot with a lid and cook over low heat until the squid are tender, about 20 minutes.
- Transfer the squid and sauce to a large platter and garnish with lemon slices. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can use fresh or frozen squid for this recipe. If using frozen, make sure to thaw them completely before stuffing.
- You can also use canned tomato sauce instead of peeled tomato if you prefer.
- If you like spicy food, you can add some red pepper flakes or hot sauce to the filling or sauce for some extra kick.
- To make the stuffing more moist and flavorful, you can add some grated cheese, such as parmesan or manchego, to the mixture. Cheese will also help bind the filling together and prevent it from falling out of the squid.
- To add some freshness and color to the dish, you can sprinkle some chopped parsley or cilantro over the squid and sauce before serving. You can also add some lemon zest to the filling or sauce for a bright citrus note.
- To make the dish more hearty and satisfying, you can add some cooked rice, quinoa, couscous, or orzo to the sauce. This will also help thicken the sauce and absorb some of the delicious flavors.
- To make the dish more elegant and refined, you can slice the stuffed squid into rings and arrange them on a platter with the sauce. This will also make it easier to serve and eat, as you won’t have to deal with the toothpicks.
- To make the dish more varied and interesting, you can use different types of sausages or cured meats for the filling, such as ham, salami, prosciutto, or pancetta. You can also use different types of cheese, such as mozzarella, cheddar, or feta. Experiment with different combinations and see what you like best.
