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Calamari con Piselli (Traditional Italian Squid with Peas)
Squid with Peas (Calamari con Piselli) is a classic recipe of Italian cuisine. The intense flavor of the squid goes perfectly with the sweetness of the peas. Squid and Peas represents the ideal solution to offer your guests, a really delicious and particular fish dish.The recipe for Calamari with Peas is common throughout Italy, from north to south with very small regional differences.
Ingredients
- 500 g cleaned squid (frozen or fresh) - 1.1 pound
- 450 g shelled peas - 2 cups
- 150 ml dry white wine - ½ cup
- 350 ml tomato puree - ⅔ cup
- 2 garlic cloves
- ½ medium onion
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 fresh or dried chili - (optional)
- salt - to taste
- pepper - to taste
Instructions
- Once you have cleaned the calamari (read the paragraph "How to Clean Calamari"): if they are medium to large in size like ours, cut them into rings or pieces and set aside. Otherwise, if they are baby squid, you can also leave them whole.
- In a fairly large skillet, heat the oil with two peeled garlic cloves. After about two minutes, add the thinly chopped onion. Sauté over low heat until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Add the squid. Cook along with the onion and garlic to flavor them, for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
- If you're using fresh peas like we did, add them now. If you're using frozen or canned peas, however, add them 10 minutes before the end of cooking time (step 5).
- Now add the white wine, stir and let it evaporate. Finally, remove the garlic cloves and add the hot chilli pepper (optional).
- Add the tomato passata and mix all well.
- Add a little fine salt to taste and a little freshly ground black pepper. Stir and lower the heat. Cover with a lid and simmer for about 30 minutes until the squid is tender. The squid should not overcook or it will become hard and rubbery.
- If using frozen or canned peas, add them 10 minutes before the end of cooking.
- After about 30 minutes, the squid with peas are ready. Taste and season with salt if necessary. Let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU START!
- You can use fresh or frozen calamari. If you are using frozen squid, remember to defrost them in the refrigerator at least a few hours ahead of time. Either way, you need to CLEAN THE SQUID before you start cooking them. You can buy them already clean, ask the fishmonger to clean them for you or clean them yourself. In this last case, carefully read the paragraph below "How to Clean Calamari".
- If you use FREASH PEAS you'll obviously have to shell them and rinse them. Furthermore they have a longer cooking time than frozen ones, so follow carefully the instructions below.
- If you want to make the recipe for Squid and Peas "in Bianco" (that is WITHOUT TOMATOES), then skip step number 6.
Nutrition
Serving: 100gCalories: 410kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 28gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 291mgSodium: 92mgPotassium: 1.097mgFiber: 9gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 1.504IUVitamin C: 79mgCalcium: 97mgIron: 5mg
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