recipe

Stuffed Calamari in Tomato Sauce

Total time: 60 mins.

Difficulty: Low

Serves: 4 people

This delicious dish is tender squid tubes filled with a mixture of fresh breadcrumbs, chopped black olives, parsley, olive oil, and roasted tentacles. They are then fried until golden before being simmered in tomato sauce. This is a delicious seafood dish with a juicy filling, a lovely Mediterranean flavor, and plenty of tomato sauce to mop up with a piece of crusty bread.

This recipe is a lovely choice for seafood lovers and can be served with pasta, roasted potatoes, rice, or crusty bread.

What Is Stuffed Calamari in Tomato Sauce?

Stuffed calamari, often known in Italian as calamari ripieni, is a traditional seafood dish found in various parts of Italy. Recipes vary from region to region and from one family kitchen to another. Some cooks use breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs, and cheese, while others add capers, olives, anchovies, seafood, or other ingredients to create their own signature filling.

One of the best things about stuffed calamari is how resourceful the recipe is. Instead of discarding the tentacles, they're cooked, chopped, and incorporated into the filling.

Pro Tips for the Best Stuffed Calamari

Clean the squid carefully, remove the innards, transparent cartilage, and beak, taking care not to tear the bodies. Keep the tubes intact so they can hold the filling without leaking during cooking.
The breadcrumbs can taste bland without enough seasoning. Mix everything thoroughly and taste a tiny portion of the cooked filling if you want to check the seasoning safely before assembling the squid.
Leave room inside each squid because the filling expands slightly and the squid can shrink as it cooks, so pack it loosely rather than cramming every last crumb inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do I Need to Roast the Squid Tentacles First?

Roasting the tentacles before adding them to the filling develops their flavor and gives them a firmer texture that's easy to chop. It also helps prevent the filling from becoming unnecessarily wet.

How Do I Stop Stuffed Calamari from Becoming Tough?

The key is to monitor the cooking time and temperature. Squid can turn rubbery when cooked for too long over high heat. Avoid letting the sauce boil aggressively. If the squid isn't tender after the initial simmer, continue cooking gently and check it at short intervals until it reaches the desired texture.

Can I Use Store-Bought Tomato Sauce?

Yes, ready-made tomato sauce is a convenient choice for this recipe. Choose a sauce with a flavor you enjoy, preferably one that isn't excessively sweet or heavily seasoned, since the olives and squid already contribute plenty of character. If you have a little extra time, you can enrich the sauce with a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of black pepper or some fresh parsley.

How to Store Leftovers

If you have leftover stuffed calamari, don't leave it sitting on the kitchen counter but refrigerate promptly. You should also eat it within 48 hours. Discard any leftovers that have been left out too long or show signs of spoilage. When in doubt, it's safer not to eat them.