~ Calamari (Squid) is very well known in the Greek Cuisine.
~ Whether is deep fried, boiled, cooked with other food, barbequed or stuffed, calamari is very nutritious and it can be used as an appetizer or as a main dish.
~ Ingredients:
~ 1 1/2 kilo of fare size squid
~ 1/2 a cup of dry white wine
~ 1/2 a cup of olive oil
~ 1/4 a cup of corn oil
~ 2-3 garlic cloves (crushed or sliced)
~ 1/2 tsp of cinnamon powder
~ 1/2 a cup of finely chopped onion
~ 1 tbsp of tomato paste
~ 2 cups of hot water
~ 4 tbsp of rice
~ 1/2 tsp of dry mint
~ Salt and Pepper to taste
~ Let us suppose that the squid you buy is fresh and cleaned.
~ Wash well, remove the head and tentacles, cut in small pieces and strain them.
~ Place the corn oil in a sauce pan and fry the squid bags until they have a golden color.(Optional)
~ Take squid out of the sauce pan and put onions and tentacles to fry, add the wine, the dissolved tomato paste in a cup of hot water, cinnamon, garlic cloves, mint, salt and pepper.
~ Reduce heat, cover the pan and simmer for about 30 minutes.
~ Add the rice and simmer for about another 15-20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed by the rice and the rest of the ingredients.
~ With the rice and tentacle mixture stuff the squid bags and place them in a sauce pan in rows.
~ Pour over them the olive oil, one cup of hot water, cover the pan and cook on low heat for about an hour or until the squid is tender.
~ Stuffed Squid is served hot.
~ Good Luck and enjoy.
