Stuffed Squid

Ingredients

For the squid and stuffing

• 800g medium-sized whole squid (with tentacles), cleaned
• 50g pumpkin seeds, lightly toasted
• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
• 85g raisins
• 120ml dry white wine
• 250g ready to eat spelt grains
• 15g chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 15g chopped fresh herb fennel or dill
• 15g chopped fresh mint leaves
• salt and pepper

For the tomato sauce

• ½ tin (200g) chopped tomatoes
• 120ml dry white wine
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method

First toast the pumpkin seeds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat, stirring occasionally until they are golden on both sides. Put them into a large bowl that you’ll be making the stuffing in.

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and sauté the onions and garlic over a medium heat until softened and translucent.

In the meantime, chop 6 of the tentacles (reserve the others). Add these to the onion mixture along with the raisins.

Pour in the wine and simmer until half of the liquid evaporates.
Put this mixture into the bowl with the pumpkin seeds.

Mix in the spelt grains and chopped herbs, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Fill the squid with the stuffing mixture. Use a cocktail stick to secure and close the open ends of the squid.

To create the sauce
Pour half the olive oil into a large, wide heavy-based saucepan. Place the stuffed squid in the pan so that they fit in snugly.

Cut each of the reserved tentacles in half, lengthways and drop into the pan.

Pour in the wine and chopped tomatoes and drizzle over the remaining olive oil. Place on a lid and simmer over a low heat for approximately 40 minutes, or until the squid is tender.

Remove from the heat, cool slightly and remove the cocktail sticks before serving with the sauce spooned over.