Squid with olives

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PRESENTATION

Calamari alle olive is, honestly, such a really good seafood dish straight out of Sicily. It’s where the freshness of the sea meets those simple yet colorful flavors. And you know what? This dish shines bright with its tender squid, garlic, shallots, and parsley. The tangy kick just takes the calamari olive recipe to the next level.

Plus, the black olives? They add this rich, salty depth. Really, it's super super flavorful. And with a splash of white wine, there's this sweet aroma that makes every bite unforgettable. Now, cleaning squid might seem daunting at first—honestly, it does—but once you try it, you’ll find this squid olive dish surprisingly easy to prepare. Seriously good.

Over in Messina, there’s this special twist on the classic, known as “calamari alla messinese.” Here, cooks sometimes throw in more local herbs or even some fresh tomatoes for a brighter sauce. It’s not just any Italian seafood dish; it’s a Mediterranean gem. Really feels like summer on a plate. And the sauce? Perfect to pair with slices of crispy toasted bread, just soaking up every last drop.

The result? Light yet filling. Pretty much the squid stays tender and the olives offer that salty punch. Whether it's a quick calamari appetizer or served alongside a chilled glass of wine, this dish brings a taste of Sicily right to your table. It's a fantastic way to explore new flavors—minimal fuss required—and once you dive into that perfect mix of seafood, herbs, and olives, you'll get why it's a staple in Sicilian kitchens. This calamari with olives recipe isn’t just a meal; it's a celebration of regional Italian cuisine, a reminder of the beautiful simplicity of Mediterranean cooking. Really, it’s all you need.

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INGREDIENTS
Calamari (squid) 2.2 lbs (1 kg)
Black olives 1 ½ cup (200 g)
Tomato purée ⅓ cup (80 g)
Shallot 1
Dry white wine ½ cup (100 ml)
Butter 3 ½ tbsp (50 g)
Parsley 4 sprigs
Garlic 1 clove
Extra virgin olive oil 3 spoonfuls
Fine salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Preparation

How to prepare Squid with olives

To make the squid with olives, start by cleaning the squid following our cooking school guide: How to clean squid. Rinse the squid under running water 1, then gently detach the head from the body with your hands and set it aside 2. Also remove the transparent cartilage pen found in the body. Rinse the squid again under running water and remove the innards. Finally, remove the outer skin 3.

Now that your squid is clean, cut it into rings about half an inch thick 4. Chop the shallot, garlic, and parsley together 5. Heat the oil and butter in a pan 6,

add the chopped shallot, parsley, and garlic 7, sauté for a few seconds, then add the squid 8 and brown them for five minutes over medium heat. After five minutes, deglaze with white wine 9, let it evaporate,

add the tomato sauce 10, and finally add the black olives 11. Cook for about ten minutes over low heat, making sure the cooking liquid does not dry out too much; in this case, you could add a ladle of hot water. Adjust the salt 12

and pepper 13 to finish the preparation. Your squid with olives is ready 14; serve it with slices of toasted bread and enjoy it while hot 15.

Storage

You can store the squid with olives in the refrigerator for one day. It is possible to freeze the preparation if fresh fish was used.

Advice

This is an exceptional dish, for its taste, because it cooks in a flash, but also because it is very versatile. Don't like squid? Bring on the cuttlefish, sepia, or octopus! Do you find the taste of black olives too strong? Replace them with green ones! In other words: create your favorite version, then tell us about it :)

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.