European Recipes: Greek Recipes: Calamaria Gemista(Stuffed Squid)

* Exported from MasterCook *

                     CALAMARIA GEMISTA (STUFFED SQUID)

Recipe By     :
Serving Size : 4    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Seafood                          Greek

   Amount Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
    3       lb           Large fresh squid
      1/2   c            Olive oil
    1       c            Coarsely chopped onion
                         -(packed)
      1/3   c            Long-grain rice
      1/4   c            Pine nuts
    2       lg           Garlic cloves -- chopped
      1/4   c            Currants
      3/4   c            Dry white or red wine
                         Salt & freshly ground pepper
                         -to taste
      3/4   c            Chopped fresh parsley
                         -(packed)
      1/4   c            Chopped fresh dill, packed
    4       tb           Chopped fresh mint
    2       c            Peeled, seeded tomatoes
                         -(chopped)

   Wash and clean squid. Grasp the head just below the eyes, pull it off from
   the rest of the body, and set it aside. Cut away the thin purplish membrane
   on the outside of the tail section. Using your index finger, scoop out and
   discard the guts and thin cartilage "icicle" on the inside of the tail
   section. Rinse tail sections inside and out and set aside in a colander to
   drain. Take the head section in one hand and put pressure with your thumb
   and forefinger around the mouth and eyes, to squeeze them out. Discard
   mouth and eyes.

   Chop the squid tentacles and have them ready, as they will be used in the
   stuffing.

   In a large skillet, heat half the oilve oil and saute onion until wilted.
   Add rice, tentacles, and pine nuts and saute over medium-low heat for 2 to
   3 minutes. Add garlic and currants to rice and stir quickly with a woodent
   spoon. Pour in 1/4 cup wine and 1/4 cup water. Season with salt and
   pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until liquid is almost
   completely absorbed and rice is soft but only about half cooked, about 15
   minutes. About 5 minutes before removing skillet from heat, add parsley,
   dill and mint. Remove and let cool enough to handle.

   Using a small teaspoon or a butter knife, carefully fill about three
   quarters of each squid with the rice mixture. Use toothpicks to secure
   closed. Pour remaining olive oil into a large stewing pot. Place squid
   carefully in pot. Pour in remaining wine and enough water to cover. Bring
   to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer, covered for about 1-1/2 hours,
   or until rice is cooked and squid fork-tender. Twenty minutes before
   removing squid from heat, add chopped tomatoes to pot and adjust seasoning
   with salt and pepper. Check throughout cooking to see if more water is
   necessary so that mixture doesn't dry out. Serve squid hot or cold with a
   simple green salad.

   SERVING SUGGESTIONS: This dish needs a delicate wine such as a Robola
   Callinga or Santorini Boutari. Serve with wild greens (horta), 'horiatiki
   salata (village salad), and a beautiful olive bread.