This Italian-inspired risotto stuffed squid recipe makes a delicious dinner and it is impressive enough to serve at a dinner party. Calamari is often battered and deep-fried but in this recipe it is stuffed with tasty risotto and cooked on the grill or griddle, then served in slices for a beautiful presentation.
What Kind of Squid to Use for Risotto Stuffed Squid
You can use whatever size squid you like. Use smallish ones (the width of your palm) and each person can eat 2 or even 3, or use larger ones and 1 per person should be sufficient.
The size of the squid affects the cooking time (bigger squid take longer to become tender) but not the flavor. You might want to garnish the plates with some pan-fried baby squid. Otherwise consider a small salad or your favorite steamed veggies – maybe asparagus.
Risotto stuffed squid is always delicious and my favorite stuffed squid recipe has to be this one which I make often, but sometimes I like to try something new like stuffed squid soup or another take on stuffed calamari, perhaps with feta cheese, vegetables, or even a spicy filling.
There are no limits because squid is versatile. It is also forgiving – if you overcook it just keep going and it will eventually tenderize again. Squid can either be cooked for a couple minutes or nearly an hour (OK maybe not that much, it depends on the size). It will tenderize then toughen then tenderize again.
Making Tweaks to Your Risotto Stuffed Squid
Feel free to make tweaks to this risotto stuffed squid recipe if you wish, perhaps swapping the red and green onion for yellow onion, swapping the parsley for cilantro, or the chorizo for ham and parmesan. Make this recipe your own. The flavor is always good and this offers a beautiful Italian flavor with various Mediterranean accents.
Risotto Stuffed Squid
Risotto and calamari come together beautifully in this exquisite recipe. It is not hard to make and the results are dinner party worthy. Garlic, chorizo, parsley, arborio rice, and red onion star here.
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 mins
- Yield: 3 1x
- Category: Entree
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 6 cleaned medium squid tubes, with the tentacles finely chopped
- 1 finely chopped garlic clove
- 2 oz (60g) finely diced chorizo
- 2 oz (60g) arborio rice
- 1/2 finely diced small red onion
- 1 finely sliced green onion
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) boiling water
Instructions
- Saute the garlic, onions and chorizo in olive oil in a skillet for 3 minutes or until the onions are soft and the chorizo has released some of its fat.
- Stir in the uncooked rice, parsley and diced squid tentacles.
- Saute for 3 minutes then add quarter of the boiling water.
- Turn the heat to moderate and cook until the water has soaked into the rice.
- Repeat 3 more times using quarter of the water each time.
- Taste the rice.
- If it is not soft yet, repeat the above steps with 1/4 cup (60 ml) water each time until it is cooked through.
- Take it off the stove and let it cool for 15 minutes.
- Stuff the squid tubes with the cooled risotto, finishing 1/2 inch from the top of the tube.
- Push a toothpick through the top of the tube at the opening to stop any risotto leaking out.
- Cook on an indoor barbecue or outdoor grill or even on a griddle pan, for about 4 minutes a side depending on the squid size (small ones might only need 2 or 3 minutes while extra large ones could take 5 minutes a side).
- Once you can slip a long pointy knife through the squid quite easily, it is ready to serve.
- Serve in slices for the most attractive result, adding some vegetables as a side dish if you wish.
