Updated: 18 November, 2024 @ 12:04
If you’ve never cooked squid before then rush down to your fishmonger now and buy one. Then come back here, and take a look at some wonderful squid recipes, many of which are super quick, super easy, and super delicious.
Strange squid
Squid is a strange one. You’ll find calamari on the menus of some of the country’s most popular pub-restaurant chains, yet it seems very few people link calamari to squid – with even fewer having a go at cooking squid themselves.
That’s a shame. Squid is cheap and a good source of omega-3 oils. It’s also easy to prepare – after a couple of goes. Just don’t forget to remove the squid’s strange, parrot-like beak. This video will help you conquer squid preparation.
Squid recipes
There are some fantastic squid recipes out there. Chargrilled squid with courgettes, white beans and lemon dressing from Marcus Wareing, New Classics is a good place to start. Another cracker is Spice salted squid from the beautiful Persiana, by Sabrina Ghayour.
We also have a summer sizzler in the form of Calamari souvlaki from Rick Stein’s Long Weekend. Or how about stuffed Squid, Corsican-style from Alan Davidson’s, Mediterranean Seafood.
You can read our review of Alan Davidson’s Mediterranean Seafood here.
You can read our review of The International Squid Cookbook is here.
For us, the ultimate squid cookery book is the increasingly rare, The International Squid Cookbook, by Isaac Cronin. What. A. Book. If you can get hold of this book, then buy it. You might be able to grab a copy at Amazon.
Buying and storage
Avoid any squid that is showing signs of pinkness. Under the skin of a fresh squid the flesh should be pure white.
Prepare your squid as soon as you can, even if you’re not cooking it until later in the day. Once prepared, we normally marinate the squid in a little olive and salt, whack it into a sealable container and place on the bottom shelf of the fridge. Remember to bring the squid back to room temperature before cooking.
Seasonality
Avoid Squid from December to May – it’s breeding season.
Sustainability
The latest Marine Conservation Society Good Fish Guide rating for Squid can be found here.