Let's talk about squid. This is a wonderful delicious delicacy. It is rich in vitamins and proteins, minerals, trace elements. In addition, it has a low calorie content, but at the same time it is very nutritious, which has made it popular among those who follow a diet. However, not all dishes with this ingredient are tasty. Why? But because not everyone knows how to cook them. Squids (how to clean and cook them - we will discuss them in detail below), so to speak, are very demanding in terms of processing, and not every housewife, especially a beginner, will cope with the task, planning to treat the family with a tasty and healthy dish. However, this is not a reason to deny yourself pleasure. We will share with you the main secrets.
Oh, that squid ...
How to clean and cook these representatives of marine fauna, many know. Theoretically ... But as soon as it comes to practice, problems begin. Gurus in the field of cooking, of course, have their secrets. We are not one of them, but, as they say, we will help as much as we can.
It is believed that these mollusks are difficult to cook, but this is not so. We want to debunk this myth. There is nothing complicated in technology, you just need to own certain information. In principle, it all boils down to one question: "How to cook and clean?" Squids are very moody. If you overdo the seafood in hot water, it will become rubber, and the dish itself will become tasteless. And properly cooked, they are very tasty and nutritious.
So, let's begin with what we will understand: are squids first cleaned or boiled? What to do? In general, untreated are considered more useful and of high quality. After all, in factories they are subjected to heat treatment, because of which they become more stringent. However, the inhabitants of the Mediterranean countries know a lot about their preparation. So, they advise doing this: first thaw the seafood to room temperature, and then dip in boiling water for a couple of minutes (the skin should curl up), drain the unnecessary liquid and send the carcass to cold water now. Believe me, after these manipulations the curled skin can be very easily removed. Then the insides are removed. And now our squid is almost ready. The hardest part has already been completed. This method, in our opinion, is the best, it allows you to maintain the softness, juiciness and tenderness of the product.
Time matters
We have already figured out how to clean squid. How much to cook squid - remains to be seen. And this is done so. In the water put pepper in a pot, salt and, of course, bay leaf. Next, you need to wait until the liquid boils, then you need to lower the carcass into it for literally ten seconds and quickly remove it. Thus it is necessary to do with every piece.
Complicated? Not at all. However, this is not all. It would seem that what else should be done to the hostess for the preparation of these seafood, except how to clean and cook? Squids, especially properly cooked, are a delicious delicacy. But in order to feed relatives with it, and not with “rubber,” it is advisable to practice. There is a need for skill. Try at least a couple of times to cook the clam in the way that we described above. And it’s not necessary to spoil the whole carcass; it’s enough to cut off a couple of pieces. And remember: prolonged heat treatment (over 3 minutes) is contraindicated! She completely deprives the seafood of any taste, and even about nutrients and can not speak. Tender meat turns into a piece of sole that cannot be chewed.
Here he is moody - squid. How to clean and cook these cephalopods, obviously, is already clear. But, as they say, there is no limit to perfection, which means we will continue to get acquainted with the tricks of culinary craftsmanship. So...
Another way to cook
There are actually many ways to make squid. However, to be honest, they are not all good. We want to offer you another option worthy of attention. We need to bring the water to a boil with spices and salt, and then put our clams there. Immediately remove the pan from the fire. And let them stand in boiling water for about ten minutes.
Speaking about what a wonderful squid product is, how to clean and cook it correctly, it is impossible not to mention another method of its preparation - without the defrosting process. To do this, just dip the carcass into boiling water for literally one minute, then turn off the fire and hold for another two to three minutes in the water.
Not only cook, but also fry
Squid is that universal product from which you can make a lot of delicious dishes. All of them are very diverse and not so difficult to prepare. And now you will see this.
So, you have a squid on your table. How to clean and cook it, we figured it out, now let's find out how to fry it properly.
You may be surprised, but before frying the clams should be boiled. To do this, use one of the above methods. Next, cut them into rings or in the form of straws. Dip each slice in a beaten egg sauce with salt, sour cream and spices, crust in breadcrumbs and fry in vegetable oil, or better, butter, but not more than five minutes.
Wonderful are the squid baked in the oven or on the wire rack. But for this cooking option, they must first be marinated for several hours. As marinade, you can use lemon juice, garlic, pepper and paprika. Then the mollusks are placed on a wire rack and baked, dousing with the remaining liquid.
As a rule, inexperienced cooks are interested in how to clean squids: before cooking or after it? Of course, by simply pre-dousing them with boiling water. Knowing this simple secret, you can easily cope with the preparation of any clam dish.
Stuffed squid
First squid cleaned, and then beat off each carcass. Then half need to fill the carcass with minced meat. As a filling, you can take eggs with mushrooms, rice with vegetables, cheese and shrimp, apples and cottage cheese. The edges of the squid can be held together with toothpicks, and then stewed in the oven in a small amount of liquid. A couple of minutes before they are ready, they can be sprinkled with cheese and sent back to the oven to form a tanned crust. In the finished form, the dish can be poured with wine, cream, sour cream, walnut or tomato sauce.
Do not be surprised that in many recipes you will find an unusual combination of products. For example, squid with crab sticks and corn, with minced meat, sprats and bread, dried fruits and nuts.
In any national cuisine there are a lot of their secrets of cooking clams. But you always need to remember one rule. Do not overload such dishes with spices. The main ingredient has the ability to actively absorb all the surrounding odors. Therefore, your culinary masterpiece may turn out to be too saturated.
By itself, cooked seafood is not everything, you need to choose the right side dish for it. For example, vegetables, rice, pasta. Then decorate the finished dish with herbs and lemon, olives. Then the dish will generally be harmonious and unique.
How to choose when buying fresh squid?
To prepare a good dish, you must first purchase a fairly fresh product. Squid meat is usually sold frozen. Carcasses are sometimes even with tentacles. Any frozen product should not be frozen and thawed several times. Improper storage conditions can nullify all tastes. Because it is not surprising that there is an unpleasant smell of fish and a bitter taste. When cooking, such a clam sprawls in the hands and foams heavily during cooking. A dish from such a squid will not work out delicious, and here it is not your fault, and the matter is not in the recipe. Therefore, carefully inspect the goods when choosing it in a supermarket.
The shell of the mollusk should have a dense consistency. The top film that you will be shooting has a brownish-pink hue, and the meat inside is white.
Never buy peeled carcasses. Of course, this is convenient. But it is the squid film - this is the part by which you can probably determine its freshness. How? Yes, very simple. Look: if the skin is yellowish and the meat inside is not white, then it is better not to buy such a product. Surely he has long been in the window.
Little trick
Imagine a situation where you still accidentally digested squid, and the meat became tough. Dont be upset. Not so bad. Do not immediately throw out the product. There is a little trick that will make the carcass softer. For this squid you need to boil for about an hour. Yes yes exactly! Of course, the mollusk will greatly decrease in size and lose almost all of its useful properties, but then you will correct the situation. Yes, and gain your own experience in the preparation of these inhabitants of the deep sea.
What delicious can you cook with squid?
Most often, squid meat is used to make salads, but they can also be served as an independent dish.
Naturally, seafood salads are not prepared in large quantities. This is a delicious and nutritious product with a specific taste, because the main ingredient is squid itself. He must prevail. The remaining components should be put much less.
Calamari Rice Salad Recipe
How to cook and clean squid for salad, we have already figured out. Let's look at a few recipes now.
For cooking, take:
- Rice - 100 g.
- Eggs - 3 pcs.
- Squids (better than their fillet) - 250 g.
- Green peas (canned) - ½ banks.
- Dill greens - one bunch.
- Salt and pepper are placed to your taste.
- Sour cream with mayonnaise.
For cooking, boil rice. Squid clean and boil one of the above methods. Then we cut them in the form of rings. Cut boiled eggs and mix with squid and peas. Mix sour cream with mayonnaise for dressing, add salt and pepper, and chopped herbs. Mix all ingredients, seasoning with sauce. So the salad is ready.
Squid with potatoes and onions
Take the following set of products:
- Potato - 0.5 kg.
- Squid (fillet) - 0.4-0.5 kg.
- Vegetable oil.
- Onions - 100 g.
- Green onion.
- Ground pepper.
- Table vinegar.
To prepare the salad, boiled squid carcasses need to be cut in the form of straws. Boil the potatoes in their skins, cool, and then peel and cut into cubes. Cut the onion into rings. Combine all ingredients gently by adding ground pepper. You can also sprinkle a little vinegar. The salad itself is seasoned with vegetable oil.
Instead of an afterword
As you can see, recipes for seafood dishes are not at all complicated. The main thing is to properly clean and cook the clams. And further cooking is not difficult. Take advantage of our tips and you will be pleasantly surprised by the result. Enjoy your meal!