mercoledì 22 dicembre 2010

Black squid ink spaghetti - Spaghetti al nero di seppie

Kuki's mom knows that's one of the few ways I do really like spaghetti and that it's a bit difficult to find fresh squids with their own ink in Milan (although, I couldn't) so she prepared this dish for my arrival in Sicily.
The intense black color and strong iodine taste makes it irresistible. This is nothing new. In popular crime novel by Andrea Camilleri, Sicilian police captain Montalbano is invited for dinner by the police Superintendent. "My wife will prepare spaghetti in squid ink. An exquisiteness". Montalbano is so taken with the prospect of eating this legendary dish that during the whole novel he makes every effort not to confront his superior in the thorny case in he's working on so that the spaghetti in squid ink can be safe.  Finally Montalbano calls him the day before:
  -Superintentent? I am calling to say I am really mortified, but won't be able to make it for dinner tomorrow.
  -You are mortified because we cannot meet, or because of the squid ink pasta?
  -Both Sir.

(Thanks to fxcuisine for the Camilleri translation)

For 4 people:
  • 4 squids with their ink pockets (if they don't come with their ink you will need to buy 2 bags of squid ink)
  • 1/2lt of tomato sauce
  • 1 medium onion
  • 400grs long pasta (ie spaghetti, linguine)
  • parsley
  • red hot chili peppers
  • oil
Peel and wash the squids, then cut them into pieces or rings. Cut the onion into tiny cubes and fry it in a large pan with 2 tablespoons of oil, then add the squids and cook over a medium-high flame until when they are cooked through. Add the tomato sauce along with a few pieces of peppers (depending on how much spicy you do like it) and let it cook for 5 mins. Then add the squid ink and the chopped parsley. You will see the ink spreading in the bright red sauce and turning everything to the darkest shade of black. Let it cook for a few minutes and turn off the flame. Cook the pasta, then pour it in the saucepan (or vice-versa) and cook it with the sauce for 30 secs.
Serve.

Eat & taste.
Be careful to your clothes!

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