Stuffed Calamari

5 from 1 vote

Tender braised stuffed calamari with breadcrumbs, parmesan, and fresh parsley. The stuffed calamari is simmered in a simple marinara sauce.

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Total Time1

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Servings: servings

Calories: 1785kcal

Cost: $15

Roughly chop the tentacles and place in a small bowl with lemon juice
In a medium bowl, combine breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, parmesan, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, and garlic. Add the chopped tentacles and olive oil. Combine until the mixture reaches the consistency of damp sand. You may need to add more olive oil.
Use a small spoon to stuff the tubes with the breadcrumb mixture. Stuff them about ⅔ full and then use a toothpick to close off the tubes.
Place a large saucepan over medium heat. Add a tablespoon of olive oil. Stir in the garlic until fragrant and slightly browned, about 90 seconds.
Add the crushed tomatoes to the pan and bring to a low simmer. Place the stuffed calamari in the sauce and continue to simmer for 35-45 minutes, or until calamari are tender.
Serve immediately.

The bigger the calamari, the better. I used little squids here, but the bigger you can find, the better. They stuff a lot easier and can be served as a meal.
Always buy frozen calamari. Freezing and thawing the calamari will tenderize the muscles.
Calamari can be cooked quickly or tenderized over a long period of time. In this recipe, we simmer the calamari for ¾ of an hour.
Reheat stuffed calamari in a small saucepan until heated through.
Have leftover breadcrumb mixture? Form them into patties and fry them in olive oil.