Calamari Stew
If you’ve ever travelled through Croatia, you would have seen how every part of this small country boasts distinct cuisines, each reflecting its unique geographical and cultural influences. From the coastal regions to the inland areas, the diversity in Croatian food is as vibrant as the landscape itself.
On the coast, Dalmatian cuisine is heavily influenced by Mediterranean flavours. This region is famous for its fresh seafood, olive oil and an abundance of vegetables. Moving northwest, Istria is known for its truffles and wines. The Istrian Peninsula is often referred to as the "Tuscany of Croatia" due to its rolling hills and vineyards. In the eastern region of Slavonia, the cuisine takes a different turn with heartier, spicier dishes influenced by Hungarian and Serbian cooking. Classics of this region are rich meat stew and kulen, a spicy pork sausage. The capital, Zagreb, then offers a blend of continental and Mediterranean influences. But here, you'll find signature dishes like strukli, a baked pastry filled with cottage cheese we have already seen on this page, and roasted turkey with juicy flatbread. And finally, in the mountainous regions of Lika and Gorski Kotar, the cuisine is very hearty and rustic, perfect for the cooler climate. Lika-style schnitzel and Lika-style potatoes as well as roast lamb on a spit are a must, emphasizing the region's agricultural roots.
So being versatile as it is, it is common that you would combine multiple classics into one dish, such as this one.
And while I swear by grilled calamari, there is so many other different methods this can be prepared - fried, from the oven, with pasta, salad or in a stew. We’ve covered a good few before, so let’s explore that last option today - in a stew!
Clean the squid by removing the eyes, beak, ink sack and the bone, and separate the tentacles. Slice into rings.
On olive oil in a pot saute finely diced onions, peppers and garlic with bay leaves for a few minutes.
Add in the calamari and cook for a minute, then pour in the white wine. Cook until evaporated, then add tomato puree, water, diced potatoes, season with salt and pepper and give it a stir. Cover with a lid and simmer over low heat for an hour. Add more water as needed.
Calamari Stew
Ingredients
Instructions
- Clean the squid by removing the eyes, beak, ink sack and the bone, and separate the tentacles. Slice into rings.
- On olive oil in a pot saute finely diced onions, peppers and garlic with bay leaves for a few minutes.
- Add in the calamari and cook for a minute, then pour in the white wine. Cook until evaporated, then add tomato puree, water, diced potatoes, season with salt and pepper and give it a stir. Cover with a lid and simmer over low heat for an hour. Add in more water as needed.
