Grilled Sausage-Stuffed Calamari

Health score
7%
Grilled Sausage-Stuffed Calamari
50 min.
8
171kcal

Suggestions


If you're looking to impress your guests with a unique and delicious appetizer, look no further than Grilled Sausage-Stuffed Calamari. This dish combines the abundant flavors of ground pork, aromatic fennel seeds, and fresh herbs, all neatly tucked into tender squid bodies. With a blend of savory ingredients that create a mouthwatering experience, it's the ideal starter for a dinner party or a delightful snack alongside drinks.

The process is both simple and satisfying, perfect for those who love to grill. Once stuffed, these calamari are grilled to perfection, with a slight char that enhances their flavor while the filling cooks to a juicy 150 to 155°F. This dish is not just a feast for your taste buds but also a feast for the eyes, as the presentation of the grilled squid, drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkled with fresh parsley, is sure to draw admiration from those around the table.

What sets this recipe apart is its versatility. You can cook it on a charcoal grill for that smoky flavor or use a grill pan on your stovetop. And don’t worry if you're unable to find small squid—larger ones will work just as well! Serve them alongside fresh lemon wedges to cut through the richness of the sausage filling, providing an aromatic burst of citrus with every bite. Whether enjoyed as an antipasto or a delightful snack, your guests won't be able to resist coming back for more!

Ingredients

  • 0.8 cup breadcrumbs fresh fine
  • 0.8 teaspoon fennel seeds 
  • tablespoon flat parsley chopped
  • large garlic clove minced
  • 0.5 pound ground pork 
  • servings lemon wedges 
  • tablespoons olive oil extra virgin extra-virgin for drizzling
  • 0.3 teaspoon paprika (preferably pimentón dulce)
  • 12 small squid rings cleaned (3-to 4-inch) ( 1 pound total)
  • 0.3 cup milk whole

Equipment

  • bowl
  • frying pan
  • grill
  • kitchen thermometer
  • grill pan

Directions

  1. Soak bread crumbs in milk in a large bowl.
  2. Toast fennel seeds in a dry small skillet (not nonstick) over medium-low heat, shaking skillet occasionally, until fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Chop fennel seeds and add to bread-crumb mixture along with pork, garlic, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Gently mix with your hands until well blended. Using a small spoon, loosely stuff squid with fennel sausage, leaving a 1/2-inch space at top (you may have some stuffing left over). Seal tops using wooden picks.
  3. Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (medium heat for gas); see Grilling Procedure.
  4. Coat stuffed squid and tentacles with oil and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Oil grill rack, then grill stuffed squid, turning frequently, until golden in spots and an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of filling registers 150 to 155°F, 13 to 15 minutes.
  5. Transfer to a platter. Grill tentacles until opaque and curled, about 1 minute, then add to platter.
  6. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with parsley.
  7. Fontaleoni Vernaccia diSan Gimignano '07
  8. •If you can't get small squid, use larger ones and grill 15 to 18 minutes, then halve to serve.•Squid can be cooked in a 2-burner grill pan.•Squid can be stuffed 8 hours ahead and chilled. Bring to room temperature before grilling.•Any leftover stuffing can be added to pasta sauce.

Nutrition Facts

Calories171kcal
Protein16.02%
Fat64.44%
Carbs19.54%

Properties

Glycemic Index
17.56
Glycemic Load
0.27
Inflammation Score
-2
Nutrition Score
5.9052173728528%

Flavonoids

Eriodictyol
0.21mg
Hesperetin
0.28mg
Naringenin
0.01mg
Apigenin
1.08mg
Luteolin
0.03mg
Kaempferol
0.01mg
Myricetin
0.09mg
Quercetin
0.03mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:170.85kcal
8.54%
Fat:12.19g
18.75%
Saturated Fat:3.28g
20.47%
Carbohydrates:8.31g
2.77%
Net Carbohydrates:7.7g
2.8%
Sugar:1.16g
1.29%
Cholesterol:25.13mg
8.38%
Sodium:95.25mg
4.14%
Alcohol:0g
100%
Alcohol %:0%
100%
Protein:6.82g
13.63%
Vitamin B1:0.31mg
20.98%
Selenium:10.51µg
15.01%
Vitamin K:12.12µg
11.54%
Vitamin B3:1.98mg
9.88%
Phosphorus:82.61mg
8.26%
Vitamin B2:0.13mg
7.68%
Vitamin B6:0.14mg
7.03%
Manganese:0.12mg
6.18%
Zinc:0.86mg
5.73%
Vitamin E:0.81mg
5.41%
Vitamin B12:0.31µg
5.14%
Iron:0.88mg
4.87%
Calcium:40.23mg
4.02%
Potassium:131.96mg
3.77%
Copper:0.07mg
3.64%
Folate:13.25µg
3.31%
Magnesium:12.81mg
3.2%
Vitamin B5:0.3mg
3.01%
Fiber:0.61g
2.45%
Vitamin C:1.74mg
2.11%
Vitamin A:92.39IU
1.85%
Source:Epicurious