How To Make Shrimp And Mushroom Stuffed Calamari

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: Preheat the oven

Set the temperature to 220ºC.

Step 3: Fry the mushrooms

Place the frying pan over a moderate temperature to heat and add half of the olive oil. Add the mushrooms and fry for about 3 minutes. Add a little more oil and toss the mushrooms well. Season with salt and pepper and add the garlic. Toss well and fry for 2 minutes. Finally, remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Step 4: Make the stuffing

Roughly chop all the shrimps and place them into a large bowl.

Step 5: Chop the mushrooms

Next, finely chop the cooked mushrooms and add them to the bowl.

Step 6: Add remaining ingredients

Add the parsley and the breadcrumbs. Season with salt and pepper and then mix together thoroughly with a spoon.

Step 7: Make the sauce

Into a saucepan add the chopped pepper, water, garlic and 2 tbsp of olive oil. Bring to a simmer and cook until the pepper is soft. This will take between 7 - 10 minutes.

Step 8: Blend

When the pepper is soft, spoon it into the blender with about half the liquid from the pan and blend the ingredients until smooth.

Step 9: Stuff the calamari

Place one of the calamari on the tray and using a teaspoon, fill it with the shrimp and mushroom stuffing. Hold the calamari closed and seal the end with a toothpick. Do the same with the remaining calamari.

Stuffing the calamari can be done a day in advance.

Step 10: Season the calamari

Place the calamari on the roasting tray. Drizzle over a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Step 11: Roast the calamari

Place the roasting tray with the calamari into the oven and roast for about 10-15 minutes. To make sure they are sufficiently cooked, gently press them with the tongs. If they feel firm it's time to remove them from the oven.

Step 12: Assemble the dish

Take one of the calamari and remove the toothpick from the end, then slice into 2 or 3 pieces. Arrange the pieces on a serving plate and drizzle the red pepper sauce beside the fish. Finally, add a sprig or two of parsley to garnish.

Step 13: Serve

Serve the calamari as an appetizer or a main dish. It can be enjoyed with a salad or the potatoes of your preference.