Search
Random Recipe
Squid & White Beans
We had a pack of prepared Squid in the freezer from months ago and we’re trying to clear a bit of space. We really are trying, but we just end up freezing pots of left over sauces etc. Endless battle! The Squid was part of a 3 for 1 Fish offer.
So a bit of Googling and recipe modification resulted in this:-
Ingredients:-
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
2 Onions, diced
1 Stick of Celery, trimmed and diced
1 Fennel, trimmed of the tough outer leaves and cut into ¼-inch dice
2 Carrots, pealed and diced
Canned White Beans, drained
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon chopped fresh Rosemary (Foraged from a local bush)
2 tablespoons minced Garlic
250g of Squid. Cut into rings with the heads removed and set aside
3 tablespoons chopped fresh Parsley
300 ml of Fish Stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Squid Heads:-
Ingredients:-
2 Eggs, beaten
Cornflour
Turmeric
Salt & Pepper
Method:-
(1) Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-low heat, add the Onion, Celery, Fennel and Carrot.
(2) Season with salt and pepper, cover and cook 5 minutes.
(3) This allows the vegetables to steam a little and start to get tender. Remove the lid, turn up the heat to medium and cook another 5 minutes.
(4) Add the Cannelloni Beans with the Fish Stock, the Lemon zest and chopped Rosemary and cook 5 minutes.
(5) Pat the squid dry with a paper towel.
(6) Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a second large frying pan, over medium high heat.
(7) Add the garlic and cook 1 minute.
(8) Add the squid and cook 2 minutes, or until opaque.
(9) Season with salt and pepper and the lemon juice and transfer directly to the bean combination.
(10) Toss with parsley, drizzle with olive oil and serve warm or at room temperature.
(11) Add the battered Squid Heads as a further garnish. Be decadent, you know you want to!!!!
Battered Squid Heads:-
Method:-
(1) Heat a fryer to 160c.
(2) Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl.
(3) Coat the Squid Heads in beaten Egg and then dredge in the dry mix.
(4) Deep fry individually until golden brown.
(5) Drain over kitchen roll.
We used the battered heads as a garnish and served the whole meal in bowls. This was an outstanding flavour combination. Although it’s a couple of days ago now, we’re still remarking on it. If we must be in any way critical, the Squid rings only needed a minute, not two. But that aside, this was a cracking meal. Although the ingredients list looks expensive they are all very cheap.
On Facebook
- Details
- Written by Tony Carson
- Category: Recipes
In a combination of Greek and Latin the name realistically means “ Tear Crispy ” - Not very helpful, even if quite descriptive of the texture? So some common names are - Cauliflower Fungus, Wood Cauliflower, Brain Fungus - Any one of those will do!
I’ve foraged this in Yorkshire and eaten it. But it seems to be a bit of a bug magnet and is a bit of a pain to clean. These were from a local Chinese supermarket and were bug free and dried. Which made them much more appealing!
We soaked them in cold water for a couple of hours before quartering and cutting the dense central core out.
This was a stir-fry with home made Gluten Free battered Chicken ( The Batter recipe is here ) and Sue’s home made Black Bean Sauce. ( Recipe here )
The Brain Fungus work just like a flavour sponge, absorbing and intensifying the sauce.
- Details
- Written by Tony Carson
- Category: Recipes
The recipe for the DIY Black Bean Sauce is here. You can buy jars from the supermarket, but you’ll find it much more rewarding (and cheaper) to make your own!
Ingredients for the Sauce:-
2 Tbsp of DIY Black Bean Sauce (Paste really!)
500ml of Chicken Stock
A splodge of Soy Sauce
The zest and juice of a Lemon
A slug of Rice Wine
A slug of Rice Vinegar
Method:-
(1) In a large frying pan add all the ingredients.
(2) Heat to the boil and then reduce to simmer and thicken.
(3) Set aside.
Ingredients for the Stir Fry:-
Clams & Cooked Prawns (If the Prawns came with shells on , take them off)
Bok Choi, chopped
Spring Onions, chopped
Red Pepper, sliced
3 Cloves of Garlic, minced
1 Tbsp of Fresh Ginger, minced
A Handful of fermented Black Beans, soaked
Oil to fry
Method:-
(1) In a pan of Salted water boil the Clams for 7 minutes.
(2) Drain the Clams and set aside. Reserve the Clam stock.
(3) In a Wok or large frying pan fry ½ of the Spring Onions, Red Pepper, Garlic and Ginger.
(4) Add the Clam Stock.
(5) Reduce to a simmer until everything has softened.
(6) add the drained Clams and cooked Prawns.
(7) Stir in the Black Bean Sauce.
(8) Stir in the Fermented Black Beans.
We served ours over plain boiled Rice with reserved Spring Onions as a garnish. It really didn’t need anything more.
- Details
- Written by Tony Carson
- Category: Recipes
Our latest challenge is to create 100 authentic Asian style dishes. Obviously we could have bought a jar of Black Bean Sauce, but where is the fun in that?!
Ingredients:-
100g of Fermented Black Beans (These are available in Chinese Supermarkets and are really inexpensive)
80ml of Oil
5 Cloves of Garlic, minced
1 Tbsp of fresh Ginger, minced
3 Shallots, finely diced
2 Tbsp of Sugar
2 Tpsp of Shaoxing Rice Wine
2 Tsp of Soy Sauce
¼ Tsp of Five Spice
1 Tsp of Chilli Flakes
Method:-
(1) Rinse and drain the Beans.
(2) Finely chop 2/3 of the Beans, reserving 1/3 whole.
(3) On a low heat, heat the Oil and add the Shallots, Ginger and Garlic.
(4) Sauté into tender and fragrant.
(5) Add the Fermented Black Beans and fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
(6) Pour over the Soy Sauce, Shaoxing Wine, Five Spice, Chilli Flakes and Sugar.
(7) Cook to reduce until the Sauce has thickened.
(8) Cool and transfer to an air tight jar.
This is a very concentrated foundation sauce.
- Details
- Written by Tony Carson
- Category: Recipes
There is a reason behind this rather silly name. A while ago I found three tubs of Buffalo Mozzarella in the yellow sticker fridge for around 20p. Although they were just in date when I bought them the lonely remaining tub was somewhat suspect , date wise. But it was fine when we opened it.
There little point in a recipe here. But basically Sue hand pressed the burgers around a lump of Mozzarella, fried them gently and then finished them under a low heat in the grill. To add to the Pizza theme we had some discounted Chorizo slices. So layered up with Mexican Mayo & Garlic Mayo, mixed Salad leaves, Red Onion, sliced Tomato, sliced Gherkins, Burger dressed with Chorizo & melted Cheese - The Pizza Burger became a reality! The mixed Salad leaves were free (Thanks John) and effectively all we paid full price for was the minced Beef and Gluten free Bread Buns.
We served these beasties with hand cut chips and DIY Gluten free Onion Rings.
- Details
- Written by Tony Carson
- Category: Recipes
A while ago there was an on-line conversation about ‘misspent younger years’. My contribution was as follows….
“Well over 20 years ago I had been to a gig in the pub I frequented as two of the bands I had mates in were playing. It was a great night and I’d probably had a pint or two too many. On the way home I ambled into the local kebab shop. At some time after 3am I awoke in the alley by the kebab shop. Stood up, leaning against the wall and still clutching a very cold half eaten kebab!
So the local supermarket have a special offer on Pork at the moment. The joint we had was way too big for one meal for the two of us and the cat. The following day we decided to cut out a few bits & bobs from the 20+ year old gig….
(1) No kebab shop required.
(2) No stood up sleeping required.
Cold sliced Pork kebabs are actually pretty cool. Salad, cheese (I got for tubs on this cubed Cheese for 14p each – Yellow Sticker gig!) Mayonnaise, crackling. Gluten free Pitta Breads. A pretty tasty gig for next to nothing!
(3) No greasy cold Lamb required.
Cold sliced Pork kebabs are actually pretty cool. Salad, cheese (I got for tubs on this cubed Cheese for 14p each – Yellow Sticker gig!) Mayonnaise, crackling. Gluten free Pitta Breads. A pretty tasty gig for next to nothing!
Social Links
Translate
Latest Recipes
Latest News
- Why do we do what we do?
- When you find the ships cat on the helm
- We're a month old!
- Universal Credit & Employment Agencies!
- UN Report on Poverty in the UK November 2018
- The Veg Box
- The rollout of Universal Credit will be delayed until 2023
- Petition the Government to fix Universal Credit
- Honesty from a Politician? Not really, but it's a start.
- Homeless - Trapped - Homeless again - This can't be right?
© 2025 Eat Well on UC