CALAMARI IN RED WINE AND TOMATO SAUCE

Calamari in Red Wine and Tomato Sauce image

Italian Christmas eve favorite - use your favorite spaghetti or tomato sauce as the base. This recipe can be doubled or tripled easily. Serve as a side, appetizer, or over pasta. Buon Natale!

Provided by NCANGELONE

Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

2 pounds calamari, cleaned
4 cups tomato sauce
1 cup Chianti wine
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon dried basil
⅓ cup grated Romano cheese

Steps:

Separate the tentacles from the long body of the calamari, if not done already. Slice the body, or calamari tubes into rings about 1/2 to 2/3 inch thick, set aside.
In a saucepan, combine tomato sauce, red wine, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, black pepper, cayenne pepper, basil, and cheese. Simmer on medium low for about 30 minutes to give the alcohol in the wine time to evaporate, and all the flavors time to blend.
Add the calamari to the sauce. Continue to slowly simmer for about another 20 - 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Calamari is done when it is plump and more opaque. Do not cook on higher heat or for a longer period, as calamari is famous for becoming rubbery.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 256.6 calories, Carbohydrate 15.5 g, Cholesterol 359.5 mg, Fat 6.5 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 28.1 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Sodium 1004.3 mg, Sugar 6.7 g