Sir Francis Squid

From 'The Road to Mexico' by Rick Stein

Historically, the Gulf coast of Yucatan was a hot spot for pirates, and according to the Spanish, one of them was named Sir Francis Drake. And whilst the pirate himself is no longer around, the seafood dish named after him is!

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 350g squid (prepared weight), cut into rings
• ¼ tsp salt
• 20 turns black peppermill
• 20g almonds, skin on and chopped
• 4 new potatoes (about 300g), freshly boiled and sliced thickly
• 1 dried guajillo chilli, seeds shaken out, sliced into rings
• ½ tsp sweet paprika
• 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
• 125ml shellfish stock
• Juice of ½ lime
• A few sprigs of coriander

Recipe:

1. Heat the olive oil in a heavy frying pan over a high heat.
2. Season the squid with salt and pepper and fry it for 2 minutes – if you have the tentacles chuck them in too.
3. Add the almonds, sliced potatoes, chilli rings, paprika, and garlic and fry for another minute before pouring in the shellfish stock.
4. Stir, add the lime juice and cook until the sauce has reduced and coats the ingredients.
5. Serve immediately, garnished with a little coriander.