Fish and seafood

Lulas recheadas à portuguesa

Squid stuffed with tentacles, rice or bread, cooked in tomato sauce and olive oil.

RegionPortuguese coast
DifficultyMedium
Total time1 hour 20 minutes
Servings4 servings
Photo of Lulas recheadas à portuguesa — traditional Portuguese recipe
Photo of the traditional Portuguese recipe.

Editorial content from Empório Portugal. Traditional recipes may vary by region, family and cook.

About the recipe

Lulas recheadas à portuguesa are a patient, flavourful preparation, with a rich sauce to accompany potatoes or rice.

The filling makes use of the tentacles and seasonings, reflecting the resourceful tradition of Portuguese home cooking.

Ingredients

  • 8 medium squid, cleaned
  • Chopped tentacles
  • 1 chopped onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 cup cooked rice or chopped bread
  • 2 chopped tomatoes
  • 100 ml of white wine
  • 80 ml olive oil
  • Parsley, salt and pepper

Method

  1. Sauté part of the onion, garlic and tentacles.
  2. Mix in the rice or bread and parsley to form the filling.
  3. Stuff the squid without overfilling and close with toothpicks.
  4. Prepare a sauce with onion, tomato, olive oil and wine.
  5. Cook the squid in the sauce until tender.
  6. Serve with potatoes or white rice.

Tips from Empório Portugal

  • Do not overfill, as the squid contracts during cooking.
  • Cooking over low heat helps prevent a rubbery texture.
  • Sauce should be thick and shiny.

Possible substitutions in Brazil

  • Stale bread replaces rice in the filling.
  • Peeled tomatoes can be added to the sauce.

Pairing

A Lisboa white wine or Vinho Verde. Content intended for people over 18 years of age. Drink in moderation.

Editorial note from Empório Portugal

This recipe is part of the editorial curation of Empório Portugal, developed from Portuguese culinary tradition. Like every traditional recipe, it may vary by region, family and cook.

Do you have a Portuguese family recipe?

Send it to the Empório Portugal community. Submitted recipes are reviewed before any publication.

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Quick facts

Prep
35 min
Cooking
45 min
Total time
1 hour 20 minutes
Yield
4 servings
Difficulty
Medium
Occasion
Special dinner, weekend lunch

Pairing

A Lisboa white wine or Vinho Verde. Content intended for people over 18 years of age. Drink in moderation.

Empório tip

Do not overfill, as the squid contracts during cooking.

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