Coral and Jade Prawns

This was one of the first Chines recipes we found in a cookbook (Kare Jup Ha Kow) and prepared as we started to travel around Asia and missing the Asian taste once back at home.

With the time we adapted the recipe to our taste but we kept the to the combination of prawns, broccoli and baby ginger; the last one the big hit in this dish!

This need a bit of time for the preparation of the broccoli florets and assembling with the prawn, but it looks so pretty that we never skipped this step.

• Servings: 2-3 persons if served alone with rice
• Time: 30 min
• Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients

• 400-500 g prawns
• 1 broccoli head
• 2 tablespoons vegetal oil
• 2 tablespoon finely diced ginger
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• ½ cup of water
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
• 1 tablespoon soya sauce, to taste
• 1 tablespoons sliced preserved pink baby ginger

Preparation

1. Shell and devein the shrimp letting the last part of the tail as it is.
2. Wash the broccoli and with a knife prepare as many florets as the prawns. Make a point at the end of the green stalk.
3. Make an incision on the tail of the prawn and pass the end of the broccoli stem though this hole.
4. In a small bowl combine water with cornstarch.  Set aside.
5. Heat the oil in a wide non-stick frying skillet. Add garlic, and ginger and stir fry until fragrant.
6. Add the prawn with the broccoli to the skillet and fry for about 2 minutes. Turn gently and cook for one more minute,
7. Add soya and rice wine, reduce the heat to minimum.
8. Add the mixture of water and cornstarch cover, shake gently the skillet, and cook for two minutes or until broccoli begins to turn a bit soft. Add more water or soya sauce to taste if needed.
9. Just before serving top with the baby ginger.
10. Serve immediately with rice.

Autor: https://artandkitchen.wordpress.com/  

White Beans with Lagoustines Stew – Habas/Alubias blancas con Langostinos

Until now I’ve not yet posted a lot of recipes with pulses. Pulses are great source of proteins and they are effectively very versatile, which allow us to combine them with many ingredients.

This inspiration comes from a dish which I got the chance to try in Galicia (Spain) last December. It was in a picturesque village called just in front of the sea and a beautiful island. The ambiance with our friends, the golden sunlight and then this delicious dish made these moments unforgettable.

No wonder I tried to replicate this and adapt the recipe to ingredients I may found at home.

The original included a local lobster kind called “bogavante”, I’m sorry I had to replace it with langoustines, but it turned very delicious with them as well.

For my version it’s very important to prepare a shellfish stock.

As shellfish are generally quite expensive, it makes sense to be using up every last part of the crustacean in order not extract the maximum of the flavour. The shells and legs (once meat has been extracted where possible) of lobsters, crabs, crayfish, langoustines and prawns impart a lot of richness taste – especially after they’re roasted. Good to know: the heads also contain precious juices. While some more old-school recipes require the whole crustacean including its meat, this is a touch more work, but it is gently way to cook the tender flesh (short cooking time) and at the same time get as much taste as possible form the shells (long cooking time). Carefully shell crustaceans and keep the meat separate from the shells to be cooked and eaten separately. Rinse any shells which may be hiding grit or sand (this is particularly important with crabs) and break down larger shells into smaller pieces. This gives them a larger surface area, which touches the bottom of the pan and caramelises, creating more flavour.

• Servings: 3-4 if served with a side dish as rice
• Time: 60 min
• Difficulty: medium
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Ingredients:

• 200 g white beans
• 300 g langoustines (in alternative king prawns)
• Olive oil, to taste
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 big onion, peeled and cut into quarts
• 200 g carrots, peeled cut in big pieces
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 handful pealed roasted almonds
• Salt, to taste
• 1 teaspoon paprika (Pimentón dulce de la Vera)
• 1 tablespoon tomatoes paste (optional)
• 100 ml white wine, quantity to taste
• Parsley, chives or green onion, chopped for serving (optional)

Preparation

1. Soak your beans the night before: put your beans in a pot and cover them in a few centimeters of water. Forgot to soak your beans? Don’t stress out. You can also quick soak beans and get a similar effect. Just put those beans in a pot, cover them with boiling water, and cover the pot and let them sit for at least one hour in the hot water.
2. Drain the beans them to another pot, then cover them in a few inches of water (the exact amount isn’t important). Bring them to a simmer only lightly with little for about 30 minutes.
3. In the meantime peel and devein langoustines. Separate shells from flesh.
4. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a non-sticky skillet and roast the shells until fragrant. Add 2 cups of water, the bay leaf and let simmer for about 20 minutes. Strain and keep the stock.
5. Boil the onion, the carrots and 2 garlic cloves into the prepared stock for about 10 minutes. If necessary add more water. Add the almonds and blend this mixture.
6. Drain the beans and add the broth and veggies mixture to the beans.
7. Season with salt, paprika and add the wine.  Add tomatoes paste. Continue to simmer until the beans are just done. If necessary add more water.
8. Chop the other 2 garlic cloves and fry them until they become fragrant. Add the langoustines or the shrimps on both sides for about 2 minutes until they get lightly roasted colour.
9. Combine the beans stew with the shellfish and serve immediately.
10. Optional add some parsley, chives or green onion for serving

Autor: https://artandkitchen.wordpress.com/  

Day 33 Stay at Home or In the Garden: Inspiration Sald

Inspired by the ingredients available at home, we created this composition and we enjoyed it as a light full dinner in the garden, just before the sun went down.

Inspiration Sald

• Servings: 2
• Time: active time=60 min; for all recipes
• Difficulty: easy
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Fennel Salad with Oranges

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 white balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste (I used my basil flower salt)
• 1 fennel, cleaned finely sliced
• 1 red pepper, seed removed and sliced
• 1 orange, peeled and sliced

Procedure

1. For the dressing, combine oil, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir until combined
2. Pour the dressing over the fennel and the pepper, toss.
3. Place orange slices on the plate and top with the salad

Gingered Guacamole

Ingredients

• 1 avocado, ripe but firm
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 small garlic clove.
• 1 dash chili powder
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure

1. Open the avocado with the knife, remove the seed and spoon out the pulp.
2. Mash the avocado pulp with the fork and the vinegar.
3. Add the additional ingredients and mush until soft.

Roasted Prawns

Ingredients

• 10-16 shrimps, uncooked and peeled
• 1 small garlic pow
• 1 dash smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure

1. Combine all the ingredients, let rest for about 30 minutes.
2. Preheat a non-sticky skilled at maximum and fry until done and lightly roasted (about 2 minutes).

Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Slices

Ingredients

• 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 5 mm thick slices
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Seasoned salt (I used my basil flower salt), to taste

Procedure

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C
2. Combine all the ingredients.
3. Line a parchment foil on you baking tray or brush with oil a baking mold.
4. Place the sweet potatoes on the baking tray in one layer or only light overlapping.
5. Bake until tender and the border get light brown. This takes about 20 minutes.

Autor: https://artandkitchen.wordpress.com/

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Smoked Salmon and Avocado Sushi

How good,beautiful and easy to make are Twissis’s Sushi!

Original source and recipe description: http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/smoked-salmon-avocado-sushi-24191 by: twissis

We all (8 of us) appreciated these very much and we enjoyed our Japanese dinner with these sushi rolls.

I loved the idea to use smoked salmon as this is naturally preserved and safe!  I could make 12 slices from each roll for a total of 48 bites!

• Servings: about 48 pieces
• Time: active time=1 hour
• Difficulty: medium
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Ingredients:

WRAPPING:

• 11 g nori seaweed (4 sheets @ 2.75 g each)

FOR THE RIce:

• 300 g dry rice (sushi glutinous white rice, 1 1/2 cups dry)
• 350 ml water (or according package instruction)
• 1/4 cup vinegar (rice or white wine vinegar)
• 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
• a few drops sesame oil (my addition)

FOR THE FILLING:

• 1 avocado, whole (large), skin and seed removed, thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 80 g smoked salmon (4 large slices)
• Fresh chives (1 bunch)

For the filling (variations or additions)

• 1 small carrots, washed, peeled and then cut them into long skinny strips
• 1 small cucumber, washed and then cut them into long skinny strips

SERVE WITH (options):

• Sesame seeds
• Pickled ginger
• Wasabi paste
• Japanese soy sauce
• Sweet soy sauce (kecap manis)

PROCEDURE:

1. Wash the rice with enough water until the water comes out clear.
2. Bring water and rice to boil. Let simmer covered until the water is adsorbed (this takes about 12 minutes).
3. In a small bowl combine vinegar and sugar. Add this to the rice, stir, cover and let sit for about 15 minutes.
4. Turn rice on a plate to cool completely down if you need to prepare the sushi soon. Make 4 portions.
5. Prepare the avocado and drizzle with lemon or lime juice to prevent browning. Will make 4 portions!
6. Cover your sushi mat with plastic foil, place the nori on it and spread the rice over the sheet (let one border free to close the roll). Place the salmon, chives and the first portion of avocado.
7. Fold the bottom and roll it tightly using the mat helping yourself with the foil.
8. Close the border with little flour and a few mashed rice corns (natural glue).
9. I cut this without removing the foil making 12 sliced from each roll.
10. Serve with soy sauce, wasabi paste and pickled ginger.

Autor: https://artandkitchen.wordpress.com/

Tuna Fish Patties

 

These tuna fish patties are very easy and quick to be prepared as we ca use potatoes flakes; if you have boiled potatoes, you may also mash them with a fork and add only little milk to make this more humid.

I have served them on a bed of rocket (aragula) salad and cherry tomatoes. As sauce, I recommend my mint and dill yogurt sauce as this fits perfectly with both patties and salad; however, I made a little change to the sauce, Instead of lemon juice, I used white balsamic vinegar, but both lemon and vinegar goes well.

The quantity depends on the size, in my case a made a dozen, the correct quantity for one skillet of 28 cm of diameter.

Note: these patties may be prepared in advance and used for a picnic (ready cooked) or for a party.

• Servings: 3-4
• Time: 30 min
• Difficulty: easy
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You need:

• 1 cans tuna (in water) drained well
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 small onions chopped I used a red and a yellow one), chopped
• 1 big red pepper, finely diced
• 1 sprig onion, finely diced
• 1/2 cup potatoes flakes (as for purée)
• 2/3 cup milk
• 2 eggs beaten
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano (or other spices to taste)
• 1/2 cup peas, frozen
• 2 tablespoons flour
• Olive oil to fry
• Flour to coat the patties.

Procedure

1. Place tuna over a sieve to drain.
2. Sauté onion and red pepper with the oil until soft, remove from the heat
3. In a bowl combine potatoes flakes with milk Add eggs and stir to combine.
4. Now add the crumbled tuna, onion/red pepper mixture, eggs and season with salt and season with pepper, pepper and oregano to taste.
5. Fold in the peas with the flour-
6. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the non-sticky skillet and heat to medium low.
7. Place one heaped tablespoon mixture into your floured hand and shape to ball, flatten it lightly and place it into the skillet.
8. Proceed quickly until your mixture is used; during the shaping check the patties from time to time and turn when needed and add more oil if necessary
9. Cook on both sides until the y begin to brown. Keep aside in warm place to serve-

Autor: https://artandkitchen.wordpress.com/

Cannelloni al Salmone con Giardiniera di Verdure

A volte non ci vuole tanto tempo per un delizioso pasto saporito e attraente per l’occhio.

L’ispirazione mi è venuta semplicemente dagli ingredienti disponiboli in casa e come al solito suggerisco di adattare la ricetta a ciò di che avete e alla stagione.

Il salmone naturalment ce l’avevo, ma la  ricotta no, in compenso una bella porzione di formaggio fresco in un imballaggio già aperto faceva proprio a mio caso.  La scorza di limone l’avevo già pronta in congelatore dal momento che prima di usare il succo di limone, sempre salvo la scorza grattugiandola in anticipo e ponendola nel freezer.  Ah si, i cannelloni! Quelli li avevo in cantina, mezza confezione (equivale a circa otto pezzi ovvero 120 grammi) sono bastati ed avanzati per due porzioni. Vedure semplicemente zucchine e carote, ma spinaci, funghetti (an

 

che se di scatola) o altre verdure come fagiolini mangiatutto potroebbero andare benissimo.

A tasty and an attractive meal does not necessary require a lot of time! As usually my recipes are based on the ingredients available and an improvisation according to vegetables of the season.

In the fridge I had the smoked salmon, the veggies an open packages of cream cheese (no ricotta, sorry), in the freezer the grated lemon zest and in the pantry a package of cannelloni (I used only half of the package, corresponding to 120 g or 8 cannelloni). This was more than enough for 2 portions.

Other veggies as spinach, mushrooms (as well from the tin), bean, peas or what you like would be great alternative as well.

• Servings: 2-4
• Time: 60 min
• Difficulty: easy
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You need:

Pasta

 

• 120 cannelloni from the package (8 pieces) or 8 lasagna sheets

Filling

• 100-120 g smoked salmon, chopped
• 150-200 g ricotta or cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• 1 beaten egg
• Red chili flakes to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste

Veggies (about 2 cups, choice to taste). My choice:

• 1 cup carrots, peeled diced
• 1 cup zucchini, diced

Béchamel

• 2 tablespoon margarine or butter
• 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2-4 tablespoons white wine, to taste
• Red chili flakes to taste
• 1 dash nutmeg or to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Bring water to boil in a pot, add salt and boil the pasta until it begins to soften but it keeps the shape. Take out of the water and place them on an oiled working surface.
2. While water is heating combine with the ingredients of the filling in bowl.
3. Fill the cannelloni (one by one) using the spoon holding them vertically with the hand. Place them in the mold. If you have leftovers of the filling, don’t worry, you can add this to the finished béchamel.
4. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F.
5. Arrange vegetables around the cannelloni. If necessary (depend on the kind of veggies) cook the veggies a few minutes in the hot water of the pasta.
6. Prepare the béchamel melting the margarine in the pot and adding the flour. Stir constantly until the flour begins to take color. Remove from the heat and add liquids at once; stir immediately until combined. Bring to boil and season to taste.
7. Pour the sauce over the cannelloni and the veggies (take care to cover all the cannelloni as they require the liquid to finish cooking).
8. Bake at 200°C/400°F for about 20-30 minutes until the cannelloni begins to brown.
9. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Autor: https://artandkitchen.wordpress.com/

Pad Thai – Thai Fried Noodles with Mung Beans and Peanuts

This wonderful dish is part of the traditional street food in Thailand and it is one of the most wanted dishes.

Today we were really missing Thailand and this dish was really comforting! We love pad Thai!

 

 

• Servings: 2-4
• Time: 30 mins
• Difficulty: easy
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You need

Noodles

• 300 g rice noodles (or other noodles if not available)

Sauce

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar ( if possible palm sugar), to taste
• 1tablespoons tamarind paste
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce ( or soy light sauce)

Vegetables and seasoning

• 1 tablespoon vegetal oil
• 1 shallots, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 eggs, lightly
• 60 g bean curd, diced or 150 g fresh shrimp
• 1 tablespoon dried shrimp, if available
• chili powder
• 2 cups mung beans, germs
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 2 tablespoon peanuts, roasted and crushed, to taste

Topping ( to taste)

• 1 lime juice or 1 limes, sliced
• 2 green onions, finely sliced
• red pepper flakes
• soy sauce ( light or dark)
• nam pla, prik (fish sauce with preserved chilies)

Procedure

1. Soak noodles for 2 hours in cold water. If using fresh rice noodles, boil them shortly and rinse with cold water.
2. Heat fish sauce, tamarind paste and sugar to dissolve the paste. Stir well until dissolved and set aside.
3. Sauté shallots and garlic in oil until soft by medium heat.
4. Add eggs and swirl.
5. Change to high heat.
6. Add bean curd or fresh shrimps, dried shrimps and noodles. Fry for 1 minute.
7. Add prepared sauce and chili.
8. Now add beans germs and green onion. Cook one 1-2 minutes.
9. Adjust to taste with soy sauce or fish sauce and add half of the peanuts.
10. Arrange on single dishes. Top with chopped peanuts and sliced green onions.
11. Serve with lime (juice or slices), red pepper flakes, soy sauce and nam prik.

Autor: https://artandkitchen.wordpress.com/

Azorean Fish Roll

Elvira is an Azorean wonderful blogger. As I saw this stunning recipe I knew that this would I was looking for and I saved this in my “to try” recipes. Only a few days later I tried her recipe called “Torta de peixe à Marília” (http://elvirabistrot.blogspot.ch/2011/09/torta-de-peixe-marilia.html?spref=pi) and I adapted her recipe. I don’t know if I understood well all the ingredients and description of the procedure, but I will report what I did and the result was fabulous!

This preparation presents very well, can be eaten warm or cold; up to you!

For this recipe you should use white flesh boiled fish as suggested in her original Azorean recipe, but you can also use other kind of fish even with smoked trout!

I increased the quantity of flour as I supposed she used 3 heaped tablespoon flour. I used 4.

• Servings: 4-8
• Time: 1 hrs
• Difficulty: medium
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Autor: https://artandkitchen.wordpress.com/ 

You need:

• 200 g cooked white flesh fish (or 200 g smoked trout)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons parsley
• 200 ml milk
• 3 tablespoons tomatoes paste
• 3 egg yolks
• 4 heaped tablespoons flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon baking powder, sifted
• Chili flakes to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3 egg whites
• 3/4 cup homemade marinara or tomatoes sauce  ( I can imagine that herbed cream cheese would be delicious as well)

Procedure

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F.
2. Line a baking tray with parchment foil, grease and dust the foil with flour.
3. Prepare/cook the fish and let cool down, dice it into small pieces.
4. In a skillet heat oil and fry onion and garlic until onion begins to brown. Transfer to a bowl.
5. Add to the bowl parsley, milk, tomatoes paste and egg yolks. Stir to combine.
6. Fold flour, baking powder and chili flakes to taste. Adjust to taste with salt and pepper.
7. Beat egg whites to stiff picks and fold egg whites under the batter.
8. Spread the batter over the prepared foil and bake for 15 minutes at 200°C/400°F.
9. Remove from the oven and turn the sponge out onto another piece of greaseproof paper / parchment foil.
10. Spread the tomatoes sauce. Roll the sponge using the foil.
11. Serve hot of wrap in foil to cool down.

Mediterannean Baked Fish

I first saw these fishes sale a days ago and I could not resists to take two of them with me home.

As I tried to write down this recipe I realized that I had had problems with the translation. I call them orate (in Italian) or dorada (in Spanish), but I did not know how I should call them for this recipe in English.

A few searches in the web and I found that the protagonist is called Sparus aurata in Latin and it can be translated in English with Gilt-head (sea) bream. The specific name “aurata” derives from the gold bar marking between its eyes.

It is also called dorade royale as it was sacred to the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite.

Finally I found also a long list of names that I really need to share with you: http://www.fishbase.org/comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=1164&GenusName=Sparus&SpeciesName=aurata&StockCode=1180

Back to the recipe: I prepared this recipe based on a recipe of fish with tomatoes and olives, but this time I added some more ingredients and the result was really fabulous! The quantity of the ingredients is only a suggestion, please use the quantity you wish!

I don’t know if you have this kind on fish were you live, but I can prepare this recipe with other white-fleshed fishes you like! Enjoy!

• Servings: 2
• Time: 50-60 minutes
• Difficulty: easy
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Autor: https://artandkitchen.wordpress.com/

You need

• 2 Gilt-head (sea) bream or other white-fleshed fishes (or a bigger single one) which would serve 2 people in total, cleaned
• 2 small lemons o one lemon, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, or to taste
• 1 onion, thinly slice
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 red pepper
• 100 g cherry tomatoes, halved
• 20 olives (any kind, I used black ones)
• 1/2 cup white wine
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Several springs of fresh herbs as marjoram, thyme, rosemary

Procedure

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F
2. In a non-sticky frying pan fry a few lemon slices so that they are light browned. Remove from pan and set aside
3. Add remaining oil and fry the onion until translucent, add red pepper and fry one or two minutes. Reduce heat, add tomatoes, olives and wine.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Make three large cuts diagonally across each fish.
6. Place most of the herbs in the bottom of a baking sheet and place the fish on them. Fill the belly of the fish with some herbs as well (I used marjoram and rosemary).
7. Now adjust the roasted lemon slices in the cuts.
8. Place the remaining lemon slices around the fish as well as vegetables you prepared in the pan.
9. Put the fish in the oven on the middle rack for about 25 minutes or until the fish is just done; cooking time depends on the size of the fish! Note: Fish is done when the dorsal fin can easily be removed.
10. Enjoy with fresh bread or what you love. We enjoyed it with Focaccia with Cherry Tomatoes.

Cuttlefish in Wine Sauce – Soupies Krasates

Cuttlefish is a quite inexpensive seafood which offers many possibilities to be prepared.

I love stuffed cuttlefish, but even a simple recipe is excellent, especially if you use a good white wine without sulfuric smell (I love the golden “Romeiko” from Chania most) and you enjoy this sitting outside combined with salads and good bread to enjoy the sauce.

Once again I’ve proposed to you a Greek/Cretan dish which is called Σουπιές κρασάτες (Soupies krasates). Greek food is too good, I can’t resist it!

• Servings: about 4-6
• Time: 1hr
• Difficulty: easy
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Autor: https://artandkitchen.wordpress.com/ 

You need

• 1 kg cuttlefish, if possible small or medium ones
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1 cup white wine
• 2 galic cloves, sliced
• 4 allspice berries
• 10 grains of black pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon flour

Procedure

1. Wash and clean the cuttlefish (remove the bone, the eyes, the inner organs); cut into pieces the cuttlefish, this depends on the size and your preference.
2. Heat oil in saucepan, add chopped onion and fry just until soft. Add a little water and blend the onion.
3. Add cuttlefish and allow to make its juice.
4. Add then rest of the oil and stir and cook briefly.
5. Now add the wine as well as garlic and spices.
6. Season with salt and pepper (don’t add to much salt as the sauce will be reduced).
7. Cover and simmer until the cuttlefish results tender. This takes about 30 minutes.
8. Add the vinegar for two minutes.
9. Finally take a little of the sauce into a small bowl and dissolve the flour. Add this mixture to the food and stir until combined.
10. Adjust salt again and serve on a dish with its sauce and fresh bread. This has not to be served hot!

Variation: you can also make sauce without the flour but add just after adding the wine 1 cup grated tomatoes, 1 cup chopped fennel and one cup pitted green olives. Or simply add the grated tomatoes.