FEATURE RECIPE
Squid ink risotto

Squid ink risotto

Small cuttlefish (seppia) are usually used for this dish, but can be hard to find in Australia. We’ve used baby squid, with extra squid ink for flavour and colour. Venetian risotti are made with vialone nano rice for a waxy texture that slides across a tipped plate.

Serves 4

Cooking Time Prep time 10 mins, cook 55 mins



750 ml   (3 cups) fish stock
60 ml   (¼ cup) olive oil
1   onion, finely chopped
1   clove of garlic, finely chopped
300 gm   baby squid, cleaned, tentacles separated and bodies cut into 1cm-thick slices
¼ cup   (firmly packed) thinly sliced silverbeet leaves
350 gm   vialone nano rice, rinsed
2 tsp   squid ink (see note)
250 ml   (1 cup) Soave or other Italian dry white wine


1 Bring fish stock to the boil in a saucepan over medium heat, then reduce heat to low and keep hot. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large heavy-based saucepan over low heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onion is soft and translucent (8-10 minutes). Add squid and cook until opaque (3-4 minutes). Add silverbeet, season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and stir continuously until soft (5-10 minutes). Add rice, squid ink and white wine, cook over medium heat until absorbed (5 minutes), then add 1 cup of hot stock at a time and cook, stirring until stock is absorbed, then continue adding more stock, 1 cup at a time, as stock is absorbed. Cook until al dente (15-25 minutes), adding more water if risotto is too dry, then season to taste and serve immediately.

Note Squid ink is available in 4gm sachets or in jars from Simon Johnson and The Essential Ingredient, or from select fishmongers.

Drink Suggestion Young red Valpolicella.

RECIPE Andy Harris PHOTOGRAPHY Con Poulos STYLING Emma Knowles DRINK SUGGESTION Max Allen

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