Paris Best: Squid Ink Strigoli

Pasta

1. You can prepare the dough two ways: in a strong stand up mixer with a mixing bowl and a dough hook or you can mix it together by hand.
2. The Manual Method: Pile your flour on the counter top and mound it together. Press the flat side of a bowl into the flour to form a well deep enough to hold the egg yolks and squid ink.
3. In another bowl mix together you yolks, ink and whole until homogenous. Pour everything into the well.
4. With a fork begin mixing the egg through the flour in slow, circular motions. Gradually encorparting the flour into the well.
5. Once the flour and egg are mixed together begin working the dough with your hands until it coalesces. Break the mix into three separate balls and knead each ball thoroughly until it feels firm and smooth.
6. Wrap each ball in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour before you work it again.
7. The Mixer Method: Put everything in a mixing bowl with the dough hook. Repeat steps 4 and 5.
8. Now I could teach you how to make the shape of this pasta but that’s a closely guarded secret. Come to Paris and I’ll teach you sometime. You don’t have to use squid ink or even homemade pasta for this recipe. You can use anything.

Braised Squid and Nduja Ragu

1. This is a very simple recipe. Just have everything ready to go before you start so you can cook it all at once.
2. In a large cast iron casserole sauté your garlic mince in olive oil on medium low heat.
3. Add your nduja to the garlic and mix together with a wooden spoon until it dissolves
4. Add your chopped squid to the garlic and nduja mix, stir occasionally so the squid has a chance to get some colour.
5. Deglaze with white wine
6. Add your tomato sauce and mix everything thoroughly
7. Put a lid on your pot and bake in the oven at 185 degrees Celsius for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
8. Like most pasta sauces this sauce benefits from a night of rest before you serve it. It deepens the flavor and allows the sauce to thicken. Not a must but a must try.

Assembly

1. Cook your pasta
2. Warm up your sauce
3. Add pasta to the sauce while its still al denté
4. Reduce your sauce a little bit and allow the sauce to be absorbed by the pasta
5. Add a knob of butter to cream the sauce out a bit
6. Add your parsley and a good squeeze of lemon, toss and serve.