Spaghetti with Calamari and Tropea Onion

Spaghetti with calamari and Tropea onion is a dish that unites the freshness of the sea with the sweet and intense flavor of one of Italy’s most prized onions, the Tropea Calabrese PGI onion. Here is the recipe to prepare them:

Ingredients

• 320 g spaghetti
• 400 g fresh calamari, cleaned and cut into rings
• 1 large Tropea onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• Fresh parsley to taste
• 200 ml white wine
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Start by cleaning the calamari, if they have not already been cleaned. Remove the innards and outer skin, then cut them into rings or strips.
2. Thinly slice the Tropea onion and mince the garlic.
3. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and add the minced garlic. Sauté briefly without letting it brown.
4. Add the sliced Tropea onion and let it cook until it becomes translucent.
5. Add the calamari rings to the pan, stir, and let cook for a couple of minutes.
6. Deglaze with the white wine and let the alcohol evaporate over high heat.
7. Lower the heat and continue cooking for about 10-15 minutes, or until the calamari are tender. Adjust salt and pepper.
8. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until al dente.
9. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water, and transfer it to the pan with the calamari and onion sauce.
10. Toss the spaghetti in the pan with the sauce, adding a little cooking water if needed to make the sauce lighter and creamier.
11. Plate and finish with chopped fresh parsley.

Fun Facts

The Tropea onion is particularly known for its sweet taste and the beneficial properties attributed to this vegetable, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The Tropea onion pairs perfectly with the flavor of calamari, creating a contrast of flavors that enhances both ingredients.