Karen Mintzias 750 g Cuttlefish or squid

1/3 c Olive oil

Water Salt Freshly ground black pepper 750 g Spinach

1 c Chopped spring onions

1/2 Lemon (juice only)

Cuttlefish (soupies) as distinct from squid (kalamaria) are preferred for this dish, though either may be used. Cleaning cuttlefish can be a rather messy business as these marine molluscs have an ink sac from which the pigment sepia is obtained. The sac ruptures easily and is usually ruptured by the time you purchase them, so don't be put off by their colour - the ink rinses off easily. Rinse cuttlefish or squid and remove head, attached tentacles and intestines; discard intestines. Pull out cuttle bone or fine transparent bone if squid is being prepared. Pull off fine skin and rinse. Remove eyes and beak from head, leave head attached to tentacles and pull or rub off skin from tentacles, or as much skin as will easily come off. Slice hood or body into strips. If squid are large, slice head and tentacles - cuttlefish tentacles are usually small and these are left intact. Place prepared cuttlefish or squid in pan and set on medium heat. Cover and cook for 15 minutes in its own juice. Add half the oil, just enough water to cover, and salt and pepper to taste, cover and simmer gently for 45 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile trim spinach and wash thoroughly. Drain well and chop leaves and stalks coarsely. Heat remaining oil in a separate pan and gently fry spring onion until soft, add spinach and stir over heat until it wilts. Add spinach mixture to cuttlefish or squid with lemon juice and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for further 10-15 minutes. Serve hot. From: "The Complete Middle East Cookbook" by Tess Mallos. ISBN: 1 86302 069 1

Typed for you by Karen Mintzias