The stuffed cuttlefish is a very tasty second course from the Apulian tradition made with simple ingredients. In Apulia, we prepare stuffed cuttlefish either plain baked or in sauce to then dress the pasta… They have a delicate flavor and an irresistible crust will form during cooking. In this recipe, I wanted to change not the ingredients but the cooking method, replacing the classic oven with the air fryer, an appliance increasingly used in our homes for convenience and also to reduce electricity consumption… I can guarantee that the result is identical also because its function is the same as a traditional convection oven… So you just have to try it!!
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Medium
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 2
- Cooking methods: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 2 fresh cuttlefish ( 0.88 lbs )
- 3 slices rustic bread
- 1 egg
- 1 oz pecorino cheese
- 1/4 cup milk or water
- 1 garlic
- parsley
- salt
- pepper
Tools
- Baking Dish
- Air Fryers
Steps
First, clean the cuttlefish by removing the inside, bone, skin, eyes, and central tooth.
Remove the heads and chop them into small pieces, set them aside as they will be used for the stuffing.
Crumb the bread slices and coarsely chop them, add the milk and work it with your hands to moisten well.
Add the chopped heads, egg, crushed parsley, chopped parsley, pecorino cheese, salt, and pepper
Mix everything well, the mixture should be compact but not too soft and should not crumble, (try taking a portion, close it in your hand and if it compacts without sticking and without opening, then it will be fine). If it’s too soft, add some more bread or breadcrumbs, if too dry, add a bit more milk or water.
Take the cuttlefish and fill them, do not overfill to allow the top parts to meet and secure them with toothpicks.
In a baking dish, put a bit of oil and salt on the bottom, arrange the cuttlefish.
With this amount of stuffing, you might have a little left over; you can make a meatball and then breadcrumb it.
Add a drizzle of oil on top, a bit of salt, and a sprinkle of pepper.
Place in the air fryer at 374°F for 20 minutes.
Alternatively, in a traditional oven with the same temperature and time.
The air fryer stuffed cuttlefish is ready! Enjoy your meal!!
Storage
You can store the stuffed cuttlefish in the refrigerator until the next day.
