Squid ink is used in cooking to give food a black coloration. Produced by cuttlefish and squid, this black, opaque liquid must be extracted from the cephalopods before being packaged and then added to the preparation of pasta or rice.
What is squid ink?
Cuttlefish use ink to cloud the water when they are in danger. They then take advantage of the distraction to take cover. The jet of ink acts as a smoke screen for their escape. This ink is an opaque black liquid secreted by cuttlefish and squid. It is found in the cephalopod’s organ called the ink sac. There is actually one sac containing melanin, which is the black pigment that gives the ink its color, and a reservoir sac containing mucus to create the ink from the pigment. Squid ink is also called sepia.
What is squid ink used for?
It has been used for millennia as drawing ink and as a food pigment. Dozens of recipes use squid ink. Squid ink pasta is very well known in Italy, as are the traditional Japanese “Udon” noodle soups. Rice is also often colored with squid ink. In Italy, there is squid ink risotto, and in Spain, there is black rice paella with squid ink. Generally, it is used for many dishes based on seafood and fish. Sometimes, it is simply used to color an ingredient: traditional bread, hamburger buns, cakes, etc.
It has a subtle flavor that inevitably leans towards a marine touch. It is known for being rich in vitamins B (B2, B3, and B12), E, and C. It also contains trace elements and mineral salts that are excellent for health.
How to get the squid ink sac?
If you were able to buy a whole cuttlefish, you need to clean it before cooking it. There are several ways to clean a cuttlefish and remove its ink sac. The most important thing is to go slowly to avoid piercing the sac and prevent the ink from spilling onto the flesh.
- Cut the tentacles and keep them, as they are edible.
- Remove the cuttlebone and discard it.
- Remove the internal organs of the cuttlefish where the ink sac is found. Be careful, it is quite fragile and can be pierced.
- Identify the sac among the viscera and set it aside gently.
Where to get squid ink?
If you weren’t able to get a whole cuttlefish, you can ask your fishmonger in advance to save you some squid ink sacs. In this case, it’s best to let them know ahead of time, and not show up at the last minute assuming they will have them in stock. Generally, few people are regularly interested in squid ink. Many fishmongers clean cuttlefish for their customers in advance and do not necessarily keep the ink. A few days before your meal, go see the fishmonger, reserve a few kilos of cuttlefish, and ask them to set aside the ink sacs.
If this is not possible, you can find jars of natural squid ink in stores or on the Internet. It is extracted directly from the ink sacs. It is ready to use. Just a few teaspoons are enough to color a dish. It dissolves easily!
It can also be found in the form of small powder sachets to be diluted, or as a paste packaged in jars or vacuum-sealed. The drawback is that once opened, its shelf life is quite short. Since you use relatively little per dish, opt for small quantities to avoid unnecessary waste. This is why it is better to choose fresh ink sacs from cuttlefish when possible.
Squid ink is an essential ingredient in Italian and Spanish cuisine. Rich in vitamins and minerals, it is used to color dishes such as Italian pasta or the Spanish black rice paella. It can be obtained directly from fishmongers who extract it from cuttlefish, or in sachets for dilution, or in ready-to-use jars.
