Pasta With Squid Ink Cuttlefish

This squid ink pasta sauce, spaghetti al nero di seppia, may look spooky but it is delicious. It is made with regular pasta served with a black ink sauce. You can taste the sea, no comparison to the commercial black pasta, and it is not difficult to make. It is usually called squid ink pasta, but in reality, it is made with cuttlefish ink.

Jump to:

• Squid vs cuttlefish ink
• Ingredients
• Step by step instructions with images
• Top tips
• Where you buy the squid ink
• FAQ
• Recipes you might also like
• 📋 Pasta With Squid Ink Cuttlefish

Squid vs cuttlefish ink

The black ink is the substance the cephalopods (squid, calamari cuttlefish, octopus) fire when in danger.

Black pasta is often called squid ink pasta. However, this name is not correct. The ink used for the pasta is found in cuttlefish, not in squid.

I have never seen a squid ink sac inside a squid, so I am not sure why it is called squid ink.

For more Fake Italian Recipes on the web check out my Web Story: This Is Why You Should NEVER trust Italian recipes online

The cuttlefish ink taste is very similar to the clam's, vongole's, a sweet sea flavor.

To learn more about the difference between squid and cuttlefish, you can read the article: What Are Calamari Squid Cuttlefish and Octopus.

For seafood ideas for the Feast of Seven Fishes, check out this Web Story.

Ingredients

Besides the cuttlefish ink, the other ingredients you need are:

• Fresh cuttlefish: fresh or frozen squids are also okay if you cannot find fresh cuttlefish. Better if they are already cleaned. Ask your fishmonger to clean them for you. Even if they are cleaned, ensure all the cartilage is removed from inside the tube. Use also the legs but remove the beak in the center.
• Extra virgin olive oil: make sure you use a good quality olive oil with a low level of acidity
• Onion: a medium size onion to add flavor
• Tomato paste: the tomato paste gives the black ink a deeper color and flavor, so do not skip this ingredient. Tomato sauce is not the same, as you need a concentrated paste.
• Dry white wine: it is optional but highly recommended
• Salt and pepper: to add to the sauce
• Linguini or Spaghetti: they are the best type of pasta to use for an ink sauce. They will absorb the black color of the ink, and they can be rolled around the cuttlefish, creating the perfect bite
• Coarse salt to boil the pasta

See recipe card for quantities.

Step by step instructions with images

1. Dice the onion and stir-fry it in an olive oil-coated pan.
2. In the meantime start boiling the water for the pasta, adding 1 tablespoon of coarse salt.
3. Once the onions become translucent, add the cuttlefish.
4. As soon as they start to turn opaque white, add a few tablespoons of tomato sauce or tomato extract to give some colour.
5. You can also add ½ cup of white wine
6. Pierce the ink bag with a pin, making sure the ink does not squirt out of the pan.
7. Stir for a few seconds,
8. Remove the pan from the heat to make sure the squid doesn’t overcook.

8. Once the linguini has finished boiling (which should be about now, and always 1 minute less than what is recommended on the box), drain them and toss them into the pan containing the squid ink sauce.
9. Stir well, and they are ready to be served.

Top tips

• If you are using frozen squids, they should have been defrosted in the fridge overnight.
• Squid and cuttlefish do not need to cook for very long.
• Before adding the ink, it is best to wear some plastic gloves.

Where you buy the squid ink

You can buy the Black Ink or Nero di Seppia on Amazon or at your fishmonger.

It comes sealed in little bags, and you only need one bag for 1 lb -500 gr of pasta.

Be careful when you open the bag, though, as the ink stains are difficult to remove from clothes…and hands.

FAQ

Recipes you might also like

If you are looking for more Italian Seafood recipes, you can check the category:
Seafood

Also check the recipes below:

• Shrimp tomato pasta
• Linguine With Clams
• Shrimp Zucchini Pasta
• Fish Pie with a Mediterranean Twist
• Healthy Cod Recipe
• Homemade Paella Seafood And Sausage
• Swordfish Wheel
• Baked Swordfish and Braciolette
• Whole Sea Bream Recipe Cooked in Salt
• Stuffed Calamari Recipe
• Fried calamari

If you are making this Pasta with Black Ink, leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram or sign up to my newsletter.