INGREDIENTS
– 6 tbsp Olive oil
– 2 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
– 1 Medium onion, finely chopped
– 90 ml (3.2fl oz) Dry white wine
– 1 Large vine tomato (about 200g), halved
– 2 tsp Tomato pur
– 15 g Slice crustless white bread
– 1.5 tbsp Milk
– 2 tbsp Chopped flat-leaf parsley
– 225g Minced chicken
– 225 g Minced pork
– 1 Pinch, freshly grated nutmeg
– 6 Large shell-on raw prawns
– 375g Cleaned cuttlefish, cut into 2cm strips
– 150ml Chicken stock
– 100g Shelled peas, fresh or frozen
– 1 Pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Picada
– 2 tbsp Olive oil
– 2 Fat garlic cloves, peeled but left whole
– 10g Slice crustless white bread
– 10g Toasted blanched almonds
– 1 Small vine-ripened or beef tomato, halved
– 1 tsp Flat-leaf parsley leaves

 

METHOD

First you want to grate the halved tomatoes for the sauce and the picada. Discard the skin. Right for the picada, heat the olive oil in a small frying pan over medium heat, add the garlic, the slice of bread and fry. Turning over now and then until golden brown all over. Lift out with a slotted spoon and add to the bowl of a mini food processor with the almonds, tomato, parsley and a tablespoon of cold water. Blend to a paste and set aside.

Next place 2 tablespoons of the oil, half the garlic and the onion into a large saucepan and fry for 10 minutes until the onions are soft and lightly golden. Add the wine, grated tomato and tomato purée and reduce to a simmer (stirring occasionally) for 6-7 minutes or until reduced and thickened. For the meatballs first you want to tear the bread into a small bowl, sprinkle with the milk and leave until soft.  Next break apart with your fingers and add the remaining chopped garlic, parsley, minced chicken and pork, nutmeg and a good pinch each of salt and black pepper. Mix together well and shape roughly into 3cm balls.

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil, add the meatballs and fry for 3 minutes. Shake the pan every now and cook until golden brown. Set aside on a plate and add the prawns. Fry for 1 minute on each side until just cooked through and set aside on another plate. Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan, then the cuttlefish and stir-fry for 2 minutes or until it is nicely caramelized and just cooked through. Set aside with the prawns.

Next we combine the tomato sauce and picada to a large pan then bring to a simmer for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, stir in the stock and bring to the boil whilst stirring. Add the peas, meatballs and cuttlefish and season to taste with salt and pepper. Lastly scatter the prawns in and simmer for 5 minutes until any remaining liquid has reduced, the cuttlefish has cooked through and throw some parsley on to garnish. Serve with crusty fresh loaf of bread.