Greek cuttlefish with spinach
Σουπιές με σπανάκι
Whenever you visit a psarotaverna (seafood restaurant) in Greece there are certain dishes you must order. Fried calamari, marinated anchovies, octopus, fresh catch of the day cooked “sta karvouna” (over a coal fire) and “soupies” (cuttlefish).
Cuttlefish cooked in its ink with olive oil and wine is a superb Greek mezes, and cuttlefish cooked with spinach is not only popular at psarotavernes but also at homes throughout Greece, especially during fasting periods.
This is a dish that demonstrates beautifully the simplicity and magnificence of the Greek cuisine. A few ingredients of superb quality plus simple cooking yields amazing results with luscious flavors. This is also why the Greek diet is considered among the healthiest in the world, not to mention frugal too.
I wasn’t a big fan of cuttlefish growing up. I always preferred octopus when it came to the great seafood beasts of my beloved Mediterranean Sea. My partner, on the other hand, grew up eating it, especially cooked like this, and it is one of the dishes his mom always makes for him every time we go back home to Athens. He just gobbles it up! Wish Aris would do the same but, alas, he doesn’t even touch it.
Cuttlefish is delicious. It’s meaty and brimming with the taste of the sea. Many people say this, but what does it really mean? For me, it’s about the saltiness and brininess. It’s the flavor you get in your mouth when you dive in the Mediterranean headfirst and then, when you come back up for air, that first, salty breath of air on your tongue; that is what good seafood tastes like.
Cuttlefish has the sweetness of calamari but a much bolder flavor. It has the meatiness of the almighty octopus but it’s tamer, less aggressive and more rounded. Paired with the smooth, iron-rich spinach, glistening from the all-important extra virgin olive oil, and a variety of alliums and herbs that bring sweetness and spark to the dish, the cuttlefish truly shines. The flavors are rounded and creamy, mellow yet pronounced, and if you enjoy seafood then this is a dish for you.
