Squid/Octopus

squid Squid and octopus are a group of cephalopods which comprises over 300 species. As a popular global food, you can find signature squid dishes in Chinese, Greek, Turkish, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, French, Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese cuisine. In the United States and England, squid is often sold as Calamari.
Squid and octopus are a great source of zinc, manganese, copper, selenium, riboflavin and vitamin B12. Typically served stuffed are sliced into rings, the only part of this delicious seafood which cannot be consumed is the beak and gladius. When cleaning squid and octopus, make sure to carefully remove the ink pod with can be found near the beak. Easy to freeze and cook, you are sure to find a million uses for squid in your home kitchen.

Key Nutrients

Squid and octopus is an excellent source of essential amino acids, which can only be found in their complete form in animal meats. Essential amino acids include Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan and Valine. It is also a great source of vitamins and minerals.

Health Benefits

Essential amino acids provide the necessary building blocks for protein growth and development. This tends to promote healthy tissues and reduces the risk of certain cancers.

Season

Being a fish, squid and octopus can be found in most supermarkets or seafood stores year round.

Nutrition Information

Per 100 Grams:

Calories (cKal): 92
Protein (grams): 15.58
Total Fat (grams): 1.38
Carbohydrates (grams): 3.08
Fiber (grams): 0

Buying and Storing

When buying squid or octopus, make sure it does not smell like ammonia or the sea. Make sure the outer surface is bright white and is not bruised. When storing a home, store squid or octopus in a sealed container lined with a paper towel for up to three days. Alternatively, store squid or octopus in a freezer for up to three months.

Best Way to Add to Diet

There are a number of ways to prepare squid and octopus. When serving octopus, the best method is to boil the octopus in water until tender. From here, slice the octopus and serve with a salad filled with seaweed. For squid, there are two ways to prepare this fish. First, try stuffing the squid bodies with a salmon farce for a French inspired meal. Another great way to serve squid is by slicing the bodies into rings. Sauté the rings in a pan along with roasted red peppers for an out of this world taste.