Saveur

(Mandonguilles amb Sípia i Gambes)

SERVES 6 – 8

The meatballs for this dish, a version of one from Carmen Barrio Perez, may be made up to three days in advance. Serve with crusty bread, if you like.

24 whole blanched almonds, toasted
6 cloves garlic (2 whole, 4 finely chopped)
3 ripe medium tomatoes, halved, seeded,
   flesh grated, peels discarded
3  1"-thick slices baguette (1 toasted)
1⁄3 cup roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
2⁄3 cup milk
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground pork
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Olive oil (preferably Spanish) for frying, plus 6 tbsp.
2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
12 large head-on shell-on shrimp
1 1⁄2 lbs. cleaned squid, cut into 3⁄4" slices
3⁄4 cup white wine
2 cups beef stock, preferably homemade
2⁄3 cup frozen peas, thawed

1. Purée almonds, whole garlic, one-third of the tomatoes, toasted bread slice, half the parsley, and 1⁄2 cup water in a blender to make a seasoning paste called a picada; set aside. Tear remaining bread into pieces; combine in a bowl with milk. Let soak for 15 minutes; break up bread with fingers. Add half the chopped garlic, remaining parsley, beef, pork, and salt and pepper; mix well. Shape meat mixture into 1 1⁄2" balls. Pour oil into a large deep skillet to a depth of 1⁄4" and heat over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry meatballs, turning occasionally, until golden brown all over, 5–7 minutes per batch. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate; set aside. Discard oil and reserve skillet.

2. Heat 2 tbsp. oil in reserved skillet over medium heat. Add remaining chopped garlic and onions; cook until golden brown, 16–18 minutes. Transfer onion mixture to a plate. Increase heat to medium-high; heat another 2 tbsp. oil. Add shrimp and cook, turning once, until almost cooked, about 2 minutes. Transfer shrimp to another plate. Heat remaining 2 tbsp. oil in skillet; add squid and cook until just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer squid to a plate. Add remaining tomatoes and wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until thick, 7–8 minutes. Stir in reserved picada and onion mixture; cook for 2 minutes more. Reduce heat to medium; stir in stock, peas, meatballs, squid, and salt and pepper. Top with shrimp and cook until heated throughout, about 5 minutes more.

This article was first published in Saveur in Issue #106