Ingredients

  • 1 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 cup minced scallions
  • 8 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 12 small whole squid, cleaned, tentacles finely chopped
  • 3/4 pound cleaned squid, sacs cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
  • 12 medium beets
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 head garlic
  • 1 medium onion, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 shallots, peeled and halved
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
  • 1/2 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 1 cup freshly made dry bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon minced basil leaves
  • 1 tablespoon minced parsley leaves
  • 1 tablespoon minced fennel leaves
  • 1 tablespoon minced chervil leaves

Method

  • Combine the lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, scallions and garlic in a large glass or ceramic bowl.
  • Add the squid.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Combine 8 of the beets with 1 tablespoon olive oil in a baking dish.
  • Roast the beets in the oven until tender, about 35 to 40 minutes.
  • Set aside to cool.
  • Peel.
  • Cut into 1/3-inch cubes.
  • Set aside.
  • Dice the remaining 4 beets.
  • Combine the diced beets and balsamic vinegar in a blender or food processor, and puree until smooth.
  • Strain into a glass or ceramic bowl.
  • Whisk in the remaining olive oil.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Add the roasted beets and toss.
  • Set aside.
  • Combine all of the ingredients for the onion confit in a large saucepan.
  • Simmer over medium heat for 1 hour.
  • Set aside to cool.
  • Increase the oven temperature to 475 degrees.
  • Combine the bread crumb ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Place the whole sacs together in a large baking dish.
  • Place the sliced squid and tentacles next to them.
  • Pour the marinade over all the squid.
  • Top with the bread crumb mixture.
  • Bake until tender, about 10-12 minutes.
  • Set aside to cool.
  • Spoon equal amounts of sliced squid and tentacles in the center of four plates.
  • Strain the beets, reserve the vinaigrette.
  • Ring the squid with a circle of minced beets.
  • Wreathe the beets with a circle of onion confit.
  • Arrange 3 whole sacs around the center like the spokes of a wheel.
  • Drizzle with the beet vinaigrette.
  • Garnish with chervil.
  • Serve immediately.