Calamari [Squid]Gravy - கடம்பான் தொக்கு

Ingredients:

• Calamari 1kg
• Onion 2[Medium]
• Tomato 2
• Ginger 1 1/2 inch piece
• Garlic 10cloves
• Coriander powder 1tbl
• Red Chilli powder 2 tsp
• Turmeric 1 tsp
• Cinnamon 1/2 inch stick
• Cloves 3
• Pepper Powder 1/2 tsp
• Corriander Leaves [chopped] 1 tbl
• Salt
• Oil

Seasoning:

• Mutard 1 tsp
• Cumin 1/2 tsp
• Anni Seeds 1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves 3

Method:

• Clean the calamari and cut into small even pieces.
• Finely chop the onion and tomato
• Fry the cinnamon and cloves and grind
• Make a fine paste of ginger and garlic.
• Heat the kadai with 1tbl of oil and add the seasonings.
• Add the Ginger Garlic paste and fry till the raw smell leaves.
• Add the chopped onion and fry till golden brown.
• Add the corriander powder and then add the chopped tomato.
• Fry till tomato becomes soft.
• Add the salt,turmeric and the powdered cinnamon & clove and pepper powder.
• Fry for a while and sprinkle some water.
• Add the calamari and fry for 3 mins and remove from flame, because overcooking or under cooking makes it into rubber.
• Garnish with chopped corriander leaves.

Note:
Squid must be cooked either a very short time or a very long time. Anything in between turns it into rubber. Two minutes over high heat is plenty. Beyond that will require at least 30 minutes to an hour to retenderize it.