Squid ink

Encre de seiche

What it is

The cephalopod’s smoke bomb, turned into the kitchen’s most dramatic pigment. Venice stirs it into risotto nero, Catalonia into arròs negre — dishes that arrive black as a new moon and taste, against all appearance, of gentle sea and sweet rice.

In the kitchen

A teaspoon suffices for a whole pan of rice; add it with the stock, not at the end, so the brininess cooks in and mellows.

Goes with

Rice Garlic Shrimp Olive oil

Same species

Cuttlefish

Also used with

Activated charcoal Squid

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