You can make restaurant-quality squid rice at home with one simple trick, ready in just 20 minutes
Friday 26 June 2026 15:30 - Mirella Mendonça
Many people think seafood takes hours of prep and complicated techniques, but squid rice proves otherwise. Creamy, flavorful, and just a little sophisticated, it can be made in about 20 minutes with simple ingredients you may already have at home.
This recipe brings together convenience and a restaurant-worthy result, making it perfect for impressing guests or turning an everyday meal into something much more special.
Ingredients
- 2 shallots, or 1 small onion
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 red bell pepper
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 teaspoon paprika, or smoked paprika
- 10.5 oz squid
- 1 cup short-grain rice, such as Arborio or risotto rice
- 3 cups fish stock
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon yellow food coloring powder, optional
- salt, to taste
Preparation
- Prepare the sofrito: peel and finely chop the shallots and garlic. Wash the bell peppers, remove the seeds, and cut them into small squares. Peel the tomatoes and blend or mash them into a purée. Set everything aside.
- Clean the squid and cut it into small pieces. Set aside.
- In a paella pan or a large, wide skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the chopped shallots and garlic, then season with salt. Add the bell peppers and cook over high heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the paprika and tomato purée, then let everything cook until the excess liquid evaporates.
- Add the squid and cook for a few minutes. Then add the rice and stir well so the grains are coated with the sofrito.
- When the rice grains start to look slightly translucent, pour in the fish stock. Mix well. Add the food coloring, if using, and adjust the salt if needed.
- Cook over medium heat until the rice is tender. The exact cooking time will depend on the type of rice you use.
- Once the rice is cooked, turn off the heat. Cover the pan with a clean kitchen towel or aluminum foil and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- It is ready to serve!
If you prefer, you can find our step-by-step guide with photos at the link below. Just click on it
Squid rice
Squid rice is a complete, healthy recipe that takes just 20 minutes to make. Learn how to make this dish thanks to the sofrito technique which is the basis for so many other rice-based recipes such as paella. Make a note of the ingredients as today is...
Mirella MendonçaI am the editorial manager at Petitchef (Portugal and Brazil) and a huge enthusiast of travel and world cuisine, always in search of new flavors and experiences. However, as much as I love exploring the delights of different cultures, my mom's cooking will always be my favorite — with that unique flavor that only she can create.
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