How to Eat Octopus: Tips for Cleaning, Cooking, and Pairing with Other Foods

Introduction

Eating octopus can be intimidating, especially if you’ve never cooked it before. However, learning how to prepare and cook octopus can help make it a delicious part of your culinary repertoire. This article provides an overview of how to eat octopus, including tips for selecting and prepping octopus, different ways to cook it, and pairing ideas. Plus, there are three recipes for delicious octopus dishes to get you started.

How to Prepare Octopus for Cooking

Before you begin cooking, it’s important to know how to properly prepare your octopus. Here are some tips for getting started:

Cleaning and Defrosting Octopus

If you’re buying your octopus frozen, start by defrosting it in the refrigerator overnight. To clean the octopus, fill a large bowl with cold water and add 2 tablespoons of salt. Submerge the octopus and scrub gently with your hands. Rinse the octopus several times until the water runs clear. Once it is clean, pat the octopus dry with paper towels.

Pre-Cooking Options

Many recipes recommend that you pre-cook the octopus before continuing with your recipe. There are two common methods for pre-cooking octopus: boiling or steaming. Boiling is the most popular method, but some prefer to steam octopus for a more tender texture. To boil octopus, place it in a pot of boiling salted water and simmer for about 30 minutes. To steam octopus, place it in a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water and cover. Steam for about 20 minutes.

Tips for Selecting Octopus at the Store

When selecting octopus at the store, look for freshness and quality. Fresh octopus should have bright eyes, firm flesh, and no blemishes or discoloration. You may want to ask the fishmonger if the octopus has been previously frozen. If so, it may not be as fresh as you’d like.

What to Look for in Quality Octopus

Quality octopus should be firm and not mushy. It should also have a mild, sweet smell. Avoid octopus that has a strong, fishy odor. The tentacles should be tightly closed and the skin should be smooth and glossy.

Where to Buy

Fresh octopus is available at many seafood markets, specialty stores, and online. If you’re purchasing frozen octopus, make sure to check the expiration date and avoid any packages that appear to have been thawed and refrozen.

Different Ways to Cook Octopus

Once your octopus is cleaned and pre-cooked, you can choose from a variety of cooking methods. Here are some of the most popular:

Boiling

Boiling is a quick and easy way to cook octopus. After pre-cooking, remove the octopus from the boiling water and allow it to cool slightly. Then, cut into pieces and season with olive oil, salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices. Place the octopus in a pot of boiling salted water and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Serve hot.

Grilling

Grilling octopus is a great way to impart smoky flavor. After pre-cooking and cooling, brush the octopus with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat and place the octopus on the grate. Grill for 5-7 minutes, turning once. Serve hot.

Roasting

Roasting is a great way to bring out the natural sweetness of the octopus. After pre-cooking and cooling, brush the octopus with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices. Preheat the oven to 400°F and place the octopus on a baking sheet. Roast for 10-15 minutes, turning once. Serve hot.

Sautéing

Sautéing is a great way to quickly cook octopus. After pre-cooking and cooling, cut the octopus into bite-sized pieces. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Add the octopus and season with salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve hot.

Pairing Octopus with Other Foods

Octopus pairs well with a variety of flavors and textures. Here are some suggestions for side dishes and sauces to pair with your octopus dish:

Suggested Side Dishes

Octopus goes well with potatoes, olives, capers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and greens such as spinach or kale. Salads, rice, couscous, and pasta are also great side dishes for octopus.

Sauces and Marinades

Try pairing octopus with a flavorful sauce or marinade. Lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and herbs are all good options for flavoring octopus. For a spicy kick, try a chili sauce or harissa. Or, for a creamy sauce, try tzatziki or aioli.

Recipes for Delicious Octopus Dishes

Ready to try cooking octopus? Here are three recipes for delicious octopus dishes to get you started:

Grilled Octopus with Lemon

Ingredients:

• 1 octopus, pre-cooked and cooled
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 lemons, sliced

Instructions:

1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
2. Brush the octopus with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Place the octopus and lemon slices on the grill. Grill for 5-7 minutes, turning once.
4. Serve hot with extra lemon slices, if desired.

Roasted Octopus with Potatoes and Olives

Ingredients:

• 1 octopus, pre-cooked and cooled
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 pound small potatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup pitted olives

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Brush the octopus with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Place the octopus, potatoes, and olives on a baking sheet. Roast for 10-15 minutes, turning once.
4. Serve hot.

Sautéed Octopus with Garlic and Parsley

Ingredients:

• 1 octopus, pre-cooked and cooled
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil.
2. Add the octopus, garlic, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Serve hot.

Conclusion

Eating octopus doesn’t have to be intimidating. With proper preparation and techniques, you can easily enjoy this delicious seafood. When selecting octopus, look for freshness and quality. Be sure to pre-cook the octopus before continuing with your recipe. There are a variety of cooking methods, including boiling, grilling, roasting, and sautéing. Octopus pairs well with a variety of flavors and textures, such as potatoes, olives, capers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and greens. Experiment with different flavors and cooking methods to find the perfect octopus dish for you.