Baby Octopus Recipes Japanese Food

SEASONED BABY OCTOPUS (CHUKA IIDAKO)

Steps:

• Combine all of the ingredients.
• Marinate for 4 to 6 hours in the refrigerator.
• Strain out the octopus. Reserving the marinade.
• In a wok or large sauce pan bring the reserved marinade to a boil.
• Turn the heat to low and allow the sauce to cool slightly.
• Add the octopus and cook slowly for 2 to 4 minutes.
• The octopus are done when they firm up and the tentacles curl.(Be careful not to over cook or they will get tough and rubbery.).
• Remove the octopus from the sauce. Discard the sauce.
• Place octopus in a bowl with a tight fitting lid. Refrigerate. They are best served cold in my opinion.
• Enjoy!

BRAISED OCTOPUS

Steps:

• Set the saucepan over low heat. Pour in 6 tablespoons of the olive oil. Scatter the onion in the bottom of the pan and add the garlic. Nestle the octopus on top of the onions. Scatter the olives over the octopus. Cover and let the octopus stew in its own juices for 1 hour.
• Uncover the octopus, there should be a lot of liquid from the octopus in the pan. Cover and continue to stew over low heat until the octopus is very tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes more, depending on the size of the octopus. To test for doneness, stick a fork in the thickest part of the octopus, it is done if the fork slides out easily.
• Remove the octopus from the pot and let cool slightly. Cut the octopus into 3/4-inch chunks, skin and all. Put the octopus chunks in the skillet and pour in the contents of the saucepan as well. Taste the sauce for salt (the octopus can be very salty) and add the salt, if needed. Get the sauce simmering rapidly over medium heat and stir in the parsley. You should have 2 cups or so of braising juices in the skillet. If there's much more than that, boil to reduce the sauce

GRILLED BABY OCTOPUS

Steps:

• Boil octopus in salted water until cooked through (check inside with a paring knife), 15 to 20 minutes. To a metal bowl add oil, oregano, pepper flakes, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper, then add octopus and toss.
• Preheat a grill to high heat.
• Place octopus on the grill for 3 to 4 minutes, then transfer back to bowl and back to grill. Repeat this step a few times. Finally, put octopus back in bowl and add balsamic vinegar. Toss well, then serve over baby greens.

MARINATED BABY OCTOPUS

Steps:

• Place octopus in a saucepan. Cover with water. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered for 40 to 45 minutes or until tender.
• Drain well. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Toss through combined oil, vinegars, garlic, chili and salt and pepper to taste.
• Allow to marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight. Serve chilled with crusty bread.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

SAUTEED BABY OCTOPUS

Steps:

• Rinse octopi in running water. Cut head lengthwise and remove excess matter including the beak. **We separated the heads from the bodies on some of the octopi
• Add lemon juice to Octopi as they're waiting to be cooked.
• Heat olive oil in large skillet. Add minced garlic and cook until browned.
• Add Octopi and sprinkle with herbs and salt.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat, until octopi is firm and turn purple. **I cooked mine for about 7 minute Like I said, I don't know if that was too long, since it was my first time, but better be safe than sorry when it comes to cooking seafood.
• Cover and cook the final minute if needed.