Easy Baked Mediterranean Octopus Food

GRILLED OCTOPUS WITH VINEGAR

Steps:

• Preheat grill. In a large stockpot, bring water to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Add whole octopus, and simmer for 1 hour. Remove octopus from boiling water and let cool at room temperature for 15 minutes. Cut the tentacles from the head, and discard the head. Sprinkle oregano over the octopus tentacles. Grill octopus for 10 minutes, turn over and grill for an additional 10 minutes. Remove octopus from the grill and chop into small pieces. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and olive oil. Place chopped octopus onto serving plates and drizzle lemon vinaigrette over the octopus.

OCTOPUS SALAD

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add 1 smashed garlic clove and cook 30 seconds. Add 3/4 pound cooked octopus tentacles (sliced 1/2 inch thick) and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in 2 teaspoons chopped oregano and 1/2 teaspoon each kosher salt and pepper. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with 1 thinly sliced carrot, 1 thinly sliced celery stalk, 1 diced red bell pepper, 1 minced small shallot and 2 tablespoons lemon juice.

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

GREEK-STYLE OCTOPUS RECIPE (XTAPODI)

Steps:

• Into a large pan, add the tentacles of the octopus, along with the red wine vinegar, the wine and bay leaves and bring to the boil. Boil with the lid on, on medium low heat, for 40-60 minutes. Do not add any water, because the octopus, will shrink and emit enough water. Be careful not to add any salt, as the octopus is salty enough and not to over-boil it, because it will get mushy. When cooked nicely, the octopus should be crunchy.
• When done, remove the octopus from the pan and keep the juices into a bowl.
• Into a very hot pan, add the octopus, without the juices, and color nicely for 1 minute. This will allow the octopus to get crispy on the outside.
• Add the sliced onions and chopped tomatoes into the pan, along with 1-2 tbsps of olive oil and the garlic and stir. Let it cook for about 5 minutes, stirring every now and again, until the onions caramelize.
• Deglaze with the balsamic vinegar and wait for it to evaporate. Pour in the juices from boiling the octopus, that you kept aside, and 2 tbsps of honey. Season well with freshly ground pepper, sprinkle with some chopped pasley and cook for 3-5 minutes.
• Serve with some crusted bread and ouzo or tsipouro.

MEDITERRANEAN OCTOPUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of water to a simmer.
• Simmer octopus, bay leaves, garlic and peppercorns in a large covered pan of water for about an hour or until tender.
• Remove octopus and rinse in cold water. Cut in half and peel outer skin by hand. Cut into 1/2 inch pieces and place in a large bowl.
• Add parsley, onion, olive oil and juice of half a lemon or more, to taste. Season with salt and pepper.
• Mix well, cover chillt for at least an hour. Serve room temperature or cool, after resting outside of the fridge for at least half an hour. Can be eaten as is served with toothpicks as an appetizer, or over spring greens as a salad (if eating as salad, double the dressing).