How To Tenderize Baby Octopus Recipes

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.

GRILLED OCTOPUS

Steps:

• Fill a large pot 1/2 full with water. Add 2 tablespoons kosher salt, peppercorns, and the wine cork; bring to a boil over high heat.
• Meanwhile, place octopus on a cutting board. Using a wooden spoon or meat mallet, pound the octopus multiple times, starting in the middle and moving down each tentacle to tenderize the meat.
• Dip tentacles into the boiling water 3 times, holding them in the boiling water 2 to 3 seconds each time, until the tentacles curl up. Submerge entire octopus in the boiling water. Bring water back to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until octopus is fork-tender, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for 30 minutes.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Grill octopus until charred on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Remove from heat, slice into pieces, and place on a serving platter. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, squeeze lemon over top, sprinkle with parsley, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

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.

GRILLED BABY OCTOPUS WITH LEMON

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a plastic bag or container with a tight-fitting lid, place the octopus, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, salt, pepper, oregano, cloves, and garlic.
• Massage the marinade into the octopus and put it in the fridge for 24 hours to marinade. Massage it periodically during the marinating phase.
• Fire up the grill. If you have a gas or charcoal grill, it is vital that you add some kind of wood smoke . Without it, the dish becomes far less interesting.
• While the grill is heating, skewer the little octopi. It's a good thing if some of the herbs or garlic from the marinade sticks to the octopus, but it's not essential.
• Grill over the smoky fire, covered, for 3 minutes.
• Turn them over and grill for 3 minutes more.
• Serve while still hot with lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy.

COOKED OCTOPUS RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.

BABY OCTOPUS SALAD

Steps:

• Rinse octopuses under cold water, then cover with water by 2 inches in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot. Bring to a boil with bay leaf, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until octopuses are tender (tentacles can easily be pierced with a fork), about 45 minutes.
• Transfer octopuses to a colander with tongs, then discard cooking liquid and bay leaf. When cool enough to handle, cut off and discard heads and halve octopuses lengthwise. Cool to room temperature.
• Whisk together oil, lemon juice, sea salt, pepper, and oregano. Toss octopuses with dressing and marinate, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes at room temperature.

OCTOPUS GRILLED VERY TENDER

Steps:

• Heat a large dry pot on medium-high heat and flash sear the octopi to release the juices, about 1 minute.
• Cover with a lid, turn the heat down to simmer, and cook the octopi for about 45 minutes.
• Add the onion, carrot, bay leaves, garlic, red wine vinegar, water, oregano, parsley stems and peppercorns and place a weight on on top of the octopi so that they stay immersed in the liquid.
• Bring to a boil on medium-high heat.
• Then lower to a gently simmer until the octopi are tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Swish the octopus legs around with the tongs to remove the dark reddish membranes.
• Drain the octopi, discarding the cooking liquid, and cool to room temperature.
• Marinade/Vinaigrette:.
• Put the garlic, balsamic vinegar, pepper sauce, and shallot in a small saucepan on medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
• Lower heat and simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Cool the vinegar mixture.
• Put the cooled vinegar mixture, capers, and parsley in a large bowl and whisk in the olive oil until incorporated.
• Taste to adjust the seasoning and add lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Remove 1/3 of the vinaigrette and reserve for after grilling.
• Add octopi to bowl and toss marinade overnight.
• Preheat grill on high.
• Grill the octopi for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side and serve with the reserved vinaigrette.
• Pour over the octopus and serve.

INSTANT POT OCTOPUS

Steps:

• Put water, octopus and half of the lemon slices in the Instant Pot. Close the lid and turn the valve to a Sealing position. Press the "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" button and set the time to 15 minutes on High pressure.
• When the Instant Pot is done cooking, quick release (QR) the steam, open the lid and drain the octopus.
• Slice the octopus into strips, and while you are slicing it, cut off and discard the hard beak that's in the center of octopus body.
• OPTIONAL STEP: put the octopus pieces on a baking sheet in a single layer and broil in a pre-heated oven for 3 minutes.
• Put the octopus pieces in a serving dish, squeeze the remaining lemon slices over it, add olive oil and toss until combined.