Marinated Octopus Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Slice the octopus into one-inch pieces and put them in a bowl. Add the onion, celery, capers and olives and mix.
• Mix the oil, vinegar and salt and pepper together. Pour over the octopus mixture and toss lightly. Allow to marinate at room temperature at least an hour.
• Just before serving, fold in the parsley and check seasoning. Serve on a bed of arugula.

Steps:

• In a large casserole combine octopus, carrots, celery, onion, bay leaves, salt, pepper, thyme, red wine and water. Bring to a slow boil and simmer 45 minutes, or until octopus is very tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from heat and let octopus cool in its broth.
• Set aside 1 1/3 cups of broth for sauce. When octopus is cool enough to handle, remove it from broth and rub it well to remove purplish skin. Rinse tentacles in broth as they are cleaned. Drain octopus and transfer to a large bowl.
• Make marinade: in a small bowl combine marinade ingredients. Pour over octopus and toss to coat. Marinate, covered and refrigerated, for at least 24 hours, and up to 3 days.
• Make sauce: in a small saucepan combine strained reserved broth, olive oil, lemon juice and vinegar. Reduce by half over high heat. Remove pan from heat and whisk in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Stir in parsley. Keep warm.
• Prepare a charcoal broiler. Drain tentacles and pat dry. Grill 4 minutes, turning frequently, until lightly charred and heated through. Serve 2 tentacles per person, with sauce spooned over, garnished with parsley and lemon wedges.

Steps:

• Wash the octopus inside and out in cold water and place in a large kettle. Add the bay leaves and 1 tablespoon salt and cover with cold water. Heat to boiling over medium-high flame. Simmer over medium heat until the thick part of a tentacle can easily be sliced, about 40 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and cool the octopus in the water for 1 hour.
• While the octopus cools, prepare the marinade: combine the olive oil, 6 tablespoons lemon juice, parsley, chopped capers, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a bowl. Whisk until creamy and set aside.
• Lift the octopus into a colander in a sink and rinse each tentacle under cold water while rubbing off the skin and suckers. Cut off the tentacles and reserve; turn the body inside out and rinse well.
• Dissolve the gelatin in 1/2 cup boiling water and stir in 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Stir in 1/2 cup cold water. Place the tentacles of one octopus in a rectangular terrine and pour the gelatin mixture over it. Refrigerate until set, about an hour.
• Slice the remaining tentacles and bodies into bite-size pieces and place them in the bowl of marinade. Toss to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
• To serve, invert molded tentacles onto a platter and slice. Arrange the bowl of marinated octopus alongside, garnish with the oregano and extra capers. Serve with olives and sun-dried tomatoes.

Steps:

• Place octopus in a large pan with plenty of water and boil for 2 hours.
• Remove from heat; wash and remove the skin.
• Cut in desired size pieces.
• In a bowl, combine all the ingredients, except the lemon juice, and add octopus.
• Mix well; cover; and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
• When ready to serve, stir in the lemon juice.

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, place the octopus, cork, peppercorns, carrots, onion, garlic head, fennel, celery, and bay leaves. Cover with cold water. Bring to a light boil and then keep at the barest simmer for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the octopus is tender. Place the entire pot in the refrigerator and allow the octopus to cool in the liquid.
• When cool, remove the octopus from the liquid, discarding the liquid. Cut into 1-inch chunks, including the head. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• In a large bowl, combine the lemon juice and olive oil. Using a vegetable peeler, remove the zest from the lemon(s) and orange in large strips and add to the bowl. Slice the shallot into rings and add to the bowl with the sliced garlic and chile flakes. Add the octopus chunks and toss to coat. Allow to marinate at room temperature for about 1 hour, stirring about every 10 minutes to mingle the flavors. Serve at room temperature.