Best Sauteed 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.

BABY OCTOPUS AND POTATO

Steps:

• Separate heads from tentacles, and cut the larger heads in half; cut the tentacles into two or four bunches. Marinate the baby octopi for at least one hour in a mixture of Ponzu sauce, lemon juice, wine, shallot and garlic. You may also add the mushrooms here.
• Meanwhile, rinse the potatoes, cut out any eyes, and slice about 1/4 inch. Place on baking pan and mix in ground pepper, tarragon, and rosemary, to taste. (Fresh is nicest, but dried will do.) Add a little olive oil to prevent burning.
• Roast in pre-heated 350 F degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
• Drain marinate from the baby octopi into cooking pot (dimensions of your pot are important, you want as small a surface area as possible to minimize addition of water). At this point, add the 1/4 cup water.
• Bring to boil, reduce to simmer.
• Add octopi, and additional water to cover, if needed. (You could ainstead add any or all of the other liquids to taste, as additional ideas)
• Bring liquid back to a rapid simmer, not a full-fledged boil. For baby octopi, simmer this way 15-20 minutes. Avoid too much liquid, but also avoid burning.
• Time your finish time to coincide more or less with the potato finish time, with the potatoes finishing first. Layer potatos on a serving plate, and pour the octopus dish over this. If you have too much liquid, then strain your octopus out and place over potatoes, although be sure some of its cooking marinate is served.
• For a little spice, add the crushed hot red pepper flakes at serving time. It's a nice extra bit of spice.

SPANISH OCTOPUS

Steps:

• Place chopped onion, garlic cloves, bay leaf, paprika, salt, and 1 tablespoon olive oil into saucepan. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until onions start to soften, about 5 minutes. Add white wine to create the braising liquid. Bring to a simmer.
• Transfer octopus into braising liquid, turning to coat with the liquid. Cover; reduce heat to low. Simmer 20 minutes and turn octopus over. Continue cooking until octopus is tender, another 40 to 45 minutes.
• Remove from heat; transfer octopus to a large bowl. Pour braising liquid over octopus. Place bowl above a bowl of ice water to cool to room temperature.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap when octopus and liquid are cool. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Transfer octopus to a work surface and mop off braising juices with paper towels; remove as much of the purple skin as you want. Cut octopus into 3 or 4 serving-size pieces. Brush with olive oil.
• Transfer braising liquid to saucepan. Bring to a boil; remove from heat. Strain out solids; transfer liquid to a mixing bowl; let cool about 10 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, parsley, salt, and cayenne pepper to make the serving sauce.
• Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill to high heat. Transfer octopus pieces to grill. Cook until flesh is seared, almost charred, 3 or 4 minutes. Turn and cook other side until dark brown, caramelized, and heated through, another 3 or 4 minutes. Transfer to a platter.
• Slice octopus into fairly thick diagonal slices. Place on a serving dish. Spoon braising liquid mixture over the top. Dust with a bit of cayenne pepper, if desired.

SAUTEED OCTOPUS WITH OREGANO

Steps:

• 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. Chop the tentacles into small pieces. Heat a large saute pan with olive oil over medium heat, add the octopus, green pepper, tomatoes, olives, oregano, and vinegar. Saute for 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

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!

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.