If you happen to love Mediterranean flavors and seafood, this scrumptious Mediterranean Octopus Salad made with tender octopus, creamy potatoes, and olives is a must- strive.
Mediterranean Octopus Salad
This Mediterranean Octopus Salad is impressed by the coastal areas of Greece, Italy, and Spain, and it may be served as a light-weight meal or appetizer alongside a crisp glass of white wine. Including potatoes makes the salad much more filling whereas complementing the octopus. The potatoes take in all of the olive oil and vinegar goodness, making this dish much more scrumptious. For comfort, I’m utilizing pre-cooked octopus, however I additionally included directions if you wish to cook dinner it from scratch. For different seafood salads, strive my Zesty Shrimp and Avocado Salad, Chilled Calamari Salad and this scrumptious Italian Shrimp Salad.
Why You’ll Love This Octopus Salad
I really like octopus and at all times order it after I’m out. Nonetheless, I used to be at all times intimidated by the concept of constructing it at house till I took a cooking class and discovered how straightforward it’s. However understanding you may discover it troublesome, I used pre-
cooked octopus from FreshDirect, however you too can discover it at Costco or on-line. If you wish to cook dinner it your self, see the instructions beneath.
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What You’ll Want
Right here’s all the pieces you must make this straightforward Mediterranean octopus salad. See the recipe card beneath for the precise measurements.
- Peewee Potatoes are tiny child potatoes. You should utilize all one coloration or a mixture of white and crimson.
- Octopus: El Rey del Pulpo (translated to “The king of octopus”) is a well-liked model offered at Costco. I additionally purchase frozen and cooked from Contemporary Direct or Entire Meals. Chop it into small items.
- Olives: I really like kalamata or Gaeta olives, that are just like kalamata, on this salad.
- Aromatics: Minced or grated garlic and thinly sliced shallots
- Parsley for coloration and freshness
- Octopus Salad Dressing: Lemon juice and zest, crimson wine vinegar, further virgin olive oil, coarse salt, and black pepper
Methods to Make Octopus Salad
If you happen to begin with cooked octopus, the one cooking you’ll do is boil potatoes. Every thing else is simply chopping and tossing. See the recipe card on the backside for printable instructions.
- Boil the Potatoes: Add potatoes to a pot of salted water–be certain it’s further salty because the potatoes take in the flavour. Convey it to a boil, simmer till the potatoes are tender, and drain. As soon as cool, slice them in half or quarters, relying on their dimension.
- Mix Every thing: Whereas the potatoes cook dinner, put all of the substances in a bowl. As soon as the potatoes are prepared, add them.
- Marinate the Octopus Salad for at the very least quarter-hour or in a single day within the fridge.
Methods to Prepare dinner Octopus (With out Concern!)
If you happen to can’t discover cooked octopus, you’ll be able to cook dinner it your self. Though it will probably appear intimidating, it’s simpler than you suppose. The important thing to cooking octopus so it’s not rubbery is to simmer it gently till tender earlier than chilling and slicing it for the salad. If you happen to begin with cleaned octopus (advisable), the course of is even less complicated! Ask your fishmonger to scrub it for you.
- Begin with Cleaned Octopus: In case your octopus has already been cleaned (beak, eyes, and inner organs eliminated), rinse it beneath chilly water earlier than cooking.
- Put together Your Pot: Convey a big pot of water to a boil. Add a bay leaf, black peppercorns, a splash of vinegar (or white wine), and a garlic clove or a wedge of onion (non-compulsory) for further taste.
- The Curling Trick (Optionally available): To get properly curled tentacles, dip the octopus into the boiling water thrice, holding it by the pinnacle earlier than absolutely submerging it. This helps set the form.
- Simmer in response to Weight: The cooking instances are beneath. It’s completed when you’ll be able to simply pierce it with a fork.
–Common (Non-Tenderized) Octopus: Simmer 12 minutes per pound over low warmth.
–Pre-Tenderized Octopus: Simmer 6 minutes per pound over low warmth. - Cool within the Cooking Liquid: Flip off the warmth and let the octopus cool within the liquid for about 20 minutes. This helps retain moisture and tenderness.
- Take away the Pores and skin (Optionally available): As soon as cooled, gently rub off the outer pores and skin along with your arms or a paper towel. Some folks love the added texture, so this step is as much as you!
- Slice and Use: Lower the octopus into bite-sized items and toss it into your Mediterranean Octopus and Potato Salad or every other dish.
Variations
- Seafood: Swap octopus with cooked shrimp, squid or lobster.
- Olives: Substitute Castelvetrano.
- Shallot: Change the shallot with a crimson onion.
Pairing Options
This salad pairs superbly with grilled greens like zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers.
If serving it as a part of a Mediterranean unfold, think about including hummus and pita, grilled halloumi, or a tomato and feta salad.
Storage
Refrigerate octopus salad for as much as 3 days and eat the leftovers chilly for a fast lunch.
Extra Mediterranean Recipes You’ll Love
For extra dinner concepts, take a look at my Seafood Recipes assortment, plus these 5 scrumptious Mediterranean recipes to encourage your subsequent meal!
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Dimension: 1 beneficiant cup
Add entire potatoes to a pot of salted water* & deliver to a boil. Simmer till the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Drain from the water & cool. As soon as cool, slice in half or in quarters relying on the scale (they need to be the suitable dimension for a forkful!)
Whereas potatoes cook dinner, get the remaining substances marinating: In a big bowl mix octopus, olives, shallot, parsley, lemon, crimson wine vinegar, olive oil, salt & pepper. As soon as the potatoes are cool, add to the bowl.
Let octopus salad marinade for no less than quarter-hour however as much as over night time!
Final Step:
Please depart a score and remark letting us know the way you preferred this recipe! This helps our enterprise to thrive and proceed offering free, high-quality recipes for you.Serving: 1 beneficiant cup, Energy: 366.5 kcal, Carbohydrates: 14.5 g, Protein: 47.5 g, Fats: 12.5 g, Saturated Fats: 1 g, Ldl cholesterol: 290 mg, Sodium: 1176 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 2.5 g
