Find a recipe by the avaliable engredients Your Cooking Assistant
Set the ingredients

octopus salad

5

135 min

Octopus Salad

Octopus Salad Photo 1

Time

135 min

Serving

4 persons

Calories

244

Rating

5.00★ (2)

Author: Monica Feluchi

Have you ever tasted octopus? Its taste resembles calamari, but it is a bit more gentle and meatier. The octopus salad, which is also called “ensalada de pulpo” in Mexico, is very easy to cook, although, the cooking process will take some time. It has great taste, which will certainly make it the highlight of our festive table!

Ingredients

  • octopus: 1 kg
  • salt: 0.5 tsp (to your taste)
  • oregano: 3 piece (fresh large sprigs)
  • parsley: 5 piece (fresh large sprigs)
  • cilantro: 3 piece (fresh large sprigs)
  • cucumber: 1 cup (chopped)
  • red onion: 0.5 cup (finely chopped)
  • green onion: 3 piece (sliced)
  • Jalapeno: 1 piece (fresh, seeded and minced)
  • oregano: 0.5 tsp (dried)
  • lime juice: 2 Tbsp
  • apple cider vinegar: 2 Tbsp
  • olive oil: 0.25 cup
  • tomatoes: 2 cup (chopped and seeded)

Metric Conversion

Stages of cooking

Octopus Salad Photo 2 1
Octopus Salad Photo 3 2
Octopus Salad Photo 4 3
Octopus Salad Photo 5 4
Octopus Salad Photo 6 5
Octopus Salad Photo 7 6
  1. If you buy a frozen octopus, then it should be cleaned already. In case you use fresh octopus, you will need to clean it properly. Keep that in mind prior to proceeding to the cooking process.

    Octopus Salad Photo 2
  2. Take a large pot, pour water inside and add salt. Wait until the water boils and put the octopus into the pot. Boil for about 2 minutes. Take it away from the pot and let it cool down.

    Octopus Salad Photo 3
  3. Cut the boiled octopus into large pieces and throw away all the parts, except for the meat. Mix parsley, cilantro and fresh oregano in a covered casserole dish and put the octopus pieces above the herb layer.

    Octopus Salad Photo 4
  4. Cover the baking dish and cook in the oven at 120 C (250 F) for about 1.5-2 hours. Check the meat to make sure it is tender. The overall baking time may vary with regard to the sizes and weight of the octopus you have got.

    Octopus Salad Photo 5
  5. As soon as the octopus is cooked well, remove it from the oven and let it cool down. Chop the octopus pieces now and place them into a bowl.  

    Octopus Salad Photo 6
  6. Add red onion, cucumbers, cilantro, scallions, dried oregano and jalapeno pepper. Then sprinkle with lime juice, olive oil, cider vinegar and salt. Stir the ingredients of the salad. Cover it well and keep in the fridge for about 2 hours. You can leave it in the refrigerator overnight as well. Prior to serving your octopus salad, add chopped tomatoes. Enjoy!

    Octopus Salad Photo 7

History of the Octopus Salad

The octopus salad is a traditional dish from Mediterranean countries, such as Greece, Italy, and Spain. It is commonly served as an appetizer or main dish during summer months when fresh octopus is readily available. In recent years, the octopus salad has gained popularity in other parts of the world, and different variations have been developed to cater to local tastes.

Tips and Tricks for Octopus Salad Recipe

Cleaning the octopus properly is essential to remove any sand, ink, or debris that may affect its taste. Boiling the octopus for a short time before baking it ensures that it is tender and easy to chop. Adding fresh herbs such as parsley, cilantro, and oregano enhances the flavor of the octopus and gives it a fragrant aroma.

To make the salad more flavorful, it's important to marinate it for at least 2 hours in the fridge. The longer the salad sits, the more savory it becomes. Be sure to let the salad come to room temperature before serving to maximize the taste.

Tips for presenting the dish

Octopus Salad can be served on a bed of lettuce, topped with sliced tomatoes for added color and nutrition. Other garnishes such as lemon wedges or olives can be added as well. The salad is best served cold and can be a refreshing side dish for grilled meats or pasta dishes.

How did you like this article?

You may also like