We have had an octopusy in the freezer since a visit in Stockholm early this year. Pers daughter works in the fresh fish department at a ecological oriented food store in the centre of Stockholm. She ordered the Octopus to the store before our visit to the city. They don't keep Octopus in the shop on a daily basis but are happy to order it if you say in advance. We used a recipe from "Jamie Oliver in Italy" with some own interpretations. We started by cooking the Octopus tender in its own liquid with some added ingredients.
Ingredients
Octopus, about 1.3 kg.
Olive oil, about 7 tbs.
Garlic, one whole peeled and finely sliced.
Lemon, just peal the surface of with a potato peeler.
Chilli, one fresh red, deseeded and cut in thin slices.
Parsley, 3-4 stalks finely chopped.
Salt
Black pepper
Method
Put the olive oil into a large pan and add the ingredients except for the Octopus. Heat and boil slowly for a minute or two without the garlic getting color. The add the Octopus and shake the pot to make the oil mixture cover the Octopus. At low temperature simmer the Octopus under a lid. Test from time to time with a fork if you can easily push it through the tentacle, if it feels hard you let it boil a bit longer, for us it took about 45 minutes until it felt soft enough. But be aware not to cook the Octopus too long because then it gets really shevy. When you are happy with the "softness" you can continue to the next step in the process which is making the Kebab skewers.
Ingredients
The tender cooked Octopus.
Lemon, juice from one.
Chilli, one fresh finely chopped.
Parsley, some finely chopped leaves.
Method
Cut away the tentacles from the Octopus, we discarded the body when making these skewers. Cut the tentacles in pieces and put them on skewers, remember to put them on water first if you use wooden ones. Grill the skewers over high heat to make the surface crisp, remember that the Octopus is already cooked.
Serve the skewers on a plate together with the chilli and parsley mixture. We served the Kebabs together with nice owen baked mashed potatoes using this recepi, piemontensydamessa.blogspot.fi .
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The unfrozen Octopus is waiting to be cooked.
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Olive oil and the other ingredients are getting read to receive the Octopus.
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Octopus is now starting its slow boil process.
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The Octopus is now tender and ready for eating as it is on some bread or for example to be grilled as Kebab skewers.
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