Braised Octopus And Tangy Potato Salad Recipes

BRAISED OCTOPUS AND TANGY POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• For the octopus:.
• Cut the head off the octopus. Combine the tentacles, parsley, olive oil, oregano, thyme, shallots and garlic in a cast-iron pot over medium-high heat. Cover and gradually bring the mixture to a boil. You don't need to add any liquid to the pot because the octopus will release its own braising liquid. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 1 hour.
• Remove the octopus from the heat and let cool in the braising liquid. On a large piece of plastic wrap, lay the tentacles top to tail. Season with salt and cracked pepper. Tightly roll up (it should look like a long sausage). Use more plastic wrap to secure the octopus, if necessary. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight) to set.
• For the potato salad:.
• Combine the gherkins, capers, oil, mustard, vinegar, potatoes, shallots, chiles, chives and parsley in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• To serve, unwrap the octopus and thinly slice. Divide the octopus among plates, drizzle with olive oil and garnish with lemon zest and celery leaves. Serve the potato salad alongside.
• Cook's Note:.
• The octopus head can be reserved and then sliced and eaten with the rest of the dish.

BRAISED OCTOPUS

Steps:

• Set the saucepan over low heat. Pour in 6 tablespoons of the olive oil. Scatter the onion in the bottom of the pan and add the garlic. Nestle the octopus on top of the onions. Scatter the olives over the octopus. Cover and let the octopus stew in its own juices for 1 hour.
• Uncover the octopus, there should be a lot of liquid from the octopus in the pan. Cover and continue to stew over low heat until the octopus is very tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes more, depending on the size of the octopus. To test for doneness, stick a fork in the thickest part of the octopus, it is done if the fork slides out easily.
• Remove the octopus from the pot and let cool slightly. Cut the octopus into 3/4-inch chunks, skin and all. Put the octopus chunks in the skillet and pour in the contents of the saucepan as well. Taste the sauce for salt (the octopus can be very salty) and add the salt, if needed. Get the sauce simmering rapidly over medium heat and stir in the parsley. You should have 2 cups or so of braising juices in the skillet. If there's much more than that, boil to reduce the sauce

OCTOPUS AND POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Rinse the octopus well under cold water and clean the sac, making sure to get rid of any grit. Flip the octopus over and look for the beak (the dark, hard, crusty shell-like bit) and scoop out with a paring knife. Add the beak and octopus to a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, and then lower to medium-high heat and cook until the octopus is fork tender, about 40 minutes. Drain and let cool, and then cut into bite-size pieces. Meanwhile, peel your potatoes, cut into bite-size pieces and cover with cold water in another pot. Bring to a boil and cook until tender. Combine the octopus, potatoes, olive oil and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Add the black olives and parsley to finish.

OCTOPUS SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the ginger, garlic, coconut, water, onions and salt in a large pot. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer and add the octopus. Cook for 10 minutes, and then transfer to a bowl to cool. Meanwhile, mix together the mirin, rice wine vinegar, toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, sriracha and lime juice in a medium bowl.
• Once the octopus is cool enough to handle, slice the thicker tentacles into 1/2-inch slices, and then leave the thinner, curly ends long. Mix together the octopus, chiles, cucumber, and green onions, and then toss with the dressing. Serve at room temperature or cold in the papaya halves.