Wood Grilled Octopus And Squid Recipes

ITALIAN-STYLE GRILLED OCTOPUS RECIPE - (4/5)

Steps:

• 1. In a large pot, place the octopus along with the wine, peppercorns, 1 lemon cut in half, cork, and garlic. Cover with water by 1 inch and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook the octopus until it is tender when pierced with a sharp knife. (Anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes.) Drain, and allow the octopus to come to room temperature. 2. Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, spread evenly over coal grate. Alternatively, set the burners of a gas grill to high heat. Set cooking grate in place, cover gill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Toss the octopus with 1/4 cup of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.Place the octopus on the grill and cook for a few minutes on both sides until the octopus is well browned, but still remains moist, 3 to 4 minutes per side. 3. Cut the octopus tentacles, place on a platter and drizzle with the remaining olive oil, juice of the remaining lemon, and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately or at room temperature with lemon wedges if desired.

WOOD-GRILLED OCTOPUS AND SQUID

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and carrots and cook until the onions are clear, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste, wine, octopus and herbs. Cover with water and simmer until the octopus is fork-tender, about 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, run a knife along 1 side of each squid tube from the opening to the pointed end. Open the flap and score each piece, without cutting through the flesh. Place the squid in a bowl and toss with 1/4 cup of the olive oil, garlic, rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper and lemon. Marinate for 2 hours.
• Remove the octopus from the liquid and let cool slightly. Heat a grill, preferably using hard wood, until very hot. Cut the legs off the octopus at the base of the body and discard the body. Brush the legs with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, season with salt and pepper and place on the grill for a few minutes. Remove the squid from the marinade and place the tentacles on the grill. Add the squid bodies, laying them out flat. Cook the octopus legs until charred and cook the squid just until it turns opaque. Divide among 4 plates, drizzle with the remaining olive oil, season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with parsley.

GRILLED OCTOPUS

Steps:

• Combine the octopus, bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, 1 teaspoon salt, the garlic, and one of the lemons, cut in half, in a saucepan along with water to cover. Turn the heat to medium, cover, and bring to a boil. Adjust the heat so that the liquid simmers slowly and cook until the octopus is tender, 30 to 90 minutes (check with the point of a sharp knife). Drain, discarding all the solids (except the octopus). You can prepare this 24 hours in advance up to this point; cover and refrigerate the octopus.
• Start a charcoal or wood fire or preheat a gas grill; the fire should be quite hot and the grill rack about 4 inches from the heat source. Cut the octopus into large serving pieces, brush it with half of the olive oil, and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Grill it quickly, so that the outside browns before the inside dries out. Cut the remaining lemons into wedges.
• Brush the octopus with the remaining olive oil. Serve with lemon wedges, hot or at room temperature, garnished with the parsley.
• Grilled Squid with Vinaigrette
• Much simpler: Cut cleaned squid into big rings (or use baby squid, cleaned but left whole) and skewer it. Grill or pan-grill it over quite high heat until browned, less than 5 minutes. Serve as directed or drizzled with Vinaigrette (page 600).