Octopus is considered to be a rising star when it comes to the culinary world. Culinary artisans all over the world are now allured by its flavorful meat and wonderful texture (provided it is cooked properly). Home chefs are also starting to take interest in this seafood item as well.

Unfortunately, most people are not too sure how to prepare it the right way. You may already known how to make the meat tender by slow braising it at a simmer for a long time. But what do you do after that?

Well, here are some helpful tips and great ways that complete your whole octopus dining experience.

Octopus Tips and Tricks

You, just like most people, want to have food that looks amazing. Luckily, octopus is one of the most aesthetically pleasing sight once cooked, especially the baby octopus. Their tentacles can curl up into a perfect symmetry that almost presents itself as a piece of art. How to achieve such feat you ask? Simple! Before tenderizing it, give it a quick dip in a boiling pot of water three times.

After which, you can take the water down to a simmer and start braising the octopus. You may also add some salt, coriander seeds, and garlic to season it at the same time. You can be creative as well! Simply add other spices that suit your fancy.

Make sure to have a good estimate if you are planning on serving it to a large number of guests. Octopus contains a lot of moisture and reduces in size once cooked.

Cooking

Greek-Style Braised Octopus

Once the octopus is nice and tender, it is done! For larger octopus, just slice it up into smaller portions and you can eat your braised octopus as is. For the finishing touch, you can either dress it with paprika-garlic sauce, or just drizzle it with olive oil and sprinkle with some oregano. Now you can have yourself a lovely Mediterranean appetizer.

Italian Octopus and Potato Salad

This is a traditional Italian recipe that would surely delight your palate. Cut the tender octopus into 1-inch slices. Toss in some sliced boiled potatoes, parsley, and celery. Season it with some olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. If you’d like it to have a bit more flavor, you can also add some chili pepper flakes, garlic, or mint. Mix it up and pair it with your favorite wine for the best seafood salad experience.

Spain’s Octopus with Chorizo and Potato

Spain’s octopus dish is another great way of serving octopus. First, slice the braised octopus into smaller portions, ideally half an inch. Also slice the boiled potatoes and add 3 tablespoons of olive oil, thyme, and salt and paper. Cook chorizo in a grilling pan on a moderately high heat for two minutes. In a separate pan, cook the octopus and potatoes for five minutes, or until the potatoes develop some nice golden spots. Add the chorizo into the mix and season again with salt and pepper. Drizzle it with some oil, a few garnish, and voila! Only thing left to do is to spoil yourself with this savory dish.