How to Clean and Cook Octopus (Octopus)

If cleaning the octopus seems like an "impossible task, I'm sure that with this video recipe you will change your mind immediately! The cleaning of this spectacular mollusk is really simple and does not require so many tricks. And while we are there, we will learn how to cook it properly. "art, preventing this from becoming rubbery and hard! Let's work!

Video of the Recipe

Problems with playing the video? Reload the video from youtube.

Identity Card of the Recipe

• 74 KCal Calories per serving

• Ingrediants

  • 1 kg of octopus
  • 100 g of carrots
  • Untreated lemon juice
  • 2 sticks of celery
  • q.s. of salt
  • q.s. of water

  Materials Needed

  • Chopping board
  • Meat mallet or food hammer
  • Very large casserole
  • Knife
  • Fork
  • Blotting paper

  Preparation

  Please note
  Octopus can be purchased frozen or fresh. In the first case, the octopus head will already be gutted, while in the second case it will be necessary to remove the entrails by turning the bag inside out.
  There are also very valuable octopuses, which have two rows of suckers along the tentacles; those of sand (easily available) instead have long tentacles with a single row of suckers.
  At the time of purchase, it is recommended to check its color and appearance: the octopus must be bright and shiny.

  1. If the octopus is fresh, the first thing to do is to cut the base of the body sac without separating it from the tentacles, turning it over to remove the entrails. The defrosted octopus is already gutted.
  2. Remove the octopus eyes by making an incision.
  3. Then engrave the tooth (rostrum) and remove it by pushing it with your fingers.
  4. Leave the meat to dry to break the fibers and soften it: then gently tap the head and tentacles with a meat mallet. In this way, the octopus meat will be tender and not chewy.
  5. Then wash the octopus in running water, insisting in the suction cups to remove any impurities.
  6. The octopus can now be cooked or frozen (only if the octopus was bought fresh!).

  Did you know that
  Some people prefer to buy fresh octopus, clean it and freeze it 24 hours before cooking to dry the meat: freezing can in fact make the pulp even softer.

  7. Boil plenty of water and flavor with celery, carrot and lemon juice. Salt to taste. Those who wish can also add an onion.
  8. When the water boils, immerse and quickly extract the tentacles 6-7 times, lifting it by the head: in this way the tentacles curl and the meat will be more tender.
  9. Immerse the octopus and calculate 20 minutes per kilo of shellfish: the octopus will have to boil very gently. After the necessary time, turn off the heat and let it cool completely in the cooking water.

  Did you know that
  There are several theories on the ideal cooking of octopus. There are those who prefer "cold" cooking, which involves cooking the octopus from cold water and then bringing it to a boil. Still others prefer unusual cooking: the water is brought to a boil, the octopus is immersed by covering the pot with the lid, the heat is turned off and then left to cool completely.
  There are also several theories on cooking times: some people cook octopus for 40 minutes (per kilo of meat) and immediately remove the shellfish from the water.
  Personally, to prevent the skin from becoming soggy after removing the octopus from the water, I recommend only 20 minutes of cooking and slow cooling in your own broth.
  There are those who even add a cork to the cooking water in order to soften the meat, but this theory is not physically proven.

  10. Once it reaches room temperature, the octopus can be removed from the water. By sticking the cooked octopus with a fork, you will be able to perceive the softness of the meat.
  11. Those who wish can scrape the skin from the tentacles for a better presentation of the boiled octopus.
  12. The octopus can be cut into more or less regular pieces and used immediately to prepare salads or it can be frozen (in pieces) and stored for 2-3 months.

  Alice's comment - PersonalCooker

  Now that we are aware of all the tricks for cleaning and cooking octopus, we just have to give free rein to the imagination and create new delicious dishes: octopus salad with potatoes, seafood salad, crispy pan-fried octopus, octopus carpaccio and much more.

  Nutritional values ​​and Health Comment on the recipe

  Boiled octopus is a low-calorie dish, rich in high biological value proteins and low in fats and carbohydrates. It lends itself to any diet, even if it is necessary to use small portions in case of digestive difficulties or allergies. The average portion of octopus ranges from 150 to 300g (110-220kcal).