Andalusian-Style Marinated Octopus Salad
Indulge in the flavors of Andalusia with this refreshing marinated octopus salad inspired by Bar Miami in Sevilla, Spain. While preparing the octopus may require some effort, the result is a dish that’s exceptionally tender and bursting with freshness.
Ingredients
Serves: 4 / Preparation Time: 9 to 13 hours in advance.
- 2 cleaned octopuses each weighing about 3/4 pounds
- 12 cups of water
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ medium onion
- 4 peppercorns
- 2 sprigs of parsley
- Salt
- ½ cup of extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of finely chopped onion
- 1 garlic clove finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Begin by tenderizing the octopus.
- Place it in a cleaned kitchen sink and forcefully throw it into the sink at least 10 times.
- In a large pot, bring 12 cups of water to a boil over high heat.
- Briefly dip the octopus into the boiling water for a few seconds, remove, and repeat this process two more times.
- Allow the octopus to rest out of the water for a minute between each dipping.
- After this, transfer the octopus to a platter.
- Add the bay leaf, half of a medium onion, peppercorns, parsley, and a pinch of salt to the pot.
- Bring the water to a boil again if needed.
- Return the octopus to the pot, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for approximately 1 hour, depending on the size of the octopus, until it becomes tender.
- Once done, drain the octopus, remove the bay leaf, and let it cool.
- Scrape off any loose skin and then cut the body and tentacles into bite-size pieces using scissors.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, chopped onion, chopped garlic, chopped parsley, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Add the octopus to the marinade and toss to coat thoroughly.
- Cover the bowl and let the octopus marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
Serve the Andalusian-Style Marinated Octopus Salad cold or at room temperature to relish the delightful flavors of Southern Spain.
This dish highlights the exquisite taste of Andalusian cuisine with its zesty marinated octopus, a true culinary gem from the South of Spain.
