Octopus Salad
Welcome to the world of vibrant flavors and astonishing textures with this delectable Octopus Salad. This dish brings the tastes of the sea to your table, combining tender octopus with fresh, crisp veggies and a tangy dressing that will have your taste buds dancing! Perfect as a light lunch or a fancy appetizer, this octopus salad is sure to impress.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of octopus cleaned (If you can’t find fresh, frozen works just as well)
- 1 medium red onion thinly sliced
- 2 medium cucumbers diced
- 1 bell pepper I like red for color!, chopped
- 1 ripe tomato diced
- 1/4 cup of fresh parsley or cilantro chopped
- 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice juice from a fresh lemon works wonders!
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Substitutions? You can easily swap out the octopus for shrimp or calamari if you prefer! And if you’re not a fan of onions leave them out. No stress!
Instructions
- Prepare the Octopus: Start by placing the octopus in a large pot. Cover it with plenty of water and bring it to a boil. Cook for about 30 minutes, or until it’s nice and tender (it will look gorgeous!). Test it by piercing a leg with a fork – you want it to be soft, but not mushy. Once it’s done, remove it from the pot and let it cool.
- Chop and Slice: While the octopus is cooling down, grab your trusty knife and chop up your veggies! Slice the red onion, dice the cucumbers and tomatoes, and chop that vibrant bell pepper. You want everything to be uniform so it looks pretty in the bowl.
- Mix the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Give it a good mix until it’s all combined. Taste it! Feel free to add more vinegar or lemon juice if you desire that extra kick.
- Combine Everything: Once your octopus has cooled, slice it into bite-sized pieces (but not too small!). Toss the octopus in a large bowl with your chopped veggies and dressing. Make sure everything is coated nicely because we want every bite to be bursting with flavor!
- Chill & Serve: Cover the bowl and pop it in the fridge for about 15 minutes. This chilling time allows all those lovely flavors to mingle and get to know each other. Once ready, serve it chilled and enjoy this chilly seafood masterpiece!