So we recently moved to Japan, and this sort of thing is available in our local grocery store. (It pretty much looks just like that. I don’t know if there are other types of octopus available for consumption or not.) So, what would I do with it if I bought some? Complicated and/or spicy is fine.
That’s already cooked or cured. Cut up and eat at room temperature as nibble with a glass of beer. It will be a firm, meaty texture. It’s packed with wasabi, but I wouldn’t bother.
If you can get them raw, baby octopus is easiest to handle at home. Whole is fine, although the head section is a little squishy - you could cut it off and just go with the legs if you like the firm texture. Blanch them briefly if you like, then cook them on a dry surface for a couple of minutes until the edges start to colour. You can marinate them a little first if you like, or brush them while cooking. Sweet chilli sauce works well, as does olive oil and lemon. Cold with a little soy and rice vinegar is good too.
I have a fantastic recipe for pasta with baby octopus, red sauce, mint and a jalapeno pesto. It’s in one of my Mario Batali books at home. I’ll try to remember to post it later.
Renee we are now enemies.
Take one octopus, arrange between two slices of buttered bread. Apply mustard. Cut corner-to-corner. Complement with soup. Serves 87.
How big is a baby octopus? (I have this picture in my head of me with a whole adult octopus on the kitchen table–daunting)
At the sushi restaurant we frequent they offer tiny baby octopus (or squid, I can’t tell the difference) on rice. Can’t really say I enjoyed the sensation of putting the thing in my mouth whole.
Yeah, sorry about that. If it makes you feel any better (probably not) I refuse to eat veal despite its deliciousness.
Here you go, octopus recipes.
Actually, the only time I had octopus was as part of an overall sashimi dish in some restaurant in NoVA. I just wish I knew where the heck we were, as I wouldn’t mind going back there sometime when I’m in the area.
The only way I’ve ever had baby octopus is Italian-style; I can’t seem to find a recipe, but it was probably marinated first in olive oil, lemon juice and/or balsamic vinegar, then grilled. It was amazingly delicious, but sadly, I refuse to go back to the restaurant where I ate it because they were so incredibly rude to us.