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Grilled Octopus Dish: A Flavorful Recipe to Impress Your Guests

This Grilled Octopus recipe features tender, marinated octopus grilled to perfection, delivering a smoky flavor enhanced by fresh lemon and parsley. Ideal for seafood enthusiasts, it’s a stunning dish for any occasion!

  • Total Time: 90 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds fresh octopus
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
  • 1 cup white wine (optional, for boiling)
  • Fresh lemon wedges, for serving
  • Extra parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Clean the Octopus: Rinse the octopus under cold water, remove the beak and ink sac if necessary.
  2. Tenderize the Octopus: Freeze for a day or gently pound with a meat mallet. Thaw completely before cooking.
  3. Boil the Octopus: In a large pot, bring water (and white wine if using) to a boil. Add the octopus, reduce heat, and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour until tender.
  4. Cool and Cut: Remove the octopus from the pot, let it cool, then cut the tentacles into 2-3 inch pieces.
  5. Prepare the Marinade: In a bowl, mix olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
  6. Marinate the Octopus: Add octopus pieces to the marinade, coat well, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (ideally 2-3 hours).
  7. Preheat the Grill: Heat your grill to medium-high.
  8. Prepare the Grill Grates: Brush grates with olive oil to prevent sticking.
  9. Grill the Octopus: Remove octopus from marinade, grill for 3-4 minutes on each side until charred.
  10. Baste with Marinade: Brush leftover marinade onto the octopus while grilling for extra flavor.
  11. Plate the Grilled Octopus: Transfer grilled octopus to a serving platter.
  12. Garnish: Squeeze fresh lemon juice and sprinkle with parsley.
  13. Serve: Enjoy warm with lemon wedges, salad, grilled vegetables, or crusty bread.

Notes

  • Choosing Fresh Octopus: Look for firm octopus with a fresh ocean smell. Avoid any with a strong fishy odor.
  • Cooking Time: Adjust cooking time based on octopus size; smaller ones may take 30-40 minutes, larger ones up to 1.5 hours.
  • Marinating Time: Longer marination enhances flavor; aim for 2-3 hours if possible.
  • Author: Aria
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 60 minutes