Grilled Octopus with Lemon Garlic Olive Oil and Fried Capers

What you see here is not how I started off my evening. 

This is how I started off my evening.

BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH

Tell me that does not look like a creature from the movie Alien.  Or as my friend put it: "That looks like an alien autopsy."

I was convinced that this thing was going to come back alive and strangle me to death with its tentacles.

BLAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Ok, I will grow up now.

I did keep running around my apartment screaming like a little girl and throwing up in my mouth a little as I unraveled each long, gangly tentacle. I had no idea what or how I was going to work with this animal.  All of my amazing friends on Twitter gave me suggestions on how to cook the octopus or get that smoky flavor that I love so much in octopus dishes that I order in restaurants.

I closed my eyes and said a little prayer before I lopped off each tentacle, one by one (by one, by one, by one...)

BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHHHHH

I swear, I'll stop soon.

After some research, I decided to cook the tentacles in simmering water for 45 minutes and then toss it on the grill and cross my fingers that I would be able to get a delicious grilled flavor on an indoor grill. I got some amazing suggestions from my Twitter buddies - indoor smokers, smoked rock salt from New Zealand, liquid smoke, Lapsang Souchong Tea - but unfortunately, I did not have the time to go to the store.  So I just tossed it on the grill and hoped for the best.

As a side note, if you are a big into cooking or food and your are not on Twitter, you are missing out! The community of food lovers is amazing - and if you are ever stumped or need advice on a recipe or a method, ask friends on Twitter and you will have more answers than you know what to do with!  It really is an amazing community.

Back to the grilled octopus.  I just have one word to describe the final results:

HOLLLLLLLLLAAAAAA!!!! 

This worked perfectly! The octopus was meaty and tender with a delicious charred flavor.  The suckers were even slightly crispy - absolute heaven.  Tossed in a flavorful sauce of lemon, garlic and olive oil and paired with succulent tomatoes and crispy, briny capers, the flavors of this dish are dynamic and pop right off of the plate. 

I will say that this dish does serve 2, but it depends on who you are asking.  What you see in the top picture is the whole dish.  The octopus is quite meaty and filling, so I was fine with eating half of that dish for my main. Jack, on the other hand, wanted to eat the entire thing. 

This is a dish I will absolutely make over and over again for two reasons:  1.  It is delicious.  2.  Because it is so fun to run around my apartment swinging tentacles and screaming BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Grilled Octopus

 

Serves 2

(1) 5 lb. Octopus (ask your fishmonger to remove the eyes, ink sac, and beak)

Lemon and Garlic Oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Fried Capers

2 tablespoons capers, drained

1 tablespoon flour

Olive Oil for Frying

1 vine-ripened tomato, diced large

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

To Prepare:

Boil enough water in a large Dutch Oven to cover tentacles. Cut off and discard head of octopus.  Place tentacles in boiling water, lower heat to medium low, and simmer for 45 minutes or until tender.  Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, prepare the lemon and garlic olive oil.  Combine freshly squeezed lemon juice, olive oil, and minced garlic in a blender or whisk vigorously until the sauce has thickened (about 30 seconds).  Set aside.

Heat olive oil in a small frying pan over high heat. Toss capers with flour.  When heat is very hot (about 350 F, add capers and fry until golden brown, about 4 minutes.  Drain on a paper towel and set aside. 

Brush an indoor or outdoor (I used indoor) grill with olive oil and heat over high heat.  Place octopus on grill and grill for 7 minutes on each side.  

Remove octopus from grill and toss in a bowl with tomatoes and lemon and garlic olive oil.  Place in a bowl and top with parsley and capers. Serve warm.

Comments

[RecipeGirl]

I have no idea how you worked with those tentacles. If there is anything in the world of food that grosses me out, it's tentacles!! Congrats for conquering the octopus!

[Caitlin]

Oh my. I'm not sure I can handle that this early in the morning. Although the idea of running around my apt screaming and waving octopus tentacles sounds strangely attractive :)

[Tracey]

Wow, so cool! Though I definitely would have been screaming and running around my house too.

[Nancy (n.o.e.)]

Creative solution to get just the flavors you wanted! I would have needed a step by step recipe. And this is totally hypothetical because I can't imagine a 5 lb octopus coming into my kitchen any time soon.
Nancy

[Spike]

You are so brave, battling those tentacles! Looks like the end result was worth it.

[Natasha - 5 Star Foodie]

Great job on that octopus! The final presentation looks totally delicious!

[saucy apron]

nice! did you get my tweet on the smoked salt from maine?

[Cheri]

I was watching House last night and then just before bed I read your post. Let me tell you... that led to some crazy dreams. Don't ask me why they had to dissect an Octopus to find out what was wrong with their patient but that's what was going on in my dreams last night. So thank you for the nights entertainment. :)

I have to say you are awfully brave to concur that beast. I have trouble eating chicken wings after I have separated them myself... I can't imagine cutting of tentacles! Kudos to you!

[macduff]

Oh my god, you are SO BRAVE!!!!! I'm totally going to have to try this now. Looks awesome! I eat these octopi at work, but they're generally served cold with vinegar. Yours look super exciting...

[lisaiscooking]

I've never cooked octopus, but I have the same reaction to dealing with squid. Your final dish looks great!

[Chaitali]

Hi! I've been following your blog for a few weeks now but never commented till now... I just have to say that you are so brave!
I have never tried octopus. Even cooked octopus makes me squeamish cause I can't stand looking at the suckers. But strangely enough, I find your recipe really appetizing! Grilled octopus actually sounds delicious :)

[Wendy]

Uh, I don't think I will every buy an octopus. I'm squeamish about chicken! How cool for you though. It does sound delicious. Maybe I will just come over after you are done cooking it? Okay?

[April]

I think you deserve some sort of cooking medal for that! I'm such a baby, I like to pretend my meat never looked like anything but cut up and neatly packaged at the grocery store.

[jenn]

Kudos to you for attempting this. The only octopus I've had was a calamari. I'd be to squeamish just to deal it.

[Linda]

Teanna, you deserve a badge of courage from me! i love eating octopus, but never in my wildest dreams would ever considering preparing it at home.

You are amazing, and your dish looks so delicious!

[The Duo Dishes]

So sorry but...the female half of this Duo is SCARED CRAPLESS of that dead octo. Lurd jebus, he's scary! Looks much better super dead and cooked. :)

[Megan]

Oh for crying out loud - I just watched Alien vs. Predator 2 last night! Now I'm going to have nightmares about a giant octopus coming to get me!

BTW - my dad loves octopus, but I am not as adventurous as you to actually attempt to cook it.

[Jacque]

Wow, I am seriously impressed that you undertook this baking assignment. I bow down to your kitchen goddess-ness.

[Giff]

I love how much fun you had with this dish :) Great flavors. I have never worked with octopus but I want to!

[Erica]

I love your blog, your pictures are beautiful. I don't know what to say about the octopus!!!!!! Amazing.