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Spicy Baby Octopus

Ready in 1 hr 20 mins

Recipe by Graham 

Spicy Baby Octopus is a simple dish that's packed with flavour. Tender baby octopus with a spicy chunky tomato sauce fresh parsley and finished with lemon zest that brightens up the dish to a new plateau.

Preparation Time

5 Minutes

Cooking Time

1 Hour 15 Minutes

Ingredients for Spicy Baby Octopus

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Currently displaying quantities in US Imperial Measurements

To serve 6:

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic
1 chili pepper
2 x 1lb cans whole plum tomatoes
3 lb fresh baby octopus (frozen works OK)
  salt and pepper
  fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 lemon

How to Cook Spicy Baby Octopus

  1. Peel and thinly slice the garlic. Cut the chili in half. Pour the olive oil in a large heavy pan on heat high. Add the garlic and chili and canned tomato and stir well. Cover with a lid and lower the heat to a high simmer for about an hour, stirring occasionally to help break down the tomatoes.
  2. When you feel the sauce is the right consistency (I like mine thick and chunky!), stir in the fresh or defrosted baby octopus and add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Cook for about 10 minutes until the octopus just tightens up a little. Go find that chili and get it out of the way! If you bite into it you’ll know and you’ll wish you didn’t!
  3. Zest the lemon and roughly chop a handful of fresh flat leaf parsley. Serve the octopus with crusty bread. Finish with fresh flat leaf parsley, lemon zest and a drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil and enjoy!
GRAHAM'S HOT TIP:
Don't forget to extract that chili pepper after cooking. You'll spoil somebody's day otherwise!