How to clean and cook octopus

Cleaning and cooking octopus properly is key to preparing this delicious seafood.

Ingredients

To clean the octopus

1. Start by removing the head, cutting just below the eyes.
2. Remove the innards from inside the head.
3. Cut out the eyes and discard them.
4. Rinse the octopus well under running water.
5. If there’s a thin membrane on the skin, remove it carefully. Make a small incision in the skin with a sharp knife and then pull it off with your fingers.
6. Clean the tentacles with a kitchen brush or a damp paper towel to remove any dirt or grit.

To cook the octopus

1. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil over high heat.
2. Add a peeled, quartered onion, a bay leaf, a few sprigs of parsley and some black peppercorns to the pot. This flavors the octopus as it cooks.
3. When the water is boiling, lower the octopus into the pot, holding it by the head.
4. Cook the octopus for about 40–50 minutes, depending on its size. To check if it’s done, pierce the flesh with a fork: it should be soft and tender.
5. Once cooked, take the octopus out of the pot and plunge it into a bowl of cold water for a few minutes to stop the cooking and cool it down.
6. Remove the octopus from the cold water and drain it well. Use it right away or keep it in the fridge until needed.
7. To serve, slice the octopus and dress it with olive oil, salt and lemon. You can also add other spices and herbs to taste.

Step-by-step preparation

And that’s it! Now you know how to clean and cook octopus for a delicious seafood dish. Enjoy!