Fresh Octopus Carpaccio: A Zesty & Sweet Salad to Awaken Your Palate
Fresh Octopus Carpaccio: A Zesty & Sweet Salad to Awaken Your Palate
Octopus Carpaccio: An Italian Appetizer Featuring Tender, Succulent Octopus
Craft a palate-awakening Octopus Carpaccio using fresh octopus, a rich source of taurine. This delightfully tangy and refreshing salad is perfect as an appetizer and also makes an excellent, light, and nutritious diet meal. Enjoy the delightful combination of tender octopus texture and vibrant dressing!
Main Ingredients- 3 legs of frozen pre-cooked octopus (thawed)
- 1/2 fresh cucumber
- 1 handful of mixed salad greens (e.g., romaine, baby greens)
- 1 lemon
Special Sauce Ingredients- 5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 3 Tbsp orange juice
- 1 tsp whole grain mustard
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp finely minced onion
- 5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 3 Tbsp orange juice
- 1 tsp whole grain mustard
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp finely minced onion
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Ensure the frozen octopus legs are fully thawed. Briefly blanch the prepared octopus legs in boiling water for about 1 minute, then immediately plunge them into cold water to cool. This helps to firm up the octopus’s tender texture.
Step 2
Thinly slice the fresh cucumber. Thinner slices will blend better with the octopus. Finely mince the onion. If you prefer a milder onion flavor, you can soak the minced onion in cold water for a few minutes and then drain thoroughly.
Step 3
Cut the prepared lemon in half. Juice one half for the dressing. Slice the other half thinly for garnishing the carpaccio.
Step 4
Slice the cooled octopus into bite-sized pieces, about 0.5 cm thick. Aim for slices that can be elegantly arranged on the plate, perhaps fanned out or layered.
Step 5
In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, honey, lemon juice, orange juice, whole grain mustard, finely minced onion, salt, and pepper. Whisk together with a whisk or fork until well combined and emulsified to create your special dressing.
Step 6
Arrange the salad greens attractively on a large, flat plate or serving bowl. Artfully layer the sliced octopus, cucumber slices, and lemon slices over the greens. Consider arranging them like flower petals for a beautiful presentation.
Step 7
Finally, generously drizzle the prepared zesty dressing over the octopus and vegetables. For an extra touch of elegance, garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or dill. Enjoy the pure, fresh flavors of the ingredients!
