Tender and Chewy! The Perfect Boiled Octopus Recipe
Tender and Chewy! The Perfect Boiled Octopus Recipe
Boiling Octopus Like a Pro: How to Make Tender and Delicious Boiled Octopus
Enjoy delicious, tender boiled octopus made from the freshest catch! While it’s wonderful on its own, it transforms into a refreshing octopus hoe-muchim (Korean raw seafood salad) when tossed with chilled naengmyeon broth and a tangy-sweet sauce. It’s the perfect dish to beat the heat! You can easily prepare this using leftover vegetables from your fridge. Even my picky neighbors raved about it, preferring the hoe-muchim over plain boiled octopus! For beautifully sliced octopus, try freezing it for a few hours after boiling, then slicing while slightly frozen. This makes for cleaner, more appealing cuts. Let’s dive into how to prepare and cook octopus for the perfect boiled octopus and hoe-muchim!
Boiled Octopus Ingredients- 1kg Fresh live octopus
- 100g Radish (to remove any unpleasant smell while boiling)
- 1 Green onion (for boiling)
- 1/2 Onion (for boiling)
- 1/2 cup Soju (for removing fishiness and tenderizing)
Tangy & Sweet Gochujang Sauce (Cho-jang)- 3 Tbsp Store-bought gochujang
- 2 Tbsp Vinegar
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Cider (or more sugar)
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds (adjust to taste)
- 3 Tbsp Store-bought gochujang
- 2 Tbsp Vinegar
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Cider (or more sugar)
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds (adjust to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the octopus! Use scissors to carefully cut out the eyes and open the head to remove the innards. You can also remove the tough beak at this stage.
Step 2
Next, the cleaning process. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of coarse sea salt over the octopus, body and tentacles. Knead it vigorously for about 3-5 minutes until the slimy texture is gone. Rinse under running water. Then, add half a cup of flour and rub it all over the octopus again. The flour will help remove any remaining residue and debris. Rinse thoroughly one last time. Your octopus is now prepped!
Step 3
Look at how clean and fresh this octopus is!
Step 4
Now, let’s prepare the aromatics for boiling the octopus. Cut the 100g radish into bite-sized pieces. Chop the green onion into large sections. Roughly chop the half onion. Place the prepared radish, green onion, and onion in a pot. Pour in the half cup of soju – this will help eliminate any fishy odors.
Step 5
Bring water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Once boiling, hold the cleaned octopus by the head and dip it into the boiling water, then pull it out. Repeat this 2-3 times. This quick dip helps the octopus turn a vibrant red color and causes its tentacles to curl beautifully, giving them a delightful wavy texture and making them more tender.
Step 6
Fully submerge the octopus in the boiling water, ensuring the head is also covered. Simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Adjust the cooking time based on the size of your octopus. Be careful not to overcook, as it can become tough.
Step 7
Once boiled, immediately remove the octopus from the hot water and plunge it into an ice bath. The sudden temperature shock will make the octopus wonderfully firm and chewy. See how beautifully firm it looks?
Step 8
This octopus is a fresh stone octopus caught using traps in the waters off Tongyeong. It has a lovely color and turned out perfectly tender.
Step 9
And there you have it – our delicious boiled octopus is ready! It’s perfectly chewy yet tender.
Step 10
Now it’s time to slice the beautifully boiled octopus. Use a sharp knife to create thin, even slices. (Tip: For even cleaner slices, lightly freeze the octopus for a couple of hours before cutting!)
Step 11
Arrange the sliced octopus slices attractively on a serving plate. Serve with the tangy-sweet gochujang sauce on the side.
Step 12
Your chewy and tender boiled octopus is complete! While it’s fantastic served with just the sauce, you can also use any leftover octopus to make a refreshing hoe-muchim. (A little secret: this entire octopus disappeared into my mouth in the blink of an eye! Hope you all enjoy your delicious boiled octopus!)
