Octopus is a delicious dish which is eaten all across the Spain with a lot of delight and octopus tastes is very yummy. These ancient vertebrates exist in different variants, but only a few of them are eaten. Although it’s often related to calamari, it differs in terms of texture as well as cooking style. While it’s low in calories, it’s a good source of protein, it makes a filling food item. Apart from that, it is also abundant in vitamins, fat and iron. It also contains selenium that helps in metabolizing protein, antioxidants that increase our immunity system and vitamin B12 that assists in producing red blood cells. In this article, we have shared a few interesting information about Octopus.
The distinct flavor and texture of octopus
Most people related Octopus to something chewy, bland, and tough. But when cooked properly, it has removed the same texture as that of lobster. Although some people assume it to be greasy, it will be never the way when cooked correctly. A well-cooked octopus has a very distinctive texture and smell. However, its flavor is mostly influenced by the ingredients used along with it and the cooking method. You can eat raw octopus to experience a slightly sweet flavor.
From finding to cooking octopus
Although Spaniards love to feast on octopus, they find it too tacky to prepare it. The fresh octopus needs to be cleaned and cut before cooking it. Cleaning a fresh octopus is a meticulous task as one needs to remove all the innards and rinse it. But if you buy a frozen one, it is preprocessed. After being cleaned, an octopus looks like a deflated sac having tentacles.
You may tenderize octopus in different ways but the process might be unnerving since octopus is really tough. You can do this by submerging the entire octopus in water and red wine and cooking it at low flame. The cooking time may vary as per its size from 30 minutes to four hours. And, you could check whether it’s cooked or not by inserting the knife into the thickest part of the body. Here are some of the best ways to cook it:
- Grilled Octopus with Ancho Chile Sauce
In this dish, the octopus is braised in sherry, and then its skin is made extra tender before it’s finished on the grill and glazed with a tangy anchochile sauce.
- Octopus with Chorizo and Potatoes
This is the recipe of dipping the tentacles in hot water before cooking and holding them so they regain their shape.
- Octopus Turnovers with Spicy Creole Mayonnaise
The octopus is delicious in Jose Enrique’s addictive pastries.
- Pan-Seared Octopus with Italian Vegetable Salad
In this dish, an octopus is braised in white wine until it becomes tender, and tossed in with chickpeas and a tangy mix of marinated carrots, fennel and celery.
- Octopus with Black Bean-Pear Sauce
This dish comprises tender charred octopus tastes with a sauce of salty fermented black beans and sweet pear.
Well, there are a lot more variants of octopus dishes that are cooked and enjoyed by Spaniards. For an extraordinary experience, you can attend the Octopus Festival held each August in O Carballiño, Ourense. you can discover here how the octopus tastes.
In case you do not have the knack of preparing octopus, you can place your order with Gastronomic Spain and get your meal delivered at any desired location, this octopus tastes is amazing. We always carry out authentic techniques and use organically-sourced material to prepare mouth-watering and healthy dishes.
