If you’re not in the habit of having an octopus in the freezer, then go buy one now. Seriously. If you buy it fresh, ask the fishmonger to clean it for you. Then get it home asap, put it in the freezer and forget about it. The next time you find yourself with no food in the fridge, you can take a deep breath and relax: that frozen octopus is waiting for you, ready to become an exotic meal in just 40 minutes.

As Easy as Cooking Octopus

I learnt how to cook octopus from a chef in Liguria, Italy. It’s one of the region’s specialities, traditionally served  alongside cold, sliced potatoes and drizzled with abundant extra virgin olive oil. This is a photo of the appetizer which prompted the question: How do you cook octopus?

To which the reply was, quite simply, “Take it out of the freezer. Put it into a big pot, cover with water. bring to the boil and let it simmer for 40 minutes.” That’s it. Salt? No. No salt.

When you buy your octopus, don’t be concerned if it looks enormous. It shrinks drammatically as it cooks. This is the same octopus as the one in the top photo, fresh from the fishmonger. We find that one this big is perfect for the two of us as a main meal.

If you’ve never tasted octopus, all the more reason to buy one. It’s delightful, everybody loves it and it’s perfect as a cold dish in summer. As an appetizer, we like to pierce small pieces with a toothpick and dip it into homemade mayonnaise. As a main meal, pile it onto a bed of crisp green salad leaves and add ripe avocado for the healthy fats. Squeeze over lemon juice. Add a scattering of freshly ground sea salt. And however you’re serving it, don’t forget the extra virgin olive oil, the best quality you can afford. Close your eyes as you enjoy the delicate flavour and equisite texture, and imagine yourself in an exotic seaside location.

Looking for more easy and essential Paleo recipes? You’re in luck! That’s the name of my recipe E-Book – check it out.

On the Side

Try these tasty morsels.

Chicken and Basil Meatballs – They’re excellent cold, great for a packed lunch.

Fried Liver with Spice – Liver is a superfood, to be eaten at least once a week.

Bacon and Egg Breakfast Muffins – Not just for breakfast, I often make these for when we go hiking in the mountains.

I hope knowing how to cook octopus changes your life. It did mine! Before you go, don’t forget to sign up for the News and download your free E-Book on how to Reset your health – naturally, holistically, and forever. Thanks so much for sharing my posts on your Social – and if you do happen to cook octopus, make sure to snap a picture for Instagram and tag me @angie_b_quality_life

Best Wishes, Good Health and Happiness.