Delicious Grilled Octopus Recipes: Spicy, Flavorful, and Dipping Sauces
Grilled octopus is a dish that’s widely loved by many. Its rich flavor, the harmony of the sauce, and the spicy kick make grilled octopus a staple at seafood gatherings. Let’s showcase your culinary skills with KINGFISH!
I/ How to Make Spicy Grilled Octopus
To make spicy grilled octopus, it’s quite simple. You only need to have the following ingredients:
- Octopus: 1 kg
- Garlic, shallots: 1 bulb each
- Bell pepper: 1
- Green chili peppers: 3
- Lemongrass: 3 stalks
- Soy sauce, chili sauce, common seasonings
- 4 large tablespoons of chili paste
- 1 tablespoon of seasoning powder
- 1 tablespoon of salt
Once you have the ingredients ready, follow these steps:
Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
When you buy the octopus, wash it thoroughly with salt, lime, or vinegar to reduce the fishy odor. Then, use a small knife to remove the internal organs of the octopus and rinse it with water. Chop the garlic, shallots, green chili peppers, lemongrass, and mix them into a paste.
Step 2: Marinate the Octopus
Marinating the octopus is very simple. Just follow these steps: Mix the paste you made with soy sauce, chili sauce, seasoning powder, salt, and chili paste. Marinate the octopus with this mixture. You can wear gloves and rub the sauce onto the octopus to make sure the flavors penetrate. Marinate for about 30 minutes before grilling.
Step 3: Grilling the Octopus
You can grill the octopus on an electric stove or charcoal grill. However, if possible, grill it over charcoal to give it a more aromatic and smoky flavor. While grilling, remember to flip it continuously to avoid charring.
Step 4: Enjoy
When the octopus is cooked, cut it into bite-sized pieces and arrange it on a plate. Decorate with some fresh lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes for an appealing look. Now, you can enjoy the delicious spicy grilled octopus with either green pepper salt or sweet and sour fish sauce – both are excellent choices!
II/ How to Make Salt and Chili Grilled Octopus Tentacles
Ingredients you will need:
- 1 kg Octopus tentacles
- 1 piece of ginger
- 2 lemongrass stalks
- Minced garlic
- Minced shallots
- Chili peppers
- Chili paste
- Salt
- MSG
- Sugar
- Fish sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Lime (or kumquat)
- Pepper
Now, let’s get started with making salt and chili grilled octopus tentacles!
Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
After purchasing the octopus tentacles, rinse them with water and rub them with a little salt, lime, or blanch with a few slices of ginger to reduce the fishy smell. Then, cut the tentacles into bite-sized sections, around 4-5 cm for easy eating. Wash and let the chili peppers drain. Afterward, grill the peppers to reduce their pungent odor, and scrape off the charred skin.
Next, finely grind all ingredients, including the grilled chili peppers, 2 tablespoons of sugar, ginger, lemongrass, and lime leaves. Continue grinding until you have a smooth and homogeneous mixture.
Step 2: Marinate the Octopus Tentacles
Continue marinating the octopus tentacles with the seasoning: add the mixture you made above to the tentacles, along with 1 teaspoon of oyster sauce, 1 teaspoon of fish sauce, 3 teaspoons of sugar, and 2 teaspoons of chili paste. Marinate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate.
Step 3: Grill the Octopus Tentacles
You can grill the octopus tentacles over charcoal, an electric stove, or an oil-free frying pan. When grilling over charcoal, every 5 minutes, flip the grill grate to ensure the octopus tentacles make even contact with the heat and cook thoroughly. When the octopus tentacles firm up and start releasing an aromatic smell, and there’s some charring on the edges, they are done.
Step 4: Enjoy
Place a bit of fresh herbs on the bottom of the plate and arrange the grilled octopus tentacles on top. And there you have it – a mouthwatering and delectable dish.
III/ How to Make Grilled Octopus Dipping Sauce
A delicious dish with a heavenly dipping sauce will make your taste buds dance from start to finish. Eating octopus without a proper dipping sauce is truly a missed opportunity. Let’s learn how to make an incredible grilled octopus dipping sauce with KINGFISH!
Ingredients for the dipping sauce:
- 1 lime
- Seedless green chili peppers
- A thin slice of ginger
- Horn peppers
- Salt, sugar
- Lime leaves
How to make the salt and green chili dipping sauce for grilled octopus:
- Step 1: Squeeze the lime to extract the lime juice and remove the seeds to avoid bitterness.
- Step 2: Rinse the horn peppers and let them drain. Next, grill the peppers to reduce their pungent smell, and scrape off the charred skin.
- Next, finely grind all ingredients, including grilled green chili peppers, 2 tablespoons of sugar, ginger, lemongrass, and lime leaves. Continue grinding until you have a smooth and homogeneous mixture.
- Step 3: The final step is to pour the lime juice from above into the mixture. Season with flavors of sour and salty taste. Depending on how sour you like it, add the right amount of lime juice.
By following these steps, you have successfully made a mouthwatering salt and green chili sauce that is not only suitable for dipping grilled octopus but also for a variety of other seafood such as squid, shrimp, and crab…
IV/ Conclusion
In this way, Kingfish has shared with you simple yet popular and delightful grilled octopus recipes. Along with that is a divine dipping sauce that enhances the rich and spicy flavors of your octopus dish. Keep these octopus cooking methods in mind to treat your family and friends. Good luck!