Pulpo con Vinaigrette

Pulpo con Vinaigrette (Octopus with vinaigrette) is one of my favourite things to eat when we go out for a seafront lunch. It is so simple to make, so enjoy!

No problems with sourcing the ingredients either. Give this one a try, and let me know how you get on! Disfruta!

Ingredients:

• 1 kg octopus, with the innards removed and cleaned properly – your fishmonger will do this for you if you ask them to.
• 1 medium sized onion finely chopped
• 1 medium sized red onion finely chopped
• 1 small pepper finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes – deseeded and finely chopped
• 1 fresh chilli pepper – finely chopped (optional, but great if you fancy a kick to your dish)
• 1.5 tablespoons of vinegar
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 fresh lemons (1 in quarters, and one juiced)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cup of finely chopped fresh cilantro (coriander)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Method:

1. Rub the octopus with one of the lemons (halved or quartered for easier rubbing) and set aside to absorb the flavour for 10 to 15 minutes.
2. In a large saucepan, boil plenty of water with a pinch of salt and the bay leaves.
3. Holding the octopus by its head with a pair of tongs, lower it into the water in stages, that is, first the tips of the tentacles then progressively lowering, a few inches at a time, until the whole beastie is in the water. After each lowering stage remove the octopus and cool it for a couple of minutes. On the final dip, boil it for about 20 minutes. If the octopus is a big one you might have to boil it for slightly longer.
4. Whilst your octopus is boiling, put the onions, pepper, chilli pepper, chopped tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, cilantro and the juice of your second lemon into a bowl and mix well.
5. Take the octopus out of the water, cool for about 10 minutes and then cut into one inch chunks and add to the bowl with your vinaigrette.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste and mix well.

Serve as it is, or with some fresh bread – lovely!

Elle Draper

Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business – Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper.
Born a “Norverner”, she then spent most of her life “Dann Saff” before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle’s loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine – although not necessarily in that order.