Octopus Meatballs

Octopus meatballs are a delightful main dish, perfect for those who love the flavors of the sea with an innovative touch. Here is the Italian recipe for you:

Ingredients

• 600 g of cleaned octopus
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Fresh parsley to taste
• 1 egg
• Breadcrumbs to taste
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil for frying

Preparation

1. Start by boiling the octopus in a pot with boiling water for about 40 minutes or until soft. Make sure to immerse it and lift it out three times with a skimmer before letting it cook, to help the tentacles curl. Drain and let it cool.
2. Once cooled, finely chop the octopus with a knife or you can use a mixer to obtain smaller pieces without turning it into a puree.
3. Transfer the chopped octopus to a bowl, add finely chopped garlic, chopped parsley, the egg, salt, and pepper. Mix well until you get a homogeneous mixture.
4. Gradually add breadcrumbs until the mixture is firm enough to form meatballs.
5. Form meatballs of the desired size and roll them again in breadcrumbs.
6. Heat plenty of extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan and, once hot, fry the octopus meatballs until they are golden and crispy.
7. Drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil.
8. Serve the octopus meatballs hot, accompanied by lemon wedges or a sauce of your choice.

Curiosity

Octopus meatballs can be considered a modern reinvention of typical seafood dishes of Mediterranean cuisine. They are usually enjoyed as a main course or as an appetizer, especially if made in a smaller version. Remember that the quality of the octopus is fundamental for the success of the dish: it must be very fresh to ensure that once cooked it is tender and tasty.