Stewed Octopus

Stewed octopus is a delicious dish that marries maritime tradition with home cooking. Below you will find the list of ingredients and the preparation to make this tasty recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 octopus of about 1-1.5 kg (already cleaned)
• 500 ml of tomato puree
• 1 white onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• A bunch of parsley
• 1 glass of white wine
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Water as needed
• (Optional) Chili pepper

Preparation

1. Start by blanching the octopus in boiling water for a few minutes, until the tentacles start to curl. This process will help to tenderize the meat.
2. Cut the octopus into pieces and set aside.
3. In a pot, sauté the chopped onion and garlic cloves in extra virgin olive oil until they turn golden.
4. Add the pieces of octopus and brown them briefly.
5. Deglaze the octopus with a glass of white wine and let the alcohol evaporate.
6. Add the tomato puree, a little water, and adjust salt and pepper. If desired, you can add a pinch of chili pepper.
7. Cover and simmer on low heat for about 1-1.5 hours, until the octopus becomes tender and the sauce reduces to a thick consistency.
8. During cooking, check occasionally, adding water if necessary to prevent the sauce from drying out too much.
9. Just before turning off the heat, add the chopped parsley to further flavor the dish.
10. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving the stewed octopus hot.

Curiosity

Octopus is a very versatile food and is present in various Italian regional cuisines. In some areas, such as Sicily, it is common to also add olives and capers to the preparation of stewed octopus to enrich the taste of the dish.

Pair this dish with a glass of fresh white wine, preferably one that you have also used in the preparation to create the perfect match. Enjoy your meal!