Updated Post.
A popular dish served in Greek tavernas across Greece and Cyprus, this special dish of Grilled Octopus is often cooked on weekends or for special occasions. I’ve added some chilli to the octopus here to give it a kick which isn’t usually included in the traditional recipe. I’ve since become vegan (this is an updated post) but this is a favourite of my husband’s.
The lemon is the perfect partner with octopus and of course tons of garlic.
This recipe works well in griddle pan or on the BBQ too.
Serve with a crisp side salad and bread if you fancy it.
Photograph of grilled octopus in a lemon and chilli sauce by Peter Broadbent.
Ingredients:
2 kg baby octopus
1 tablespoon fresh lemon rind, grated
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 fresh red chillies
4 cloves finely chopped
2 spring onions
sea salt
black pepper
chopped flat-leaf parsley
Method:
Remove and discard heads and beaks from octopus and cut octopus in half.
Combine octopus, rind, juice, oil, garlic and chillies in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
Add octopus to a hot griddle pan or barbecue in the sauce and cook over high heat until just tender (usually 3 minutes on either). Add spring onions, season with salt and pepper and garnish with parsley. Serve with a green salad.
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[…] Linking this post to #FoodieTuesday and Tasty Tuesdays […]
That sounds super simple and delicious. Love recipes like this. A win-win!
Loved this recipe and included it in my Friday Foodie Faves post on my blog where I share my favorite recipe finds from around the web.
How wonderful, thanks so much!
Oh yum yum yum! I am definitely going to make this – and also dying to come to Papa’s restaurant!! Thanks for linking to #AllAboutYou
Mama and More aka Zaz recently posted…Just kiss the rabbit – or a story about listening to instincts
Thanks Mama and More, please come visit us x
Oooh, love the sound of the octopus in chilli and lemon sauce and it doesn’t seem complicated either! My kind of dish!
Hay In A Day recently posted…Strawberries And Cream Cheesecake
Thanks so much, really easy to make and tastes fab x
Stunning picture, and so summery. Love octopus and the combination of chilli…not sure I would be brave enough to cook it myselfr, even if I could find one around here! Still, on my wish list for when I hit Town!
sarah hill wheeler (@hill_wheeler) recently posted…Chocolate dipped fruit
Bet you would do a great job of it Sarah, lovely to eat it out too though x
I may be vegetarian, but you can’t how wrong with lemon and chilli 🙂
That is true Charlotte, lots of vegetarian dishes on the blog too if you click food!
Wow! That looks incredible!!! One day soon I’m going on a holiday to Yorkshire to see you and your beautiful kids and to eat at all your family’s restaurants. Yum!
Sophie at Franglaise Cooking recently posted…L’Atelier des Chefs review
I would love that Sophie, please come visit us x
Hello!
I love your octopus dish. I could not think of anything better than lemon and chilly to make it irresistible. I cook octopus quite often although I find that UK species taste different than the ones caught in the Mediterranean sea.
I love octopus carpaccio too but it can be fiddly to prepare though.
I have just entered my biscuits into Tasty Tuesdays. Thank you again for hosting x
Alida recently posted…Bees and honey, visiting beehives in Friuli, Italy
Oh wow octopus carpaccio sounds incredible, thanks for linking up and for your fab comment x
I have never eaten octopus, it just never appealed. This looks pretty and I would give it a try.
Alison recently posted…Lemon and Sultana Biscuits
Thanks Alison, that’s wonderful to read!
I love baby octopus and your dad’s recipe looks so delicious! I find it hard to find baby octopus, but when I do I’m going to use this recipe. I know the little boys will love it too (they love barbecue squid), though I might have to leave out the chilli for them…..YUM!
@Lydia fab your sons enjoy it too, we’ll be barbecuing it too this summer!
Ooh I love Octopus. Yum yum. I’ve never cooked it myself, thought it might be a bit more labour intensive so this definitely seems less scary! x
PottyMouthedMummy recently posted…Chocolate & Raspberry Trifle
Honestly not too time consuming or tricky, go for it x
hmmm it looks ok but i am not sure i could eat it! x
So delicious Jenny!
This looks awesome. Octopus is one of my fave! Thanks for sharing =)
Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk) recently posted…Wordless Wednesday – 2 July 2014
Thanks Merlinda, so pleased x
This looks amazing. The flavors sound so great together and everything is better with chilli for sure! Thanks for hosting.
Jenny recently posted…Me & Mine {June}
So glad you like it!
It took me a looong time to get my head around the idea of eating octopus, but now I really like it. A good thing, because there is loads of it on the summer menus here in Italy! I can imagine this dish would be perfect on a hot day – can’t beat something drenched in lemon and parsley!
Fab and I totally agree-perfect summer food!
D’you know what? Octopus is something I would never have consdered cooking at all (and actually the thought of removing heads and beaks makes me feel a bit funny!) but I do like calimari and I think the idea of the marinaded and bbq’d finished dish appeal to me a lot…
Sam @ And then the fun began… recently posted…Peach and Banana lollies #TastyTuesdays
Give it a try Sam and you can always ask the fishmonger to clean for you, it’s yummy
Everything tastes better with chilli, right?!
Emily Beale recently posted…Lemon & Lavender Cheesecake
Yes Emily x
I love octopus and this looks and sounds delicious x
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins recently posted…Point + Shoot – 28th – 29th June 2014
Thanks Kirsty xx
I’ve never had octopus but I’ve had squid. This looks amazing and the photo is stunning!
Thanks so much, you must try it x
wow wow wow! That looks & sounds fantastic …I’ve NEVER cooked octopus before! Going to have to dive right in & give it a try 🙂
Steph @MisplacedBrit recently posted…Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Bacon & Sage, on a bed of Baby Spinach
You must, you will love it. Thanks for the compliment
Wow, stunning picture.
Julie’s Family Kitchen recently posted…Berrylicious Smoothie
Thanks Julie, husband is amazing at food photography!
thanks lovely for hosting. Your recipes always look mouth-wateringly good and so beautifully photographed. x
Ebabee recently posted…Black & white cotton babygrows
This is my kind of food Vicki! Stunningly simple but utterly delicious 🙂
mummytries recently posted…Thrifty Tips For July
That is just my kind of food; deeeelish!
Phoebe @ Lou Messugo recently posted…Silent Sunday – 29 June 2014
Thanks Phoebe!
Mmm, I love octopus, although I’ve never actually cooked it myself before. Where is the best place to buy octopus from? I’m guessing my local Sainsbos won’t have it!
Becky | Spirited Puddle Jumper recently posted…A Recipe! Homemade pesto focaccia with cherry tomatoes
Hi Becky, try your local market, Leeds market has lots of fabulous fish stalls. My Dad has suppliers for his restaurants but I usually get it from the market or local fishmongers.
I had a massive disaster when I tried to cook baby squid recently (it was meant to be baby octopus but I couldn’t find any!) – it resembled something a kin to what the celebs have to eat on I’m a celebrity. Truly awful. Not to be beat I have bought some more (currently in the freezer) – I know it’s not octopus but you’ve totally inspired me to try again!! xxx This looks delicious! xx
Hannah recently posted…Hangover Cure – this is my go-to cure
Sorry to hear that, squid and octopus can get rubbery even when overcooked just slightly. Know it’s happened to me before. Good luck with the next try, sure it will be fab x