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Tandoori Octopus

3.2

(32)

Image may contain Dish Food Meal and Bowl
David Japy

The hardest part of this recipe is getting your hands on the octopus. Give your fishmonger a few days to order it for you.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    6 Servings

Ingredients

1

2-lb. whole octopus, cleaned, or 1-lb. precooked octopus tentacles

2

tablespoons coarse sea salt or kosher salt

1

tablespoon white peppercorns

2

tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil

Kosher salt

3

teaspoons tandoori powder or seasoning

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Rub octopus with sea salt to season it, then rinse well to remove excess. Place octopus and peppercorns in a large pot and fill pot with cold water; bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, until octopus can be easily pierced with the tip of a knife, 45–55 minutes.

    Step 2

    Invert a large bowl inside an even larger one, creating a dome. Drain octopus and place on inverted bowl so tentacles hang down. Chill at least 2 hours. Cut tentacles from octopus; discard head. Thinly slice tentacles crosswise into ½”-thick pieces.

    Step 3

    Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add half of octopus; season with kosher salt. Cook until lightly browned and almost crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Sprinkle with 1½ tsp. tandoori powder and toss to coat. Wipe out skillet and repeat with remaining oil, octopus, and tandoori powder.

    Step 4

    DO AHEAD: Octopus can be boiled 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.

Nutrition Per Serving

Calories (kcal) 140 Fat (g) 6 Saturated Fat (g) 1 Cholesterol (mg) 60 Carbohydrates (g) 3 Dietary Fiber (g) 0 Total Sugars (g) 0 Protein (g) 19 Sodium (mg) 2000