Crispy Fried Octopus

Dive into the irresistible crunch of Crispy Fried Octopus, a Mediterranean-inspired delicacy that's both tender and golden-brown perfection. Featuring lightly simmered octopus infused with bay leaves, garlic, and lemon for subtle aromatics, this recipe takes seafood to new heights by coating each piece in a flavorful mixture of flour, cornstarch, and baking powder. Fried to a perfectly crisp texture, these bite-sized morsels are a feast for the senses. Garnished with fresh parsley and served with tart lemon wedges, they’re the ultimate appetizer or seafood indulgence. Ready in just over an hour, this dish is perfect for impressing at dinner parties or elevating weeknight meals. Whether you're a seasoned chef or new to cooking octopus, this recipe offers foolproof techniques for achieving a restaurant-quality result every time.

Nutriscore Rating: 64/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:70 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 pounds fresh octopus
• 2 whole bay leaves
• 1 whole lemon
• 3 cloves garlic
• 8 cups water
• 1 cup flour
• 0.5 cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 cups frying oil
• 2 tablespoons parsley

Directions

Step 1

Clean the octopus by removing the beak and internal organs if not already cleaned by the fishmonger.

Step 2

In a large pot, combine the water, bay leaves, lemon cut into halves, and peeled garlic cloves. Bring the mixture to a simmer.

Step 3

Place the octopus into the simmering water and cook gently for about 30 to 35 minutes, or until the octopus is tender when pierced with a fork.

Step 4

Remove the octopus from the water and let it cool. Once cooled, cut the tentacles into 2-inch pieces.

Step 5

In a shallow dish, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and ground black pepper. Mix well.

Step 6

Pat the octopus dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.

Step 7

Dredge each octopus piece in the flour mixture, ensuring it is well-coated. Shake off any excess flour.

Step 8

In a large frying pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).

Step 9

Fry the octopus pieces in batches, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan, for about 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.

Step 10

Remove the crispy octopus pieces from the oil and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.

Step 11

Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges for squeezing.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(4013.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	9461.4

Total Fat 957.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 137.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 435.4mg	0%
Sodium 4965.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 152.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 6.2g	0%
Total Sugars 1.9g
Protein 149.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 667.7mg	0%
Iron 55.3mg	0%
Potassium 3488.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 87.7%

Protein: 6.1%

Carbs: 6.2%