Grilled Octopus

Elevate your seafood game with this tender yet crispy Grilled Octopus recipe—a Mediterranean-inspired dish that's as impressive as it is flavorful. Simmered to perfection with aromatic bay leaves and zesty lemon, the octopus is then marinated in a rich blend of olive oil, garlic, and smoky paprika before hitting the grill. The result? Perfectly charred tentacles with a succulent, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Garnished with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon, this dish is ideal for summer barbecues, elegant dinner parties, or simply when you're craving something extraordinary. With step-by-step instructions and simple ingredients, this recipe makes creating restaurant-quality grilled octopus at home both approachable and delicious.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:60 mins

Total Time:80 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Whole octopus
• 8 cups Water
• 2 pieces Bay leaves
• 1 piece Lemon
• 0.25 cup Olive oil
• 3 pieces Garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley

Directions

Step 1

Thaw the octopus if frozen and rinse thoroughly under cold running water.

Step 2

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add the bay leaves and a cut lemon into quarters. Squeeze the lemon juice into the water before dropping the pieces in.

Step 3

Once the water is at a rolling boil, gently lower the octopus into the pot. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for approximately 40 minutes, or until the octopus is tender when pierced with a fork.

Step 4

Remove the octopus from the pot and allow it to cool slightly at room temperature.

Step 5

In a small bowl, combine olive oil, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and paprika to form a marinade.

Step 6

Once the octopus is cool enough to handle, cut it into individual tentacles.

Step 7

Place the tentacles into a large bowl or resealable plastic bag, pour the marinade over them, and toss until well coated. Allow to marinate for at least 15 minutes.

Step 8

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.

Step 9

Place the tentacles on the grill and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until charred to your liking.

Step 10

Remove the octopus from the grill and transfer to a serving platter.

Step 11

Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve with additional lemon wedges on the side if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2968.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1294.6

Total Fat 65.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 10.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.4g
Cholesterol 435.4mg	0%
Sodium 4514.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 31.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 3.4g	0%
Total Sugars 1.8g
Protein 137.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 655.6mg	0%
Iron 50.3mg	0%
Potassium 3433.7mg	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: 46.7%

Protein: 43.3%

Carbs: 10.0%