Greek-Inspired Grilled Octopus Recipe

Get ready to channel your inner Poseidon and take your taste buds on a trip to the Mediterranean with this Greek-inspired grilled octopus recipe! Octopus can seem incredibly intimidating to cook, and many home cooks shy away from this protein. When done wrong, octopus can turn out tough and chewy, and let's be honest: raw octopus wouldn't win any beauty competitions for its appearance. According to food blogger Ksenia Prints of At the Immigrant's Table, however, it's actually very easy to get octopus to taste great — the key is boiling it first, and then grilling it to oblivion.

We took a page from the Greeks and infused it with the flavors of olive oil, garlic, lemon, and oregano for the perfect marriage of flavors. Perfectly charred and bursting with freshness, this dish will transport you to the sunny shores of Greece and will make you feel like the ruler of the sea — so grab your trident and let's dive in.

To make this dish, the main ingredient you will need is a fresh octopus. You can use any octopus you like, such as baby or regular-sized. If buying a regular-sized octopus, keep in mind we will only be using the tentacles. Additionally, you can occasionally find frozen octopus that is already boiled. If you find that, feel free to move on directly to the marinating stage. The other ingredients you will need are olive oil, garlic, lemon, dried oregano, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper.

The following step is absolutely key to attaining delicious octopus that still retains its texture but feels juicy and flavorful. It will take a while, but it should not be rushed or skipped, or you risk ruining the entire dish.

Start by adding the octopus to a large pot and covering it with water until it is fully submerged. Make sure to use enough water to cover the octopus completely. Next, cover the pot with a lid and bring the water to a boil. Once it is boiling, reduce the heat and let the octopus boil for an hour and a half.

Once the cooking time is up, drain the water from the pot and rinse the octopus gently. The kin may peel off as you do so; this is totally fine. Then, transfer the octopus to a bowl of ice water until it is cool enough to handle. This will stop the cooking process and help to firm up the meat. Once the octopus has cooled down, drain the ice water and you're ready to move on to the next step of your recipe.

After you've boiled and cooled your octopus, it's time to infuse it with some delicious flavors. Begin by adding some high-quality olive oil, minced garlic, and dried oregano to the bowl with the octopus. These ingredients will help to bring out the natural flavors of the octopus and give it a lovely aromatic twist.

Once the olive oil and garlic have been added, it's best to let the octopus rest for a period of time. This will allow the flavors to fully permeate the meat, resulting in a more flavorful and succulent dish. We recommend that you let the octopus rest at room temperature for around 30 minutes, giving the oil and garlic time to work their magic. However, if you are very short on time, even just 5 minutes is better than nothing.

To grill the octopus, begin by preheating either a grill or a cast-iron pan to medium-high heat. This will ensure that the octopus is cooked evenly and achieves the desired level of char. Once the grill or pan is heated, cut a fresh lemon in half and slice the octopus tentacles into 3- to 4-inch pieces. The lemon will add additional flavor and juiciness to the octopus as it cooks. Place the octopus pieces and the cut lemon halves, flesh side down, onto the grill or pan. Let the octopus cook for about 10 minutes on one side before turning it over to cook for another 10 minutes on the other side. This will give the octopus a nicely charred appearance and a slightly crisp texture on the outside.

Once the octopus is charred all over, remove it from the grill or pan and serve immediately. Top with fresh parsley and serve with the charred lemon halves or fresh lemon wedges on the side. Season it with salt and pepper to taste.

Grilled octopus can be enjoyed on its own or paired with a variety of side dishes, such as Greek salad or grilled vegetables. A glass of crisp white wine or a cold beer is the best accompaniment. Leftover grilled octopus will keep for a couple of days, but it should be reheated gently in the microwave to keep it from getting rubbery.