Recipe Name: Stewed Octopus (Polpo in Umido)
Category: Main Course
Servings: 4
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Octopus | 800g |
| Tomato Sauce | 310g |
| Shallot | 1 |
| Garlic | 1 clove |
| Fresh Thyme | 4 sprigs |
| Sage | 2 leaves |
| Water | 1 liter |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | To taste |
| Fine Salt | To taste |
| Ground Black Pepper | To taste |
Instructions
Start by preparing the octopus: rinse it thoroughly under cold running water. Focus on cleaning the interior of the head, where you will find a hard, inedible beak. Carefully remove the beak using a small knife. Once that’s done, continue cleaning the inside of the head and rinse everything thoroughly.
Next, clean the shallot by peeling off its outer layer. Slice it thinly. Also, peel and crush the garlic clove to release its aroma and flavor.
Now, pour a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil into a large pot and heat it over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic to the pot and sauté them gently until they become soft and translucent. Be careful not to let them brown.
Once the shallots and garlic are softened, pour in the tomato sauce and increase the heat to bring the mixture to a simmer. Stir in a pinch of salt and pepper, then add the fresh thyme sprigs and sage leaves for a delightful aromatic base.
Next, pour in 1 liter of water and stir everything together. Allow the mixture to come to a rolling boil.
When the sauce reaches a boil, it’s time to immerse the octopus. Dip the octopus into the pot three times, briefly and carefully. This technique helps the tentacles curl up beautifully, giving them that signature texture.
Once the tentacles have curled, place the entire octopus into the pot and cover it with a lid. Reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for about 50 minutes, ensuring the octopus becomes tender.
To check if the octopus is perfectly cooked, pierce it in the area where the beak was removed. If the fork slides in easily with little resistance, it’s done.
Once cooked, remove the pot from the heat. Garnish with a generous sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper. Serve your stewed octopus hot, with crusty bread on the side to soak up the flavorful sauce.
Enjoy this rich, comforting Italian dish, perfect for a cozy dinner with family or friends.
