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    Home » Side dishes » Baby Octopus Recipe

    June 21, 2022

    Baby Octopus Recipe

    This baby octopus recipe is so delicious and easy to make! Cooked to perfection with just the right amount of seasonings, you'll be amazed at how fast, flavorful and tender it is.

    Jump to Recipe
    cooked baby octopus with cherry tomatoes, parsley and a lemon wedge on the side.
    Baby Octopus Recipe

    I love seafood! I think that everything that comes from the sea is so tasty! Or should I say almost everything? I haven't dared to try escargot yet...😬, but maybe one day.

    Anyway... My love for seafood gave me the idea to cook this delicious octopus recipe. It can be an exotic appetizer since it's small, easy to eat, and requires little hands-on preparation. It could also be a side dish or even an entrée if you adjust the number of octopi to be cooked. Add some vegetables or green leaves, and serve them as you wish.

    If you like seafood too, consider looking at my Brazilian seafood stew recipe or my Panko fish recipe. I think you're going to love them.

    baby octopus with tomatoes and parsley on a plate.
    baby octopus recipe

    Ingredients

    • Frozen Octopi (or octopuses): Frozen is easier to find and helps tenderize the meat. You can use never frozen octopi; just add a few extra minutes to the cooking process.
    • Olive oil and butter: I like this combination of flavors, but you can sub one for the other. If you decide to use only butter, be careful with the heat since it burns easily.
    • Garlic: A key ingredient for flavor. Don't skip this one.
    • Lime juice: It's used to brighten the flavors. You could use balsamic vinegar if preferred.
    • Smoked paprika: Gives a nice touch to the dish, but you could use regular paprika or omit it entirely if desired.
    • Oregano: It goes well with octopus, but you could sub it for your favorite herb.
    • Salt and pepper: To enhance flavor.
    • Grape tomatoes and parsley/cilantro: These are optional, but they complement this dish well.
    baby octopi with tomatoes and parsley on a plate
    Sautéed baby octopus

    How to Cook Baby Octopus

    I tried to keep things simple for this baby octopus recipe, but you'll need a pressure cooker to tenderize it faster.

    The cooking time in the pressure cooker will be just 12 minutes, then you sautée the octopi (or octopuses) for about 5 minutes to add flavor and color, and it's done.

    You could use a regular pan for cooking the octopi, but it would take longer than 12 minutes to tenderize them.

    Here are some step-by-step photos.

    frozen octopi in pressure cooker.
    Place the baby octopi in a pressure cooker. Add enough water to cover them.
    pressure cooker showing twelve minutes on screen.
    Set pressure cooker for 12 minutes on hi-pressure.
    baby octopuses cooked inside a pressure cooker.
    After cooking, release pressure and remove octopi from the water. Dry them as much as possible.
    sautéing octopuses on olive oil.
    Sauté baby octopi in olive oil.
    sautéing garlic in butter
    Sauté garlic in butter until pale gold.
    adding seasonings to baby octopi.
    Add seasonings.
    adding lemon juice.
    Add lime juice and stir to combine.
    baby octopuses with grape tomatoes and parsley on a plate.
    Transfer octopi to a plate and garnish with grape tomatoes and parsley.

    FAQ

    Is a baby octopus really a baby?

    No. baby octopus is just the marketing name for the adult octopus of a few species that don't grow much.

    Should I remove the head?

    You can eat with or without the head. In my case, I cooked them with their heads, but I removed them when I transferred them to the serving plate because some people don't like to see the head. I just save them for later.

    Is octopus healthy?

    Yes, octopus is a nutritious lean source of protein. It's low in calories and fat, high in vitamin B12, B6, selenium, copper, and iron and rich in nutrients that support heart, mental, and gut health. It naturally contains a high amount of sodium, so be cautious if you're salt sensitive. Here's a great article about the nutrition facts of octopuses.

    Where can I buy baby octopus?

    You can usually find baby octopus in the frozen seafood section. If your regular grocery store doesn't carry them, try an international or oriental market.

    cooked baby octopus on a plate with tomatoes and parsley.
    Cooked Baby octopus

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    baby octopuses with grape tomatoes and parsley on a plate.
    Print Recipe

    Baby Octopus Recipe

    This baby Octopus recipe is so delicious that you'll want to eat everything by yourself! It can be a tasty appetizer, side dish, or even a main dish if you add your favorite veggies.
    Prep Time3 mins
    Cook Time17 mins
    Building pressure5 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Global
    Keyword: baby octopus
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 357kcal
    Author: Lilian Vallezi

    Equipment

    • 1 Pressure Cooker
    • 1 Skillet

    Ingredients

    • 24 oz Frozen baby octopus
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 2 garlic cloves
    • ½ teaspoon oregano
    • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • salt and pepper freshly grinded to taste
    • 1 tablespoon lime juice
    • handful parsley or cilantro
    • grape tomatoes or vegetables optional

    Instructions

    • Place the baby octopi in a pressure cooker and add enough water to cover them. Cook on high pressure for 12 minutes. When time is up, release the pressure manually. Remove octopi from water and dry them as much as possible.
    • In a medium skillet, add olive oil and wait for it to get hot. Add octopi and sauté them for about 2 minutes or until they start to char a little bit. Add butter and garlic and sauté until pale gold. Add seasonings (oregano, paprika, pepper, and salt) and sauté a bit longer. Then add lime juice and stir everything to blend all the flavors.
    • Transfer octopi to a serving plate and add parsley or cilantro and your favorite vegetables. I used grape tomatoes in these photos.

    Notes

    If you don't have a pressure cooker, you can cook it in a regular pan. It will take longer, but it works as well. 
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    More recipes you may like

    • Brazilian Seafood Stew (Moqueca Baiana)
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    • Baked Panko Fish
    • White fish in Parchment Paper

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    baby octopi on a plate, pin for Pinterest.
    Baby octopus recipe, pin for Pinterest

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