Oftentimes, hors d’oeuvres make or break a dinner party. Typically, you go around with your tray of goodies, guests take a sample, and as soon as you walk away your culinary decisions become the new topic of conversation.
So why not give them something to really talk about? Baby octopus is an hors d’oeuvre that is delicious and stands out — just make sure to pair it with the appropriate wine.
Wine Pairing Possibilities for Octopus
Choosing the right wine would be easy if you were pairing it with octopus in a basic form like sushi or a sashimi. Our recipe includes flavors of chili and lime that makes it
a little more difficult to pick that perfect bottle of vino. You should really pay special attention to choosing something to complement the spiciness of the chili.
Food Thinker Paul Kalemkiarian, founder of the Wine of the Month Club, suggests a lighter wine with spice components to help neutralize the chili. He suggests Catarratto-Inzolia, a Sicilian wine with two indigenous grapes (Catarrato and Inzolia) and Gruner Veltliner, a wonderful Austrian wine. Both are reasonably priced at around $20.
If you can’t find these wines then you might be able to find something comparable at your local wine shop. Paul suggests trying Chateau St. Michelle Riesling.
Baby Octopus with Chili and Garlic
Ingredients:
- 750 grams of baby octopus, cleaned
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of Thai style sweet chili sauce
- juice and zest from one lime
- 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
- Lime wedges and coriander sprigs (for garnish)
- Lightly steamed vermicelli noodles
Directions:
- Preheat indoor grill until heating light turns off.
- In a large mixing bowl combine octopus with oil, chili sauce, lime zest, juice and garlic. Toss well to combine and season with pepper.
- Place octopus on pre-heated grill and lower press. Allow to cook for 3 minutes.
- Remove from grill and serve on top of vermicelli noodles. Garnish with lime and coriander.
Variations on Octopus
For some, octopus can be an acquired taste. Depending on the recipe, it can seem anything from smokey to spicy. You can also bake it, grill it, or fry it depending on your preference. You can even add it to your salad. In any case, its a dish you should give a try in some form. If chili and garlic doesn’t appeal to you, try these alternative recipes.
Preparation Tips
The baby octopus called for in our recipe is tender enough to be cooked as is, but older varieties are tougher and should be prepped a little differently before cooking. An octopus can live for years, and the older they are when you cook them the tougher their meat is.
Unless they are young, you need to braise them in order to make sure their meat is not rubbery. Don’t let the extra preparation time scare you. Octopus can make a wonderful dish if you follow these guidelines.
