Roasted Octopus with Green Beans and Garlic Oil
Prep
20 mins
Cook
45 mins
Servings
4
Difficulty
Medium
Tender roasted octopus paired with crispy green beans, finished with fragrant garlic-infused olive oil and fresh lemon. A restaurant-quality Mediterranean dish that's surprisingly simple to execute at home.
Ella x
Ingredients
- 1½ kgfresh octopus(cleaned and tentacles separated)
- 400 ggreen beans(trimmed)
- 8garlic cloves(thinly sliced)
- 150 mlextra virgin olive oil
- 2lemon(one juiced, one cut into wedges)
- 200 mldry white wine
- 3bay leaves
- 2 teaspoonssea salt
- 1 teaspoonblack pepper(freshly ground)
- ½ teaspoonred pepper flakes
- 20 gfresh parsley(chopped)
Detail level
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil with bay leaves. Add octopus tentacles and simmer gently for 35-40 minutes until tender when pierced with a fork. Drain and allow to cool slightly, then cut into 5cm pieces.
Tip: The gentle boil prevents the octopus from becoming rubbery. Test tenderness regularly as size varies.
- 2
While octopus cooks, prepare the garlic oil. Heat 100ml olive oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Add sliced garlic and cook gently for 4-5 minutes until golden and fragrant, being careful not to burn.
Tip: Keep heat low to infuse the oil without browning the garlic, which becomes bitter.
- 3
Toss green beans with 30ml olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking tray and roast at 200°C for 18-20 minutes until tender with some charred edges, stirring halfway through.
Tip: High heat creates a slight char which adds depth of flavor to the beans.
- 4
Heat the remaining 20ml olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add cooked octopus pieces and sear for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly caramelized.
Tip: Don't overcrowd the pan; work in batches if needed for proper browning.
- 5
Deglaze the skillet with white wine, scraping up any browned bits. Pour in the garlic-infused oil and lemon juice. Add the roasted green beans to the octopus and gently toss to combine.
Tip: The wine and lemon juice brighten the dish and balance the richness of the oil.
- 6
Season with additional salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges.
Tip: Taste and adjust seasonings before serving; the flavors should be bright and balanced.
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