| Considered a normal part of a diet throughout | | | | Cuisines of different nationalities have different |
| Asia and the Mediterranean, cooking octopus is | | | | methods, supposedly tried and true, that serve to |
| somewhat of a mystery in the United States. | | | | tenderize the meat before cooking octopus. |
| Many who find the living creature fascinating | | | | Some beat the octopus against a hard surface, |
| cannot face the thought of ingesting any part of | | | | such as a table or wall; dipping the meat into |
| a cooked eight legged octopus. | | | | boiling water before cooking is the favorite of |
| Sushi bars have long featured octopus on their | | | | another; while yet others will rub the meat with |
| menus. When used as sushi, cooking octopus by | | | | salt, massaging it tenderly before slicing it on an |
| poaching the leg section is typical. One reason for | | | | angle to produce a tender product. |
| this preparation is that octopus tends to have an | | | | Most restaurateurs will use a simpler method: |
| extremely bland flavor when raw. For a sashimi | | | | cooking octopus slowly over a period of time. |
| plate, however, it is used in raw form; it is | | | | Generally, it is prepared the same as a very lean |
| necessary to slice it as thin as possible when | | | | cut of beef; immersed in liquid and simmered for |
| eaten raw due to its tough, rubbery state. It is | | | | about an hour, or until tender. Some chefs |
| generally washed well with salt, massaged to | | | | compare testing doneness of octopus to that of |
| tenderize it and then struck with a daikon radish | | | | a potato; it is done when it gives little resistance |
| to impart the radish's flavor upon the meat. | | | | when pierced. Different liquids used when |
| While cooking octopus for salads, pastas and | | | | simmering the cooking octopus will impart |
| stews has been done in Greece and Spain among | | | | different flavors; red wine, broths, water and |
| others for years, it is only in recent years that it | | | | even olive oil can be used with excellent results. |
| has been appearing on menus in the United | | | | When finished cooking, octopus can be simply |
| States. After bypassing an initial reluctance to try | | | | prepared. It can be lightly grilled if desired, or it |
| the delicacy, most diners find that they truly | | | | can be tossed with a variety of condiments, such |
| enjoy octopus when they actually savor the | | | | as lemon juice, lime juice, olive oil or soy sauce to |
| flavor. When preparing the octopus at home, the | | | | join salads or pastas. |
| cook will need to know a few tips in order to | | | | Cooking octopus has been part of many cultures |
| ensure the palatability of the food before getting | | | | for years. Sampling octopus may change the way |
| started. | | | | you think about this eight legged creature. |
| Octopus meat is tough when in its raw state. | | | | |