Spanish Octopus

Ingredients:

• For the Octopus:
  • 2-3 lb (900g – 1.4kg) octopus, cleaned
  • 1 onion, peeled and halved
  • 1 carrot, peeled and halved
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • Salt
• For the Marinade and Grilling:
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika (pimentón)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 lemon, cut into wedges for serving
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Octopus:
   • Rinse the octopus under cold water to clean it thoroughly.
   • In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add the onion, carrot, bay leaves, garlic cloves, and the halved lemon. Season with a generous amount of salt.
2. Cook the Octopus:
   • Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer.
   • Carefully dip the octopus into the simmering water three times, holding it by the head. This helps to curl the tentacles nicely.
   • After the third dip, submerge the octopus fully into the water.
   • Simmer gently for about 45-60 minutes, or until the octopus is tender when pierced with a fork.
3. Cool and Cut the Octopus:
   • Remove the octopus from the pot and let it cool slightly.
   • Cut the tentacles from the body. You can also cut the body into smaller pieces if desired.
4. Marinate the Octopus:
   • In a large bowl, mix the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
   • Add the octopus pieces to the marinade, making sure they are well coated.
   • Let the octopus marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
5. Grill the Octopus:
   • Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
   • Grill the marinated octopus pieces for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until they are slightly charred and heated through.
6. Serve:
   • Remove the octopus from the grill and transfer to a serving platter.
   • Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the grilled octopus.
   • Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
   • Serve with lemon wedges on the side.

Enjoy your delicious Spanish-style grilled octopus, full of rich flavors and perfect for a Mediterranean-inspired meal!