Opinion – Barbecue Nation: Grilled octopus is a Portuguese tradition for New Year’s Eve

Eating octopus in the new year is a Portuguese tradition to bring luck and prosperity. It has to be cooked and prepared on the same day, and some say it symbolizes the desire to become more elastic.

When preparing octopus on the barbecue, it is necessary to cook it beforehand. And, for the octopus to be even tastier, the ideal is to make an aromatic broth with vegetables and herbs.

It can be that basic vegetable broth made with mirepoix that has onions, carrots and celery, with a garni bouquet of thyme with bay leaf and chives, or a more different broth that, in addition to onions, has fennel (fresh fennel), turnip , orange peels and herbs.

The important thing is to bring flavor at this time, which is the most important, because the octopus will absorb all that flavor. This broth can be saved to use in other preparations such as risottos, soups and pasta, in addition to a good angu.

I prefer to cook in a non-pressure cooker, as it is easier to control the octopus’s tenderness (which varies a lot depending on weight and size), and to really feel the texture, sticking it with a fork.

I like to leave it more al dente to take it to the barbecue and, thus, manage to give the fat a nice toast, leaving it with a very crunchy texture.

Happy 2023, Grill Nation!

grilled octopus

INGREDIENTS

1 headless octopus

1 chopped onion

1 chopped carrot

1 stalk of chopped celery

Thyme

1 bay leaf

1 stalk of chives

3 minced garlic cloves

2 tablespoons of chopped parsley

3 tablespoons of olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION

1. In a pan, sauté the onion, carrot and celery until it reaches the bottom of the pan; add thyme, bay leaf and chives and octopus and cover with water.
2. Let it cook for 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the size of your octopus.
3. When cooking remove the octopus and dry it.
4. Prepare a seasoning with minced garlic, parsley, salt and pepper and rub it all over the octopus.
5. Take to the high ember 7 to 10 minutes each side.
6. I suggest serving with mashed potatoes, or fresh pasta with tomato sauce.