Octopus With Linguine Recipes

OCTOPUS WITH LINGUINE

Steps:

• Put tentacles from octopus head (just below eyes) and discard head. Fill a 6- to 8-quart pot three-fourths full with water and bring octopus to a boil (do not salt water; it will make octopus tough). Simmer until tender when pierced with a fork, about 1 hour. Drain and cool slightly. Rinse under cold running water to remove as much of purple outer coating as possible without removing suction cups. Drain well and cut crosswise into 1 1/2-inch pieces.
• While octopus simmers, chop tomatoes, reserving juices.
• Sautá garlic and red pepper flakes in oil in a 6- to 8-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat, stirring, until golden, about 1 minute. Stir in parsley and basil. Add tomatoes with juices and bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes.
• Add octopus and cook until very tender when thick parts are pierced with a fork, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, boil linguine in a large pot of salted water until al dente, then drain well.
• Serve octopus sauce over linguine.

SPAGHETTI WITH OCTOPUS BRAISED IN RED WINE

Steps:

• Place 2 tablespoons olive oil in large skillet or saute pan, and turn heat to medium-high. Add carrot, onion and celery. Sprinkle with pinch of salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add octopus, along with some pepper and a little more salt. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute, and then add wine, bay leaf and garlic. Cook until octopus is tender, for about 1 hour (check with point of sharp knife). Remove octopus, and cut into bite-size pieces. Return octopus to skillet, and turn heat to a minimum.
• Meanwhile, bring large pot of water to boil, and salt it. Fifteen minutes before eating, begin cooking pasta. When it is barely tender but not nearly tender enough to eat, drain it, reserving about 1 cup cooking liquid. Add pasta to octopus mixture, with half the reserved liquid. Cook until pasta is tender but not mushy; add remaining liquid if needed to keep mixture from drying out.
• Add remaining olive oil, along with butter, cherry tomatoes and basil. Stir until butter melts, and then serve.

OCTOPUS WITH SPICY TOMATO LINGUINE

Steps:

• On a flat work surface or cutting board, pound the whole octopus using a skillet, a meat tenderizer, or other heavy object. Pounding will help tenderize the octopus flesh. Then, using kitchen shears or a sharp knife, cut and remove the tentacles of the octopus, making sure to cut up and around the webbing. Discard the octopus head. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the octopus tentacles, reduce the heat, and simmer for 1 hour. Check the octopus with a fork to check for doneness. Once the octopus is tender, drain and cut the tentacles into 1 1/2 to 2-inch pieces and set aside.
• In a large deep skillet, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 4 minutes, or until the mixture is fragrant. Add the crushed tomatoes and salt, and then allow the sauce to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the olives, and check if more salt is needed. When the octopus is ready, add to the sauce.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until it is al dente. Drain and place in a large bowl. Add the octopus and sauce to bowl and toss together. Top the pasta with fresh parsley and serve.