

If overcooked, the flesh will become rubbery and lose its flavor, however. Cooked octopus is sweet in flavor and becomes more firm in texture. Tasty side dishes for cooked octopus include roasted potatoes, cottage fries or fingerling potatoes.Raw octopus should smell like a fresh ocean breeze and will vary in color with the head and topside of the legs being gray to brown and the underside of the legs and mouth area (where the hard beak is) being white to pink-purple. If you wish, you can incorporate the cooked octopus into pasta dishes and salads. Your baby octopus can be enjoyed on its own as an appetizer or snack, simply garnished with lemon juice. Is Calamari Octopus?Ĭalamari comes from the Italian word for “squid.” In the United States, calamari is a popular menu item at restaurants, where pieces of squid are dipped in batter and deep-fried to be served as a crispy appetizer. Add the baby octopus to your salt and milk mixture and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Milk is an ideal tenderizer because the calcium will react with enzymes in the octopus to soften the protein, resulting in succulent, tenderized meat. All that’s needed is to mix a teaspoon of kosher salt into ½ cup of milk. It couldn’t be easier to tenderize your baby octopus. How Do You Tenderize Baby Octopus Before Frying? Be sure not to overcrowd the pan when frying.For best results, ensure the oil stays at a steady temperature so your octopus can cook evenly.Marinating your baby octopus for just 30 minutes results in a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that you will love. The secret to the very best baby octopus is the marinade, so do not skip this step.Remove the octopus from the oil and place them onto the paper towel.

Fry for about 3 minutes or until golden brown. Gently add a few baby octopus to the oil using a pair of kitchen tongs.Add oil to a deep-fryer or pot over medium-high heat.

BABY OCTOPUS HOW TO
How to Make the Best Fried Baby Octopus Step 1: Marinate Baby Octopus For frying, you will need a neutral oil such as vegetable oil or canola oil. For the mixture to coat your octopus, you will need all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder and seasonings (oregano, cayenne pepper, black pepper). Otherwise, frozen baby octopus is an easy and convenient option that can easily be sourced at the grocery store.įor your marinade, you will need two simple ingredients – milk and salt. Of course, you’ll need baby octopus, which can be found fresh at a seafood market or fishmonger. Squids are most often found in the open sea, while octopuses tend to stick to the ocean floor. Another key difference is in the habitat of each animal. Squids tend to have a triangular-shaped head, while octopuses have a round head. Octopuses have eight arms covered in suckers while squids have eight arms and an additional two tentacles that are slightly longer than the other arms and covered in hooks. But if you look closely, you will see the major differences between them. Easy Fried Baby Octopus Recipe The Difference Between Squid and Baby Octopusīecause they are both considered cephalopods, squid and octopus look quite similar to each other.
