Portuguese Octopus Salad (Salada de Polvo)

Step 1

In a large stock pot fill with 2 liters of water or enough to cover the octopus.

Step 2

Add in the white onion, carrot, garlic, cilantro stems and peppercorns to the pot of water and bring to a boil.

Step 3

Rinse off your octopus and use the scare technique before placing it in the pot of water.  To do this you hold it by the head, and drop the tentacles into the water and swirl them around the pot in a circular motion twice.  Remove it  and you will see all the tentacles shrivel up (like they got scared).  Repeat this process two more times on the third time drop the whole octopus into the pot. Add in a cork for good measure.   Let cook until for tender about 50 minutes depending on the size of your octopus.

Step 4

Remove the octopus and place on a cutting board, cut into bite size pieces. Place the cut pieces onto a baking tray and add in the rest of the salad ingredients, the red onion, red pepper, sun dried tomatoes and cilantro.  Mix it up with the octopus and squeeze over the juice of one lime. Drizzle about 1/4 of a cup of very good olive oil and then season with salt and pepper.  Mix it all together and serve.