Octopus in paprika oil

Octopus in paprika oil id a speciality of the fishing communities of Galicia.  It is an excellent

tapas dish and can be served hot or cold.

Preparation Time             15  Mins

Cooking Time                    2  Hrs

Elapsed Time               2.25  Hrs

Ingredients

For     4  portions

1                    Octopus  - 500 gms

For the sauce

2 cloves           Garlic  - chopped finely

1 tbs               Paprika

                      Pepper

                      Salt

To serve

                      Bread

Method

Wash the octopus thoroughly and bang it on a hard board to tenderise it.  Bring a pan of

unsalted water to the boil.   Dip the octopus in the boiling water three times (this ritual is

traditional).

Bring the water back to the boil, put in the octopus, put on a lid and simmer until tender. A small

 octopus will take about 2 hours to cook until tender.

Meanwhile, make the sauce by blending the rest of the ingredients in a mortar or in a food

processor.

Drain the octopus and cut it into bite-sized pieces.  Dress the pieces with the oil and paprika

sauce and accompany with plenty of bread to mop up the aromatic oil.

Wine recommendations

Conventional

          Jurançon

Interesting

          Côtes de Gascogne blanc or rosé

          Mâcon

          Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur lie

Special

          Fino Sherry