Crispy Fried Octopus Recipe

Chewy on the within and with a crispy breading on the surface, this fried octopus recipe is simply too good to cross up! It’s the right appetizer or mild entree that takes minutes to make.

When these fried seafood cravings strike, my household LOVES crispy fried octopus! Like coconut shrimp and fried calamari, fried octopus is surprisingly easy to whip up with no need a deep fryer.

Desk of Contents

1. Recipe highlights
2. Substances wanted
3. The way to make fried octopus
4. Recipe ideas and variations
5. Storage directions
6. Incessantly requested questions 
7. Extra addictively crispy seafood recipes
8. Fried Octopus (Recipe Card)

Recipe highlights

• Fast and straightforward. Making fried octopus is easy and may be carried out shortly in a skillet on the range. No deep fryer or splattering oil required!
• No fishy taste. I get that not everyone seems to be a fan of seafood due to their declare that issues style ‘fishy’, however belief me, this one gained’t depart you pondering that.
• Restaurant-quality outcomes. The simple-to-follow directions provide you with restaurant-worthy fried octopus very quickly.

Substances wanted

The star of this recipe, octopus, will get its out-of-this-world flavors from a handful of pantry staple substances. That is what you want:

• Octopus. I like to recommend selecting up a medium-sized octopus with a clear, briny, ocean-like scent, agency white-pink flesh, and intact tentacles. It shouldn’t odor fishy in any respect.
• Complete spices. I like boiling octopus with complete spices and aromatics, like crushed garlic, bay leaves, black peppercorns, and complete cloves. Constructing these flavors BEFORE frying the octopus makes the meat extra complicated and fragrant. 
• Lemon juice. The acidity helps tenderize the meat, and in addition provides a touch of vibrant, citrusy taste that pairs completely with seafood. Lime juice may even work.
• Garlic powder. To season the octopus earlier than coating it in flour. 
• Salt and black pepper. To style. 
• Flour. That is my secret to further crispy octopus. The tentacles are tossed in flour earlier than frying, which creates a crispy, golden brown crust. Yum!
• Olive oil. Or any cooking oil with a excessive smoke level, like avocado, canola, or vegetable oil. 

The way to make fried octopus

I’ve included step-by-step images beneath to make this recipe straightforward to observe at house. For the total printable recipe directions and ingredient portions, scroll to the recipe card on the backside of this submit.

Step 1 – Tenderize the octopus. Submerge the octopus in a pot of water, then add the entire spices. Simmer the water till the meat shrinks barely and the water turns purple.

Step 2 – Season and coat the octopus: Clear and trim the boiled octopus. Subsequent, season the tentacles with salt, pepper, and garlic powder earlier than tossing them within the flour. 

Step 3 – Fry the tentacles. Fry the tentacles in a skillet with oil till they’re golden brown and crispy. 

Step 4 – Serve. Garnish the fried octopus with olive oil and lemon slices, then get pleasure from!

Various cooking strategies

Whereas I desire to fry the octopus in a skillet, I’ve additionally examined this recipe in each the air fryer and the oven, for these of you who’d quite skip the surplus oil.

Air fryer directions: Calmly spray the battered items with cooking spray, lay them within the air fryer basket, and prepare dinner at 375°F for 10 to fifteen minutes or till golden brown and crispy, shaking the basket midway by means of.

Oven directions: Grease a big baking sheet and place the battered octopus on high. Bake in a preheated oven at 200C/400F for 12 minutes, flip, and prepare dinner for one more 5-6 minutes.

Recipe ideas and variations

• The way to clear and trim octopus for cooking. Begin by eradicating and discarding the top (simply above the eyes), then slice off the tentacles from the physique. Discard the bottom so that you’re solely left with the tentacles.
• Don’t overcrowd the frying pan! You might have to fry the octopus in batches to assist each bit get crispy and tender.
• Garnish concepts. I wish to season the crispy octopus with a pinch of sea salt, recent parsley, or inexperienced onions instantly after it comes out of the recent oil.
• Serve with dipping sauce. My youngsters love dipping crispy octopus tentacles in garlic aioli, garlic yogurt sauce, tartar sauce, and spicy mayo. 

Storage directions

To retailer: Fried octopus is finest loved instantly whereas it’s nonetheless sizzling and crispy, however you may retailer the cooled leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for two to three days.

To freeze: Technically, you may freeze cooked octopus for 1 to 2 months, however it could lose its crispiness and turn out to be chewy when thawed. 

To reheat: Reheat the leftovers on a baking sheet in a 350ºF oven or air fryer till they’re heated by means of and crispy.

Incessantly requested questions 

Extra addictively crispy seafood recipes