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Easy Grilled Octopus Recipe – tender, lightly seasoned and charred octopus that tastes amazing!
Grilled octopus, made at home, can it get any better?
Ordering octopus at a restaurant could be pricey.
I don’t mind paying for a nicely cooked octopus, but at times, let’s say often times is could be undercooked and chewy.
That’s why, I learned how to make it at home.
I’m excited to share this Easy Grilled Octopus Recipe with you today.
And it is so easy. I can’t believe it.
This easy grilled octopus recipe is perfect for an appetizer with a glass of chilled white wine.
Great for summer.
My whole family loves this recipe and it is so simple, but flavorful and delicious.
How to make this Easy Grilled Octopus?
This is the way I like to prepare octopus of any size baby, medium or large.
- I always boil it first, then let it cool down to room temperature and quickly grill it, so it gets a nice char.
- Then I season it with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, dried oregano, fresh parsley and garlic (optional).
- After grilling you can use a mix of your favorite spices, if the ones I’m suggesting don’t sound good to you.
Why make octopus at home?
I know it could be intimidating to try cooking octopus at home, but believe me it is so easy!
You’ll definitely impress your guests of you offer some charred octopus at your next party.
Since a good octopus dish, means tender octopus, you do need to boil it first.
What size octopus to use when making it on the grill?
This time I used medium sized octopus (they sold it to me for “baby”, but it was way bigger than baby octopus).
It was fresh, I don’t really enjoy cooking frozen seafood…
I cut the heads and removed the beak, it is in between all the legs, on the inside.
How long to boil octopus?
Boiled it for 40-45 minutes. Then I let it rest for 30 minutes.
You can let it sit in the fridge overnight or even freeze it for up to 1 month.
While the octopus was resting at room temperature, I drizzled some olive oil over it and added some chopped garlic, so it can get some seasoning, before grilling.
I cut its tentacles and grilled it over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes per side.
Then I added some seasoning and served it.
If you are cooking for a crowd, I recommend cooking 1 pound of octopus per person.
If you like octopus and are curious to try and make it yourself, you should definitely try this grilling recipe.
Or I also have an easy pesto shrimp skewers recipe, also made on the grill, great for a seafood feast.
Do you love seafood?
Other Seafood Recipes:
EASY GRILLED OCTOPUS RECIPE
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh octopus, (baby, medium or large)
- olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, , roughly chopped
- Juice from 1 lemon
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Place octopus in a pot and cover with enough water. Bring to a boil. Boil for 40 minutes.
- Remove octopus from hot water, rinse and place in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and add chopped garlic. Let is cool and rest at room temperature, for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Preheat a gas grill to medium-high heat.
- Slice octopus tentacles. Grill for 3-4 minutes per side, until charred.
- Remove from heat and place in a bowl.
- Drizzle with olive oil and add lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle some oregano (optional) and parsley on top. You can also add some chopped garlic, too (optional).
- Serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Is there a typo? Should I boil for 40 min? or 4 min?
I see no typo. Boil for 40 minutes, then grill for 3-4 minutes per side.
I do see the typo, in your comments earlier ?. Great recipe !Â
Do you remove the beak after removing the head, and is the beak on the head, or in the middle of the legs? Sorry, just found that a little confusing.
Thanks!
There is no beak on the legs.
You remove it from the head, then boil, then grill the legs and head (consuming the head without the bone is optional).
Do you piece the octopus before boiling (boil whole) or chopped for the 40 minutes. I just bought octopus chunks from my fish monger. Thank you
Hi Debra,
I boiled it whole. If you have pieces, I think they will boil much faster so boil them for 25-30 min. Hope this helps!
Fabulous, thank you!
Always buy frozen. Never fresh, unless you are going to blanch and then stir fry. Ffreezing the octopus is automatic tender when thawed. Worked in restaurants all over the world. This is the only way. It’s up to how long and meathod of cooking. But always buy frozen.
Great info, thank you! Hope you enjoy the recipe!
This recipe looks great! I’m keen to do this but have 1 question. I caught an octopus this morning, it’s about 4 pounds in weight. My question is: do I need to tenderize it or hammer it, before the 40 minute boil?
Thanks.
Yes, you can gently tenderize it. Hope you like it.
I’m so excited to try this! My dad shipped me an octopus! My question is why you don’t add all of the seasoning until the end? Why not fully season before grilling? Thanks so much!Â
Great and easy recipe! Tried it and it worked great dozens of times. Thanks for sharing it.
Hi – we buy frozen octopus tentacles – I thaw them overnight in the refrigerator, and then boil for 30 mins – make a marinade w/ olive oil, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, & oregano – let the octopus sit in a covered glass bowl 3-4 hrs (turning once) – then grill, 4 mins per side – still comes out a little chewy – SO, wondering about the directions in your recipe, specifically ‘slice octopus tentacles’ – what does that mean? Â Thanks. Â Dave
My husband and myself tried this octopus recipe for dinner tonight. Â It was so easy
to make and was delicious. Â We will definitely make it again for guests next time. Â They
will certainly enjoy it as much as we did. Â Â Thank you for posting it.
Never had octopus before but decided to try this recipe. Â Delicious! Â I added fresh squeezed lemon juice and grated lemon zest as I love lemon with my seafood. Will definitely make it again. Â Question: Â if using baby octopus would you still need to boil them? Â If so, for how long?
Hi, sometimes it is not necessary to boil baby octopus, but I can never tell how tender it is, this is why I boil it for about 20 minutes.