Sweet Chilli Octopus Recipe
Sweet Chilli Octopus
I love sweet and spicy sauce recipes, especially sweet and spicy chicken. When served with freshly cooked rice, it becomes one of my favorite meals. This time, I tried octopus with sweet and spicy sauce, and I regretted not trying it sooner!
Octopus is one of my favorite seafood options. There’s no hassle of cleaning shells, and you don’t end up with just a tiny amount of meat after removing the shell—every bite feels satisfying. While it’s not the cheapest seafood, considering that you’re paying for pure meat instead of shells or claws, I’d say octopus is the queen of price-performance in the seafood world.
Whenever I bought octopus, I usually made Pulpo a la Gallega. This time, I wanted to try something different but not too unfamiliar—something inspired by a dish I already knew. I wasn’t expecting it to be bad, of course, but I also didn’t expect it to turn out this good! I created the recipe based on my sweet and spicy chicken recipe. I usually serve this type of dish with steamed rice, but this time, I went with mashed potatoes. Not only did it turn out visually stunning—perfect for a fancy dinner table—but the taste was also phenomenal.
How to Boil Octopus?
I had already boiled and frozen my octopus in advance, which made this recipe extremely easy to prepare. If you’re boiling it yourself, you can follow the instructions in the Pulpo a la Gallega recipe. Once boiled, you can store the octopus whole or chopped in the freezer for up to three months. That way, you can quickly prepare a delicious meal by simply making a sauce and adding the pre-cooked octopus.
Should I Add Salt to Octopus?
Since the soy sauce in the recipe is already salty, no extra salt is needed. However, if you’re using low-sodium soy sauce, you may need to add a bit of salt to balance the flavors.
Enjoy the recipe!
Ingredients
For the Octopus:
- 600 g boiled octopus,
- 1 garlic clove, minced,
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes,
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger,
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar,
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce,
- 1 heaping teaspoon cornstarch,
- 1/4 cup water,
- 2 tablespoons olive oil.
For the Mashed Potatoes:
- 3 medium potatoes,
- 1 tablespoon butter,
- 2 cups milk,
- Salt and black pepper to taste.
Instructions:
- Boil the potatoes until tender, then peel and mash them until smooth,
- Melt the butter in a large pan,
- Add the mashed potatoes and sauté for 1-2 minutes,
- Slowly add the milk, stirring constantly until you reach the desired consistency,
- Season with salt and black pepper, mix well, and remove from heat,
- Cover and set aside,
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan,
- Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant,
- Stir in the chili flakes, ginger, and brown sugar,
- Pour in the soy sauce and water, then mix well,
- Add the cornstarch and stir continuously until the sauce thickens,
- Score the octopus lightly with a knife (without cutting all the way through),
- Add the octopus to the sauce and cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally,
- Spread the mashed potatoes on a serving plate,
- Place the octopus on top,
- Drizzle with the remaining sauce from the pan.
Enjoy!