Octopus Risotto
Octopus pilafi -- ktapodopilafo -- is a traditional Greek Lenten dish. This version is decidedly more upscale and elegant, but retains its Greekness all the same. And, it doesn't have to be Lent for you to savor this. Look for the Greek olive oil and herbs that will make this risotto extra special by going to to my online store here.
RATING
PREP TIME
10 min
COOK TIME
1 h 5 min
Ingredients
- 1 small octopus or 3 – 4 musk octopi about 2 pounds / 1 kilo total
- 2 bay leaves
- 3-4 fresh thyme sprigs
- 5-6 whole black peppercorns
- 1 garlic clove crushed
- ¼ cup extra virgin Greek olive oil
- ½ cup dry red wine
- Salt to taste
For the rice
- ¼ cup Greek extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large red onion finely chopped
- 1 fennel bulb finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 ½ cups Greek glasé rice or Italian arborio
- 6-8 cups hot vegetable or fish stock
- ½ cup ouzo
- ½ cup chopped fennel fronds or dill
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Pink peppercorns for garnish
Instructions
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Trim the octopus: Cut off the head just above the mouthpiece and discard. Remove the beaklike mouthpiece and cartilage. Cut the octopus into 8 pieces. Place in a medium pot with the bay leaves, thyme, black peppercorns, garlic clove, ½ cup olive oil and red wine. Cover the pot and simmer the octopus until tender but not stringy. This can take anywhere between 35 and 50 minutes, depending on the size and provenance of the octopus. Musk octopus will take less time.
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When the octopus is done, remove from the pot and cut into bite-size chunks. Reserve the pot juices.
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Heat another quarter cup of olive oil and cook the onion, fennel and garlic until soft, about 10 minutes over medium-low heat. Add the rice and toss to coat in the oil. Add a ladle full of the hot stock and stir. When the rice has absorbed this, add another ladle full. After three ladlesful of stock add the ouzo. Let the alcohol cook off. Keep adding the stock in increments until the rice is cooked but al dente. About 7-8 minutes before removing the rice from the heat, add the octopus pieces and about a half a cup of its pot juices, enough to give the rice a nice pink color. Stir in the chopped fennel or dill fronds. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve, garnished with pink peppercorns.
