2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
The octopus / Octopus / is a marine mollusk that has a shortened body and mouth, surrounded by eight tentacles, equipped with a large number of suckers on the inside. The tentacles reach a length of up to 4 meters, and the body can reach a weight of 100 kg.
Scuba divers claim that octopuses are smart, not at all bloodthirsty and brave animals. They feed mainly on crustaceans, fish and marine animals. In some cases, however, one must beware of them because they have a beak that is full of poisonous saliva. Potential injury with this beak can be very dangerous. An interesting fact about octopuses is that they have three hearts.
Octopuses crawl on the bottom or float, discarding ink with a single purpose - protection. They inhabit the warmer sea waters and are not found in the Black Sea. They have been known since ancient times, because the southern peoples ate mainly seafood. Images of octopuses on ceramic vases, jars, bowls and various household items have been preserved in various cultures to this day.
Composition of the octopus
The composition of fresh octopus in 100 g is 16.2% protein, 79% water, 1.9% fat, 1% carbohydrates. In 100 g octopus contains 86 calories. The octopus is extremely rich in sodium, potassium, iron, iodine, calcium and phosphorus. It also contains honey, vitamins B1, B2, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, purine bases and uric acid.
The meat is dried octopus contains 17% water, 76% protein and about 3% fat. It contains extracts, vitamins and minerals.
Selection and storage of octopus
Octopus is a seafood delicacy that can be found in specialty fish stores, as well as some larger food chains. It is stored on pieces of ice. You will recognize the fresh specimen by its bright eyes and the scent of ocean water.
When buying an octopus, find out if it is cleaned or not. In case you buy uncleaned octopus, it must be cleaned and the ink bag very carefully removed. His beak and eyes are also removed.
Octopus in cooking
If the octopus is cooked properly, it can deliver incredible pleasure to the senses. For this reason, it is a favorite food in many parts of the world, especially in East Asia and the Mediterranean. Chefs from all over the world have their own ways of preparing the seafood delicacy. In Greece, for example, octopuses are beaten in the coastal rocks or even put in the spin of the washing machine. It is also dried in the sun as a laundry. The Greeks consume it cooked, it is a great appetizer for ouzo.
In Spain, it is recommended to immerse the octopus in boiling water three times, then boil it in a copper pot. Italian chefs cook octopuses with corks of white wine, and the Japanese rub them with salt and cut the meat at various angles. All these methods are successful, but it is very important to simmer the octopus.
All parts of the octopus can be consumed, except the area around the mouth, eyes and entrails. The octopus can be eaten marinated, fried, stewed or cooked. It should be washed perfectly, then hammered very well - so it will become brittle when cooked.
Older and larger octopuses require longer heat treatment, while smaller octopuses are ready much faster. Before stewing the octopus, you can marinate it in wine, olive oil and spices.
If the octopus boil for about 5 minutes, the meat remains tougher, but is pleasant to eat. When cooked for so long it is suitable for salads and sushi. For other culinary applications it is necessary to boil on low heat, between 40-50 minutes per kilogram. Many chefs recommend that the water be discarded several times to rid the meat of the characteristic odor. The octopus is suitable for main dishes and green salads.
Typical Mediterranean recipes recommend seasoning it with a lot of spices and subsequent stewing with red or white wine.
Benefits of an octopus
Vitamin B2, which is contained in the meat of octopus plays a very important role in the state of the immune system and vision. Vitamin B1 is also very valuable, because without it the carbohydrates in the body will not be converted into energy, but into fat.
The substances contained in the octopus normalize the metabolism, strengthen the potency and immunity, support faster healing of wounds. The low calorie content of octopus meat makes it a suitable food for dieters.
Recommended:
How To Make A Fragile Octopus
Often, when it comes to cooking a seafood delicacy, many give up even saying the name octopus. It sounds so difficult and discouraging to prepare that there is no point in even trying. The truth is, however, that there are thousands of ways to make a fragile octopus.
Delicious Recipes With Octopus
With octopus you can prepare very tasty hors d'oeuvres and dishes to pleasantly surprise your loved ones and pamper yourself. The octopus and mango salad is fresh and delicious, and easy to prepare. You need 200 grams of canned octopus in its own sauce, 4 stalks of celery, 1 mango, 100 grams of canned baby corn, the juice of 1 lemon.
How To Cook An Octopus?
The octopus is a mollusk that has two eyes and four pairs of tentacles. It has no skeleton and is symmetrically bilaterally. Octopus meat has easily digestible valuable proteins, selenium, important trace elements, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin B3 and B12.
How To Cook An Octopus
Extremely useful and tasty, the octopus needs a lot of patience to be cleaned. In large chain stores, anyone can buy an octopus and cook it at home. There are many recipes - some of them look quite strange for our Balkan taste, others are less exotic, but it is definitely worth trying the taste of octopus, no matter which recipe you choose.
