Grilled Octopus with Ancho Chile Sauce
Octopus braised in sherry and smoked paprika, then charred on the grill and glazed with a sweet-smoky ancho chile sauce.
Ingredients
| 2 tbsp | 30 ml | extra-virgin olive oil |
| 1 | cleaned octopus, head and tentacles separated | |
| 3 | shallots, thinly sliced | |
| 3 | garlic cloves, thinly sliced | |
| 1 tbsp | 15 ml | sweet pimentón de la Vera (smoked paprika) |
| 2 cups | 480 ml | dry sherry |
| 3 | ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded | |
| 1 | small dried chipotle chile, stemmed and seeded | |
| 3/4 cup | 180 ml | apple cider vinegar |
| 3 tbsp | 45 ml | honey |
| 1 | garlic clove | |
| 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp | grapeseed or canola oil | |
| — | salt | |
| — | canola oil, for brushing | |
| — | jicama salad, for serving |
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat the olive oil. Add half of the octopus and cook over moderately high heat, turning, until lightly browned all over, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining octopus.
- Add the shallots and garlic to the casserole and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add the pimentón and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Carefully add the sherry and bring to a boil. Return the octopus to the casserole, cover and braise in the oven until very tender, about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Let the octopus cool completely in the liquid.
Meanwhile, make the sauce 3. In a medium saucepan, toast the chiles over moderate heat, turning, until fragrant and pliable, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the vinegar, honey and garlic and bring just to a simmer. Remove from the heat and let stand until the chiles are softened, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. With the machine on, gradually add the grapeseed oil until incorporated. Season the ancho chile sauce with salt. 4. Remove the octopus from the liquid. Using a paper towel, wipe the purple skin off the tentacles, leaving the suckers intact. Cut the head in half. Discard the braising liquid. 5. Light a grill or preheat a grill pan and brush with canola oil. Grill the octopus over high heat, turning, until lightly charred all over, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet and immediately brush with some of the ancho chile sauce. Serve with the jicama salad, passing the remaining sauce at the table.
Make ahead: The recipe can be prepared through the braise; refrigerate the octopus and ancho chile sauce separately for up to 3 days.
Suggested pairing: Dry, fruit-forward rosés can help cut the heat in spicy dishes like this octopus.