Octopus is a particularly flavourful appetiser which can be cooked in many ways. Chef Konstantinos Koveos prepares octopus with lentil salad.
Octopus is a classic summer meze, a very tasty appetizer, that we enjoy with ouzo or tsipouro. We find it mainly in recipes as grilled or boiled, with vinegar as the main , but it can accompany pasta, become stew and stand worthy in a gastronomic menu.
Its delicious aromas perfectly match the intensities created by the herbs of lentil salad.
Both of them can be prepared 1 day before, retaining their juices in marinade in the refrigerator for better flavourful results.
Ingredients
For the octopus
- 1 octopus about 1 kg
- 1 bay leaf
- Grains of black pepper
- 50 ml red vinegar
- 3 tea spoons of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of white vinegar
- Salt & Pepper
- Oregano
For the lentil salad
- 150 gr thin lentils (preferably Feneos)
- 1 chopped Florina pepper
- 1 chopped green pepper
- 2 fresh onions, finely chopped
- 1 tomato cut into cubes
- Chopped dill
- Capers
- 3 teaspoons of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of white vinegar
- Salt & Pepper
Cooking instructions
Put the octopus, bay leaf, peppercorns and red vinegar in a large saucepan and cook on a very low heat for about 45 minutes. To check if the octopus has boiled, pierce it with a fork. If necessary, add liquids during cooking.
Put the lentils to boil in a saucepan and discard the first water. Put them back to boil until are softened. Cool them well.
In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients for the salad together along with the boiled lentils and stir well.
Cut the octopus into slices and marinate with olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and oregano.
Serve with the lentil salad and octopus on the side and garnish preferably with capers and onion.
About the Author
Lover of Greek cuisine & local products, Konstantinos Koveos is Executive Chef of Athens Coast and London Hotel & recipe writer in numerous blogs and sites.
His first cookbook, Cooking@Home was released on 22/01/21 by Fylatos Publishing and includes 35recipes while at the same time provides smart tips for delicious meals at home.
As the author himself mentions, book’s purpose is not to be afraid to experiment, try new raw materials andcombinations.
After all, many great recipes came from mistakes or instant inspirations.
English (UK) 
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