Portuguese Octopus and Chickpea Salad

Eleanor Craig

This vibrant Portuguese Octopus and Chickpea Salad is a delightful celebration of flavors and textures, inspired by the coastal regions of Portugal where fresh seafood is a staple. The dish features tender octopus paired with hearty chickpeas, accentuated by the brightness of lemon and herbs, offering a refreshing take on traditional seafood salads.

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 30

Course Salad

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings bowls

Calories 407 kcal

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients

1 kg octopus fresh or thawed if frozen
400 grams canned chickpeas drained and rinsed
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
1 medium cucumber diced
¼ cup red onion finely chopped
¼ cup parsley finely chopped

Dressing Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper freshly ground

Instructions

Preheat a large pot of water to a gentle boil over medium heat. Submerge the octopus and simmer for 45 minutes until tender. Test by piercing a tentacle with a fork; it should slide in easily.
Remove the octopus and let it cool slightly. Cut the tentacles into 1-inch pieces and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and parsley.
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper to create the dressing.
Add the octopus pieces to the vegetables and drizzle with dressing. Toss gently to combine the flavors.
Let the salad marinate for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.

Notes

For a quicker method of tenderizing octopus, freeze it overnight then defrost before cooking; this helps break down the fibers.
For extra heat, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the dressing.

Nutrition

Calories: 407kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 43gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 120mgSodium: 1151mgPotassium: 1284mgFiber: 6gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 618IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 186mgIron: 15mg

Feedback is key!