Octopus in Tomato Sauce

Enjoy this traditional recipe from Malta which makes a very flavorful sauce for octopus with potatoes, tomatoes, red wine and a hint of citrus that can be served over spaghetti, or just on its own.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds octopus

2 tbsp olive oil

6 cloves garlic, chopped

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves

1 large onion, chopped

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves

1 tsp curry powder

1 tsp mixed spice

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup red wine

1/2 tsp grated orange zest

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes

1 (8 ounce) can peas, drained

2 potatoes, peeled and cubed

10 whole pitted ripe olives

4 bay leaves

1 tsp white sugar

How To Make Octopus in Tomato Sauce

• Place the octopus in a large pot and fill with enough lightly salted water to cover. Bring to a boil, and then simmer over medium heat until octopus is opaque, about 15 minutes. Drain and allow to cool slightly; cut into bite-size pieces.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, mint leaves, curry powder and mixed spice; cook and stir until onion is soft.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Mix in the octopus pieces, wine, lemon zest and orange zest. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes to blend the flavors, then stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, peas, potatoes, olives and bay leaves.
• Cover and simmer over low heat until potatoes and octopus are tender, about 45 minutes.

Trivia

Octopus has proven to be great meal, because of high amount of proteins.