curry baby octopus

[Dejah]

I bought a big bag of baby octopus today as I love the way it's served at dim sum restaurants: curried, tender...

Anyone have a recipe they've tried? Octopus can be pretty tough if handled improperly. I don't want to be disappointed.

Are they marinaded before steaming? Braised? I just know they come out in little dishes.

[Ben Hong]

I still have 3/4 bag of the critters I bought a year ago in the freezer. Short of laying them all out on the driveway and running the SUV over them a hundred times, there ain't no way to tenderize them suckers. I just mouth them a few times and be content with the "texture" and mouth feel.

[AzianBrewer]

I still have 3/4 bag of the critters I bought a year ago in the freezer. Short of laying them all out on the driveway and running the SUV over them a hundred times, there ain't no way to tenderize them suckers. I just mouth them a few times and be content with the "texture" and mouth feel.     

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Batali suggested soaking these "rubbers" with wine cork for several of hours. The wine cork will tenderized them.

[Ben Hong]

I still have 3/4 bag of the critters I bought a year ago in the freezer. Short of laying them all out on the driveway and running the SUV over them a hundred times, there ain't no way to tenderize them suckers. I just mouth them a few times and be content with the "texture" and mouth feel.     

←

Batali suggested soaking these "rubbers" with wine cork for several of hours. The wine cork will tenderized them.

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Yeah? And what would be the appropriate incantation to accompany the procedure?

"Double double, toil and trouble,

Fire burn and cauldron bubble......"

[Dejah]

I still have 3/4 bag of the critters I bought a year ago in the freezer. Short of laying them all out on the driveway and running the SUV over them a hundred times, there ain't no way to tenderize them suckers. I just mouth them a few times and be content with the "texture" and mouth feel.     

←

Batali suggested soaking these "rubbers" with wine cork for several of hours. The wine cork will tenderized them.

←

So, for dim sum they must marinade them with, perhaps baking soda before steaming them? I can't see them using Ben's "SUV" method.

I'm going to make Javanese chicken curry tonight, so maybe I'll pull a few out, soak 'em in baking soda, then throw them in with some of the curry.

[XiaoLing]

Iron Chef Italian (Japanese version) tenderized his live octopus by hitting it with a huge diakon radish. Could be a great stress reliever.

I also heard that you can tenderize and deslime the octopus by massaging it with sea salt.

[Dejah]

Iron Chef Italian (Japanese version) tenderized his live octopus by hitting it with a huge diakon radish.  Could be a great stress reliever.

I also heard that you can tenderize and deslime the octopus by massaging it with sea salt.

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I can see tenderizing large octopus, but from what I've been able to find out, baby ocotpus don't need to be tenderized. They also said that freezing would tenderize these little guys.

If I used a large daikon, it would reduce stress, then I'd need to be massaged (without the sea salt ) when I'm done.

[Dejah]

I cooked five baby octopii for supper on Monday. This is also posted in the cooking thread. The main course was West Sumatran Curry Chicken, so I covered the "babies" with this curry broth then steamed them for 10 minutes. Prior to cooking, the octopii were seasoned with salt, a bit of oil and cornstarch. This blended with the broth to form a slightly thickened sauce.

It's not what I'm looking for, but they will do until someone gives me the proper recipe! The texture was fine - tender - but not enough flavour.

"Dejah continues her search........................."

ETA: picture of baby octopii.

Edited July 5, 2007 by Dejah (log)