Insalata di Polpo
Serves 8 antipasto plates
Ingredients: 
1 1/3 pds (600 grams) octopus (preferably fresh)
2 cloves of garlic
2 cups (473 ml) Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cups (473 ml) lemon juice
1 bunch flat-leaf parsley
1 fresh green chili pepper
1 pinch of sea salt
1 carrot (peeled)
2 celery stalks (peeled)
1 lemon (zest removed and juiced)

Marinade:
Place the Extra Virgin Olive Oil into a large bowl and add the following.
Minced and pasted garlic with sea salt, finely chop the green chili,  lemon minced zest of lemon and salt.
Wash, peel, and cut the stalks of celery and carrots into uniform small pieces and add to oil mixture

I a large sauce pan filled 3/4 in volume with water. Cover with a lid and turn on high heat and bring to a boil.
Rinse the Octopus and if you want, clean out the head and eyes.
When the water is boiling, insert a fork in your head and dip the Octopus in and out of the water allowing the tentacles to curl upward. When you see this has occurred emerge the Octopus into the water and let simmer at medium heat for 25-30 minutes.
The Octopus texture is chewy, so if you boil it for a few minutes too long it wouldn’t make a difference.

Let octopus cool and cut into bite sized pieces.
Mix the Octopus into the bowl of marinade, taste and adjust if you need more salt.
Let the salad to stand and marinate for a few hours but  if you don’t  have this time, it will becomes delicious nonetheless.

Just before serving, chopped the parsley and mix it in.

The post Insalata di Polpo, Octopus salad appeared first on Under the Almond Tree.

Wish you all a great week.
Anna

Spaghetti frutti di mare
Serves 4

Ingredients
1 medium pot with lid filled with water
1 teaspon sea salt
1lb ( 450 gram) spaghetti
1 large saute sauce pan
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 teaspoon dried chili flakes
4 lbs (1.8 kilo) mixed shellfish and seafood (be sure to examine the seafood and give it a rinse to clean it off prior)
1/2 cup (1.2 dl) white wine
3 cups (7.1 dl) tomato sauce
Salt and white pepper to taste
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped

Method
Place medium sized pot filled with water one teaspoon of sea salt and lid on top onto the large burner turn on the heat and bring to a rolling boil. Place your large saute pan over medium heat add olive oil. Add the garlic into a pan have a wooden spoon handy and stir the garlic it will turn to a light white color, add the dried chili flakes, stir again,  add the seafood and the wine.  Let simmer together so as to allow the shells and the seafood to lend their essence to the sauce. Add the tomato sauce, salt and pepper to taste. When the pot of water for the pasta is boiling cook the spaghetti according to the instructions on package. When the pasta is cooked to the texture you desire, strain from the water using a colander. Add pasta to the sauce and  mix. Portion the pasta onto plats, sprinkle the parsley over the top for garnish.

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