octopus as food
{{Citations needed|date=December 2022}}{{Short description|Octopus in cuisines worldwide}}File:Octopuses in Tsukiji.JPG|alt=Photo of dozens of octopus in metal bins]]
File:Hunting the Giant Octopus of Namekawa in Etchu Province (orange).jpg
People of several cultures eat octopus. The arms and sometimes other body parts are prepared in various ways, often varying by species and/or geography.
Octopuses are sometimes eaten or prepared alive, a practice that is controversial due to scientific evidence that octopuses experience pain.
Dishes by geography
=Japan=
Octopus is a common ingredient in Japanese cuisine, including sushi, sashimi, karaage, stew, sour salad, takoyaki and akashiyaki.
Takoyaki is a ball-shaped snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special takoyaki pan. It is typically filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger, and green onion.{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Dijitaru daijisen | title = 蛸焼 | url = http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | access-date = 2012-06-22 | year = 2012 | publisher = Shogakukan | location = Tokyo | language = ja | trans-title = Takoyaki | oclc = 56431036 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | archive-date = 2007-08-25 | url-status = dead }}{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Japan | title = Takoyaki | url = http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | access-date = 2012-06-22 | year = 2012 | publisher = Shogakukan | location = Tokyo | oclc = 56431036 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | archive-date = 2007-08-25 | url-status = dead }} Takoyaki are brushed with takoyaki sauce, similar to Worcestershire sauce, and mayonnaise. The takoyaki is then sprinkled with small strips of laver and shavings of dried bonito.
=Korea=
File:Muneo-sukhoe.jpg, blanched octopus]]
Giant octopus, long arm octopus, and webfoot octopus are common food ingredients in Korean cuisine.
In Korea, some small species are sometimes eaten raw as a novelty food. A raw octopus is usually sliced up, seasoned quickly with salt and sesame seeds and eaten while still squirming posthumously.
Nakji bokkeum is another popular dish in Korea. It is a type of stir-fried food made with chopped octopus.
=Maldives=
Miruhulee boava is a Maldivian delicacy made of octopus tentacles braised in curry leaves, chili, garlic, cloves, onion, pepper, and coconut oil.{{cite book|author=Masters, T.|title=Maldives|publisher=Lonely Planet|year=2006|isbn=978-1-74059-977-1|url=https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetmald00tomm |url-access=registration|quote=maldivian cuisine.|page=[https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetmald00tomm/page/84 84]}}
=Mauritius=
In Mauritius and Rodrigues, octopus, known by its Mauritian Creole name "Ourite" is commonly eaten especially in coastal regions as it is found abundantly in Mauritian waters, although a sharp decline has been observed recently. Popular octopus dishes include the masala octopus curry or boiled octopus in spicy tomato sauce, known as the "Daube".
=Mexico=
In Baja California and Yucatán, octopus is commonly grilled and eaten on its own or as a component of tacos, tostadas, and ceviche.
=Greece=
File:Greek-style grilled octopus with olive oil, lemon, butter and parsley.jpg
A common scene in the Greek islands is octopuses hanging in the sunlight from a rope, just like laundry from a clothesline. They are often caught by spear fishing close to the shore. The fisherman brings his prey to land and tenderizes the flesh by pounding the carcass against a stone surface. Thus treated, they are hung out to dry, and later will be served grilled, either hot or chilled in a salad. A common preparation technique involves classic Greek spices and seasonings, often including olive oil, garlic cloves, oregano, pepper, and lemon juice.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/7375-grilled-octopus |title=Grilled Octopus|access-date=2018-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001134058/https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/7375-grilled-octopus |archive-date=2019-10-01 |url-status=dead }} On the whole, octopus is considered a superb meze, especially alongside ouzo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.greecefoods.com/meze/index.htm|title=Greek Food: Mezedes|website=www.greecefoods.com}}
Image:Polboafeira.jpg with bread and wine]]
=Spain=
Octopus is a very common food in Spanish culture. In the Spanish region of Galicia, polbo á feira (market fair-style octopus) is a local delicacy. Restaurants which specialize or serve this dish are known as pulperías.
=Portugal=
File:Barcelos L1180577 (24588420973).jpg
In Portugal octopus is eaten à lagareiro (olive oil miller style — roasted with potatoes, herbs, onion, garlic, and olive oil),{{cite web|url=http://cookinglisbon.com/recipes/fish/lagareiro-style-octopus/|title=Lagareiro Style Octopus|work=Cooking Lisbon|access-date=16 August 2015}} or stewed with rice (arroz de polvo), as well as breaded and then deep fried, with rice and beans.
=Tunisia=
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Octopus is a common food in Mediterranean cuisine such as Tunisian cuisine.
On the Tunisian island of Djerba and Kerkennah islands, local people catch octopuses by taking advantage of the animals' habit of hiding in safe places during the night. In the evening, they put grey ceramic pots on the sea bed. The morning of the following day they check them for octopuses sheltered there. Also unlike its other Maghreb neighbour, seafood, including octopus is used extensively in Tunisia, grilled, roasted, in couscous, pastas or chorbas.
= Turkey =
In Turkey, octopus is widely used as a food ingredient for mezes. In fish restaurants octopus salad (ahtapot salatası) is one of the most popular cold mezes along with eggplant. Grilled or as a casserole, it can also be prepared hot.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xideDwAAQBAJ&q=octopus+turkish+cuisine&pg=PT19|title=Turkish Delights: Stunning regional recipes from the Bosphorus to the Black Sea|last=Gregory-Smith|first=John|date=2018-07-16|publisher=Octopus|isbn=978-0-85783-596-3|language=en}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t_GZDwAAQBAJ&q=octopus+turkish+cuisine&pg=PT170|title=Fodor's Essential Turkey|last=Guides|first=Fodor's Travel|date=2019-06-18|publisher=Fodor's Travel|isbn=978-1-64097-141-7|language=en}}{{multiple image
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=United States=
Nutritional value
According to the USDA Nutrient Database (2007), cooked octopus contains about 56 kilocalories (Calories) per 100 grams, and is a source of vitamin B3, B12, potassium, phosphorus, and selenium.{{cite web|title=Basic Report: 35054, Octopus (Alaska Native)|url=http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/8018?fg=&man=&lfacet=&format=&count=&max=25&offset=&sort=&qlookup=Octopus|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527212028/http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/8018?fg=&man=&lfacet=&format=&count=&max=25&offset=&sort=&qlookup=Octopus|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 27, 2014|publisher=USDA|access-date=27 May 2014}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{commonscat-inline|Octopus as food}}
- {{Cookbook inline|Octopus}}
{{Seafood}}
{{meat}}