Deep-Fried Octopus from Spain – Pulpo Frito Recipe

Are you a seafood lover? Would you like to eat a delicious octopus recipe that follows an authentic Spanish recipe?

You are in the right place, as we’ll help you prepare the best deep-fried octopus recipe just like it’s done in Southern Spain.

The Spanish fried octopus is a simple and very delicious octopus dish that is ready in under one hour and it’s very nutritious as well.

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Background of the dish

The Pulpo Frito, also known as deep-fried octopus, had its origins on the coasts of Andalusia. It was developed by the wives of sailors many centuries ago, and since then this dish is one of the most popular Andalusian foods.

It is believed that the wives were looking for different ways of cooking the octopus since the texture was too hard to chew.

Thankfully they had the idea of boiling it and then frying it to get a better texture, and later it became one of the most popular dishes in the region and is one of the most common things to eat in Malaga.

Nowadays if you are looking for things to do in Cadiz, one of them would probably be going to a local bar and treating yourself to this fried octopus alongside more types of tapas and a cold drink.

Things you Need for Fried Octopus

To make this fried octopus recipe you won’t need many ingredients and apart from the fresh octopus, you probably have all the ingredients at home.

• 120g of chickpea or cornflour
• 100g of wheat flour
• 1 octopus (or its legs/tentacles)
• salt
• extra virgin olive oil

How to Make Fried Octopus – Step by Step Instructions

1. The first step is to wash and clean the octopus, even if you bought it in the store and it looks clean because it might have some sand on its tentacles. In the meantime put some water to boil in a big cooking pot.
2. Once your water is boiling, drop the octopus in the pot and let it boil for 30 minutes. Some recipes don’t call for this step, but by making it you will get a better and softer texture.
3. Rinse the octopus, let it cool for just a couple of minutes (2 to 5) and cut it into small pieces. If you want to, as an additional step, you can boil some potatoes in the octopus’s leftover water to make a potato salad as a side for the octopus.
4. Cover the octopus completely with the mix of flours, if you can find frying or tempura flour use that one, if not the mix mentioned on the list will work too! Besides that start heating your oil, you can use other vegetable oil if you don’t have olive oil.
5. Fry the octopus pieces in the hot oil until they get a golden brown color, remember that since you boiled them before they are already cooked you won’t get raw fish!
6. Remove the excess oil and if you made the potato salad, serve them together! 

Substitution of ingredients

You will see in the ingredients two types of flour. This combination helps to ensure a crispy result, in some regions you can find tempura or a type of flour that is special for deep-fried recipes if you find it useful.

Another thing you can make is to stir an egg with chopped parsley and garlic and cover the octopus pieces on that mixture and on the flour, this way you will get a more complex flavor.

If you want to make this recipe gluten-free, you can use any type of gluten-free flour or starch to cover your octopus. Also, make sure that your frying oil and cooking pots are completely clean.

Tips on Serving Fried Octopus

If you are looking for what to eat in Seville, you will probably see that local bars and restaurants serve this fried octopus alongside potato salad or different types of sauces, if you are in your home you can still make them.

Even though the fried octopus shines on its own, you can serve it with a classic potato salad, seasoned with olive oil or mayonnaise.

You can also make different sauces to dip the octopus in, such as plain cream cheese or something more complex like aioli. 

I love to serve it with some lemon wedges and put a little bit of lemon juice on top. And if you are looking for a healthier alternative to eating octopus, don’t hesitate to try our Spanish grilled octopus salad recipe.

Try as well this authentic Spanish fried fish recipe if you love fish and fried recipes.

How to Store Fried Octopus

The best thing you can do is cook it right before serving it. The best deep-fried foods don’t get along with the freezer, since they tend to lose a lot of their crispiness, and the deep-fried octopus is no exception.

If you have any leftover fried octopus (which is very rare because it gets devoured!) you can let it in the fridge for 1 to 3 days, since fried and fishy food isn’t recommended to be in the fridge for too long.

You can also boil the octopus, cover it in flour, and then freeze it before frying it, but you should only make this if you bought your octopus fresh, you can’t refreeze it.

If you can’t get enough of Spanish deep-fried octopus, have a look at my fried octopus recipe web story here.

Deep-Fried Octopus from Spain – Recipe card

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