Best Smoked Octopus Salad Recipe from Spain

If you are craving seafood, then Spanish recipes offer an impressive variety of options, from refreshing cold salads like smoked octopus salad to hearty dishes like paella.

The smoked octopus salad offers a complex blend of flavors, taking you from the smoky richness of the octopus to the crisp freshness of the vegetables, all tied together with a vibrant dressing. 

Read this article and you will learn how to prepare octopus salad from scratch, with the best tips for customizing the ingredients, serving, and storing this wonderful Andalusian dish.

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Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish salad recipes? Have a look at my other posts: 

• Seafood gazpacho

• Shrimp cocktail

• Warm octopus salad

Background of the Dish

There isn’t an exact date for the creation of Spanish octopus salad recipes in general, but they can be traced to the coastal areas of Southern Spain, where fresh seafood has been a staple of the local diet for centuries. 

The smoked octopus salad showcases traditional flavors of the region, such as seafood, and smokiness (from the octopus and paprika), with the classic olive oil. 

Today, it shines bright among other Spanish salads, such as the ensalada campera or grilled octopus salad, being an example of the versatility and diversity of Andalusian cuisine.

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Things You’ll Need for Smoked Octopus Salad

For this smoked octopus salad, you will need smoked octopus (canned, vacuum-sealed, or homemade), bell peppers, red onion, olive oil, vinegar, and garlic clove as the main ingredients.

How to make Spanish octopus salad is super simple, and it doesn’t require any equipment.

Ingredients

• 500g smoked octopus (canned, vacuum sealed, or homemade)
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 small red onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 cup (200gr) cherry tomatoes
• 1 cucumber
• 1/4 cup (50gr) pitted Kalamata olives
• 2 tablespoons capers
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

How to Make Smoked Octopus Salad – Step by Step Guide

1. For the first step, cut the cooked and smoked octopus into bite-sized pieces. If you can’t find it canned or vacuum sealed, then you must check out our smoked Spanish octopus recipe.

2. Now, cut the bell peppers in half, discard the seeds, and chop them into small squares. Peel the red onion and chop it into small pieces. Peel and mince the garlic clove. Chop the cucumber into small squares or thin slices. Set them aside.

3. After that, wash and chop the cherry tomatoes in half. Cut the pitted olives in half. Drain and rinse the capers to remove the excess brine. Set them aside.

4. To make the Spanish salad dressing, grab a small bowl and mix the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and minced garlic. 

5. For the next step in this cold octopus salad recipe, grab a large bowl and combine the vegetables with the smoked octopus. Season with salt, pepper, paprika and toss around.

6. Then, pour the dressing on top of the ensalada de pulpo and gently mix until everything gets coated.

7. For the final step, you can serve the smoked octopus salad right away, topped with the olives and capers. If not, you can let it cool for 30 minutes before serving.

Substitution of Ingredients

The smoked octopus salad only calls for a few basic ingredients, yet there are some substitutions that you can follow to adapt it to your personal preferences or diet.

Like most Spanish salad recipes, the easiest change is to customize the vegetables to your taste or what’s in season. You can add potatoes, kale, lettuce, or carrots to the mix.

The dressing for the smoked octopus salad is the traditional Andalusian one, but you can experiment with others like a creamy Spanish garlic sauce or a balsamic vinaigrette.

If you can’t find smoked octopus and don’t have the time to make it at home, then there are other easier octopus salad recipes for you to make, such as the classic Spanish octopus salad, or using leftovers from other dishes like the fried octopus recipe.

Tips on Serving Smoked Octopus Salad

The smoked octopus salad is versatile enough to be served for lunch or dinner, any time of the year. It can be enjoyed as an appetizer or a main dish, depending on the portion size.

If serving it as an appetizer, you can top the Spanish salad with fresh herbs, grated parmesan cheese, or toasted and chopped nuts to enhance the flavors and textures of the dish.

To serve it as a main dish, we recommend that you increase the portion size (about one plate per person) and pair it with your favorite bread for a satisfying and well-rounded meal.

Lastly, you can make a tapas table and serve this one with other Spanish salads, like the Spanish seafood salad, tako salad recipe, or the fried baby squid.

Give a got to our latest salad recipes like the Axarquia salad, the refreshing ensalada de naranjas, or the Spanish summer salad.

How to Store Smoked Octopus Salad

Once you finish making the best octopus salad recipe, you can either serve it right away or store it in the fridge for up to 48 hours.

If you choose the latter, you have to store the smoked octopus salad before adding the dressing, so that the ingredients preserve their original flavor and texture.

When you are ready to serve it, do a taste test and adjust the seasoning if needed. Avoid consuming it if the texture or flavor seems off.

Spanish salads recipes are usually meant to be served freshly made, but there are some dishes that you can make and freeze or store for a longer amount of time, such as the savory Spanish seafood soup and the hearty Spanish seafood stew.

Recipe Card: Smoked Octopus Salad

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