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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.

a pin with a Smoked Octopus Salad on a plate.

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Background of the Dish

smoked octopus salad in a white bowl at the Figaro Restaurant, things to do in fuengirola in june

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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a pin with a smoked octopus salad with tomatoes and olives

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.

woman holding some ripe cherry tomatoes in her hand for the smoked octopus salad

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

man peeling a garlic with garlics, a knife, and a chopping board on a table for the smoked octopus salad
  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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. To make the Spanish salad dressing, grab a small bowl and mix the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and minced garlic. 
  1. 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.
  1. Then, pour the dressing on top of the ensalada de pulpo and gently mix until everything gets coated.
  1. 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

smoked octopus salad served in a white plate

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

closeup of a Smoked Octopus Salad with onion, tomatoes and olives

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

How to Store Smoked Octopus Salad. A photo with different products like fruits and vegetables in a fridge

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

Yield: 6

Smoked Octopus Salad Recipe

closeup of a Smoked Octopus Salad with onion, tomatoes and olives

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.

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 6 seconds
Total Time 25 minutes 6 seconds

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

Instructions

  1. To start, cut the cooked and smoked octopus into bite-sized pieces. If you can't find it canned or vacuum sealed, then you should check out our smoked Spanish octopus recipe.
  2. Cut the bell peppers in half, discard the seeds, and chop 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. 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. In a small bowl mix the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and minced garlic. This will be the octopus salad dressing.
  5. To continue with the smoked octopus recipe, grab a large bowl and combine the vegetables with the smoked octopus. Season with salt, pepper, paprika and toss around.
  6. Pour the dressing on top of the octopus salad and gently mix until everything gets coated.
  7. To finish the Spanish salad recipe you can serve it right away, topped with the olives and capers, or let it cool for 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

This octopus salad recipe has spices that embrace the smoky flavor, but you could complement it with others like chili flakes, cayenne pepper, or crushed jalapeños.

If you can't find smoked octopus and don't have time to prepare it from scratch, then making the Spanish grilled octopus salad or using the leftover octopus that you have from a different recipe is a great alternative.

The cooling process is optional in this smoked octopus salad, but it allows the ingredients to meld together, creating a more refreshing dish.

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 265Total Fat 10.1gSaturated Fat 1.3gCholesterol 78mgSodium 1400mgCarbohydrates 17.6gFiber 2.8gSugar 4.1gProtein 27.4g

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