serves
6
prep
15 minutes
cook
10 minutes
difficulty
Mid
serves
6
people
preparation
15
minutes
cooking
10
minutes
difficulty
Mid
level
Ingredients
- 1 whole octopus, head cleaned (about 1.5 kg)
- 100 ml olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cm piece ginger, finely chopped
- ¼ bunch parsley, chopped
- 24 surf clams or similar, soaked in salt water for 3-6 hours
- 200 ml white wine
- ½ bunch garlic chives, finely chopped
- 2 limes
- 1 packet organic udon noodles, cooked
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Dressing
- ½ bunch coriander, chopped
- 100 g golden syrup
- 75 ml sesame oil
- 100 ml olive oil
- 75 ml balsamic vinegar
- 1 chilli, seeded and chopped
Soaking time 3 hours
Instructions
Place the octopus in a heavy-based saucepan and slowly heat until the moisture starts coming out. Cover with a lid and steam on medium heat for about 1 hour.
Check occasionally and if the moisture evaporates, add 200 ml of water and reduce the heat.
Make the dressing by combining all the ingredients. Set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a heavy-based pan over high heat. When the oil starts to smoke, toss in the onion, ginger, parsley and clams and stir. Once the onion becomes fragrant, add the wine and cover for 2 minutes.
Remove the lid and as each clam opens, remove it.
Remove and discard half of each clam shell, leaving the flesh in the remaining half shells.
Check the octopus is cooked by sliding a sharp point of a knife into the thick end of a tentacle. It should give a little but still be firm.
Remove the tentacles and slice them on an angle into thin slices.
Place the surf clams, sliced octopus and chopped garlic chives into a bowl and add 2 tablespoons of dressing per serve and a squeeze of lime juice. Mix well.
Mix 1 small handful of udon noodles into the clam and octopus mix and combine.
Serve by placing a pile of noodles in a bowl and arranging the octopus and clams throughout. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and any leftover garlic chives.
Cook's Notes
Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.
