| Octopus: | | | | - 1 cup – Calamata olives (seeds removed), |
| | | | chopped |
| I enjoy octopus immensely. Although it is very | | | | - 1 cup – Spanish olives stuffed with pimento, |
| common in Mediterranean European countries, it has | | | | chopped |
| not received the attention here in the US. In fact, I | | | | - 4 ounces – grilled octopus, chopped (prepared |
| suspect many think of it as an exotic food. But if | | | | like the grilled calamari) |
| you can get past the tentacle suction cups, you will | | | | - ½ pound – Genoa salami, cut into ½ inch |
| almost certainly find octopus to be a culinary delight. | | | | cubes |
| It's like many foods; you have to acquire a taste if | | | | - 1 7-ounce bottle – sundried tomatoes (oil |
| you have not grown up eating it. I recommend using | | | | drained), chopped |
| fresh octopus (buy it already cleaned and prepared) | | | | - 1 cup – cherry tomatoes |
| if you can get it. Some grocery stores and Asian | | | | - ½ cup – feta cheese (optional) |
| markets carry it. I have no problems finding it here in | | | | - ½ cup – white balsamic vinegar (I use Alessi) |
| Florida. I suggest that if you find it fresh, marinate it | | | | - Salt and pepper to taste |
| the same way as I did for the calamari (24 hours) | | | | Preparation: |
| and then grill it the same way. If you cannot find | | | | |
| fresh octopus, you can use Vigo's canned octopus | | | | This is a simple and quick salad to make. Once you |
| (don't grill it) as a fallback. They offer it in soy and | | | | have grilled the octopus (marinate and grill it the |
| olive oil, and it is actually quite good. In addition, I use | | | | same way as the grilled calamari), you can add it |
| white balsamic vinegar in the recipe. It is not as | | | | along with the rest of the ingredients to a bowl and |
| strong as the regular. | | | | mix well. You can also experiment with other |
| | | | | ingredients including provolone and parmesan cheese. |
| Ingredients (6 servings): | | | | You typically serve the salad before the meal which |
| | | | is precisely what antipasto means in Italian. Enjoy! |
| - 1 cup – marinated mushrooms, chopped | | | | |
| - 1 cup – marinated artichokes hearts, chopped | | | | Antipasto salad with octopus. |
| - 1 cup – palm hearts, chopped | | | | |