Braised Baby Octopus

Hello TCW food lovers, welcome!  Happy Australia Day!  Braising is the best cooking method ever invented, I kid you not. The slow cooking process not only makes the meat melt in your mouth tender but it also takes on so much flavor, it is mind blowing (and my mouth waters😋😋😋).  Guys this braised baby octopus is so good you will want to have it all the time and yes you can have it anytime of the year not only in winter.  Want to give it a try?  Let me walk you through the process.

Ingredients: 1 kgs baby octopus, 2 tbs plain flour, 6 tbs olive oil, 1 tbs balsamic vinegar, 1 tbs tomato paste, 2 brown onions - chopped, 3 medium sized truss tomatoes - chopped, 2 medium sized carrots - chopped, 4 celery sticks - chopped, 1 red chili - chopped, 2 cloves garlic - minced, 1/2 tsp each of smoked paprika, black pepper, dried thyme and oregano, 4 small stock cubes, 1 tsp brown sugar, 1/2 cup water.

 Coat the octopus with the flour

heat oil in a cast iron pot and fry the octopus in batches

 add the onions to the pot and saute for 3 minutes

 then add celery 

 and carrots and cook for 5 minutes

 then add chili

 garlic

 spices, dried herbs and stock cubes and cook for 3-5 minutes

 then add chopped tomatoes

 tomato paste and mix well to combine

 then add balsamic vinegar

 and stir through brown sugar

 return the octopus and juices to the pot

 add 1/2 cup water, stir through, cover, and lower the heat on the stove and let it cook for an hour, mixing it occasionally so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot

hmm, hmm, deliciousness awaits you.  

I served it with cheesy polenta cakes, which everyone loved.  Thank you for stopping by and reading, if you try this recipe please let me know if you enjoyed it in the comments box below or tag me on social media.