Name: Hellenika’s grilled octopus
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1.2 kg octopus, cleaned, tenderised; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 2 tsp dried Greek oregano; 60 ml (¼ cup) extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra to serve; Charred sourdough, charred lemon cheeks and micro parsley, to serve

Hellenika’s grilled octopus

The Brisbane restaurant's take on the Greek classic is a winner.

Prep

10M

Cook

15M

Total

25M

“When I first started using South Australian octopus I had to fly down and meet the fishermen because they wouldn’t give me any,” says Simon Gloftis, owner of Brisbane restaurant Hellenika. “It took me four or five months to convince them to do it. It’s the best octopus out there!” says Gloftis. Begin this recipe a day ahead.

Ingredients

1.2 kg octopus, cleaned, tenderised

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp dried Greek oregano

60 ml (¼ cup) extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra to serve

Charred sourdough, charred lemon cheeks and micro parsley, to serve

Method

1.To prepare octopus, cut tentacles into individual lengths. Place on a wire rack over an oven tray and leave to dry out in fridge for 24 hours.

2.Preheat oven to 220˚C. Grease and line 2 large oven trays with baking paper. To cook octopus, place on prepared tray with 2-3cm space between each tentacle and roast until reddish in colour and moderately firm to touch (10 minutes). Remove from oven, return to wire rack, and stand in fridge until cooled completely and drained from any cooking juices.

3.To make dressing, place lemon juice, oregano and oil in a bowl, season to taste and whisk to combine.

4.Preheat a lightly greased barbecue or char-grill pan to high. Char-grill tentacles until all juices and liquid have evaporated and tentacles are charred (6-8 minutes). Roughly cut into pieces. Place in a bowl with half the dressing, season to taste and toss to combine. Transfer to a plate drizzle over remaining dressing, scatter with micro parsley and serve with charred sourdough and lemon cheeks.