Grilled Octopus

New to the Zazou menu is the Grilled Octopus appetizer. Fans of Cafe Pierre in Manhattan Beach might be familiar with this dish, as a former version of the dish used to be served at the Manhattan Beach staple. Now it’s found a new home in Redondo Beach. There’s no need to be scared away by this exotic dish’s many tentacles. If you’re new to Octopus, here’s a summary of what to expect:

Let’s start with eating, of course. There are plenty of ways to prepare octopus but we prefer our’s grilled. To begin, start by holding the octopus under running water and massage for about a minute to get rid of any grit between its suckers or tentacles. Then boil the octopus in a large pot for about 1-2 minutes, if the octopus is the size of your hand or smaller. Once boiled, cut into smaller pieces and marinate or spice as desired and place on a preheated grill for about one minute per side.

Eating octopus is also beneficial to your health. Not only is it a low calorie, lean option of protein but it also contains iron, which is good to consume if you suffer from fatigue or anemia. Octopus also has calcium, potassium and omega-3 fatty acids. You can also check C, A, and several B vitamins off the list of benefits.

Whether it’s in a salad, pasta or just on its own, octopus is a perfect, healthful option for any meal.