What You’ll Need:
- Frozen octopus
- 1 onion, roughly chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Water
Step 1: Defrost the Octopus
Remove the frozen octopus from its packaging and place it in a large bowl. Fill the bowl with cold water and let the octopus thaw in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Alternatively, you can use the defrost function on your microwave to speed up the process. Make sure the octopus is completely thawed before cooking.
Step 2: Prepare the Pressure Cooker
Place your thawed octopus in the pressure cooker. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, lemon slices, bay leaves, black peppercorns, and salt. These ingredients will infuse the octopus with flavor as it cooks. Add enough water to cover the octopus but be careful not to exceed the maximum fill line of your pressure cooker.
Step 3: Cook the Octopus
Attach the lid securely to the pressure cooker and set it to high pressure. Cook the octopus for 15 minutes per pound. For example, if your octopus weighs 2 pounds, cook it for 30 minutes. Cooking times may vary slightly depending on the size of the octopus, so adjust accordingly.
Step 4: Release the Pressure
Once the cooking time is up, carefully release the pressure from the cooker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove the octopus from the pressure cooker and transfer it to a cutting board.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Allow the octopus to cool slightly before slicing it into desired portions. You can serve it as a main dish with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon, or use it in salads, ceviche, or pasta dishes. The tender and flavorful octopus cooked using the pressure cooker method is sure to impress your taste buds!
So, the next time you have frozen octopus on hand and don’t have much time to spare, don’t fret! Just follow this simple pressure cooker method and savor a delicious seafood treat in no time.