This is the BEST WAY you can cook and enjoy octopus. Ok, it is an opinion, but I can tell you I have cooked octopus many times and different ways and, by far, this was the most praised. As many of my recipes, this soft Octopus with Garlic Sauce came to life with ingredients I had in the house and because a very fresh and good-looking octopus dazzled me when I went out for groceries. The result?!? Finger licking, soul pleasing lunch or dinner. 

Ingredients for 6-8 servings:

• 1 large octopus (around 2 kg), head off and washed very well
• 4 L water + 1 tbsp salt
• 1 carrot
• 2 celery sticks 
• 1 medium onion
• 3 bay leaves 
• 1 tsp peppercorns 
• 6 garlic cloves
• 120 ml olive oil for the sauce and 2 tbsp for frying the octopus
• 1 tsp. salt flakes
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper
• 2 tbsp white vinegar 
• 1 small chopped parsley bunch (around 2 tbsp)

Method:

1. Place the 4L of water with 1 tablespoon of salt in a large pot. Add the washed carrot, celery sticks, onion, bay leaves and peppercorns.
2. When the water is boiling, add the washed, head off, octopus. Boil it until tender and soft (around 40 to 50 min.). You will know it's tender when a fork goes easy through the tentacles. 
3. Take out the octopus and leave to cool completely so it's easy to cut.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce: in a bowl, mince the garlic cloves. Add the salt and pepper and mix well with a spoon. Pour the white vinegar and mix. Start pouring the olive oil and lastly add the chopped parsley.
5. Once the octopus has cooled, start slicing it into bite size portions. 
6. Heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a pan and place the octopus slices. Fry for 5 min so you get a little crust and colour. 
7. Transfer the octopus pieces on a large platter and pour the garlic sauce all over.
8. Enjoy with boiled potatoes, polenta, salads or crusty bread!