Mediterranean-Fusion Grilled Octopus with Olive Tapenade
Tender grilled octopus paired with a vibrant olive tapenade, combining smoky and briny flavors that celebrate Mediterranean fusion cuisine. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, pairs octopus tentacles, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 210 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb octopus tentacles
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup, pitted black olives
- 1/2 cup, pitted green olives
- 2 tbsp capers
- 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
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Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 1 lb octopus tentacles and simmer for 45 minutes until tender when pierced with a fork; drain and pat dry.
- Step 2: In a bowl, whisk 3 tbsp olive oil, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 2 tbsp lemon juice; brush this marinade over the octopus.
- Step 3: Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Grill the octopus for 3-4 minutes per side until charred edges appear and it is heated through.
- Step 4: In a food processor, pulse 1/2 cup black olives, 1/2 cup green olives, 2 tbsp capers, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, and 1 tbsp olive oil until coarsely chopped but not pureed; season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Step 5: Serve grilled octopus sliced with a generous spoonful of olive tapenade on top, garnished with additional parsley if desired.









