Today, TasteVN will guide you through 2 ways to make stir-fried octopus with cucumber and delicious pickled vegetables that are great for meals but don’t take too much time to prepare. Let’s get cooking and immediately make these 2 stir-fried dishes!
1. Stir-fried Octopus with Cucumber
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
10 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Stir-fried Octopus with Cucumber Serves 4
Octopus 6 pieces Cucumber 6 pieces Green onion 2 stalks Garlic 1 clove Ginger 2 slices Vinegar 2 tablespoons Cooking oil 2 tablespoons Common spices a little (salt/ sugar/ MSG)
How to Choose Fresh and Delicious Cucumbers
- You should choose cucumbers that are long and slender, with intact skins covered in a white powder, preferably with small bumps on the surface. These fruits are freshly harvested, so they will be tastier and crunchier.
- Additionally, when buying, you should select cucumbers that still have their stems, are fresh, and have green ends where the flower buds have not fallen off.
- Avoid selecting cucumbers that are light yellow or too dark green as they are often spoiled or chemically treated.
How to prepare Stir-fried Octopus with Cucumber
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Prepare the octopus
After purchasing the octopus, use scissors to cut the head of the octopus lengthwise in half, remove all the innards and eyes, then turn the octopus over, gently squeeze the mouth of the octopus until the beak appears, then cut it off.
Next, rinse the octopus with water and soak it in a mixture of water, vinegar, and crushed ginger for about 15 minutes to eliminate the fishy smell, then chop it into small pieces.
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Prepare the remaining ingredients
Wash the cucumber and then use a knife to slice it diagonally into small bite-sized pieces. Peel the garlic and crush it.
Wash the green onions, remove the roots, chop the white part finely, and cut the green leaves into segments about 2 finger lengths long.
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Stir-fried octopus
Add to the pan 2 tablespoons of cooking oil along with crushed garlic, sautéing over medium heat until the garlic becomes fragrant, then add in chopped green onions.
Stir well and add the octopus, continuing to stir over medium heat for about 2 minutes until the octopus firms up, then add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, and 1/3 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate.
Continue to stir over medium heat for about 3 minutes until the octopus is just cooked through.
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Completion
After stir-frying the octopus until just cooked, add the cucumber and chopped green onions. Stir for another 3 minutes until the cucumber and green onions are cooked, then turn off the heat, scoop onto a plate, and enjoy!
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Final Product
Stir-fried octopus with cucumber is enticing with crunchy octopus, bursting with flavor. The cucumber is soft and delicious, absorbing the rich stir-fry sauce. Eating it with white rice and a little spicy fish sauce makes it even more perfect!
2. Stir-fried Octopus with Pickled Mustard Greens
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Preparation
10 minutes
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Cooking
15 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Stir-fried Octopus with Pickled Mustard Greens For 4 people
Octopus 1.5 kg (6 pieces) Tomato 2 pieces Garlic 2 cloves Ginger 1 root (small root) Spring onion 1 stalk Cilantro 1 stalk Pork fat 2 tablespoons (can be replaced with cooking oil) Common spices a little (salt/ monosodium glutamate/ seasoning powder/ sugar)
How to choose delicious pickled mustard greens
- Delicious pickled mustard greens have a natural fermentation smell without any strange odor, the pickled water should not have mold, and the water must be clear.
- The leaves should retain a beautiful light yellowish green color; avoid choosing those that are wilted yellow, dark yellow, or too green.
- When selecting, you should choose the leaves that are large, not worm-eaten, and intact. If possible, you should pick the cabbages that are crunchy and have a mildly sour taste.
- Additionally, you can buy pickled mustard greens pre-packaged at the nearest supermarket, TasteVN, or reputable places. Pay close attention to the packaging, expiration date, and natural color of the pickled greens.
- To ensure quality, you can make pickled mustard greens at home with a simple recipe shared by TasteVN.
How to cook Stir-fried octopus with pickled mustard greens
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Prepare the octopus
To remove the fishy smell from the octopus, first, use a scissors to cut the head of the octopus in half, then use a knife to remove the internal organs.
Next, use your hand to squeeze the mouth tightly and remove the beak, then place the octopus in a basin, rub it thoroughly with coarse salt and rinse with clean water.
Finally, boil a pot of water and add the octopus along with 2 slices of ginger, blanch for about 1 minute until the octopus firms up, then remove it, soak in cold water for about 5 – 6 minutes, and cut into bite-sized pieces.
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Prepare the remaining ingredients
Rinse the pickled cabbage once with cold water, then cut it into small square pieces that are easy to eat, with sides about 2 finger joints long.
Wash the tomatoes and cut them into wedges. Rinse the cilantro and green onions and chop them finely. Peel and mince the garlic. Peel the ginger and cut it into strips.
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Sauté the vegetables
Place a pan on the stove, add 2 tablespoons of lard, and heat over medium until the lard is clear and bubbling, then add the ginger and garlic, sauté until fragrant, then add the tomatoes.
Stir well until the tomatoes are slightly softened, then continue to add the pickled cabbage, mix well, and add 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, and 2 teaspoons of sugar.
Sauté for another 2 minutes until the tomatoes are just cooked and the seasonings are fully dissolved.
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Completion
After stir-frying the pickled mustard greens and tomatoes until just cooked, add the pre-boiled octopus. Stir well and cook over medium heat for about 1 minute, then adjust the seasoning to taste, add chopped green onions and cilantro, and turn off the heat.
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Finished Product
Stir-fried octopus with pickled mustard greens is served on a plate with a beautiful and rich color of pickled greens, cooked octopus, and tomatoes. When eating, you will feel the rich and delicious taste of pork fat combined with the crispy and enticing octopus; the tomatoes and pickled greens have a moderate sour taste soaked in delicious spices.
How to Choose Fresh and Delicious Octopus
- You should choose octopus with clear eyes, a bright white belly, and smooth, even skin on the back. When you touch the body, it should feel firm and not soggy.
- Additionally, you should avoid buying octopus with a creamy white belly skin as this indicates the octopus has been stored for a long time or soaked in water.
- If buying frozen octopus, you should choose octopus with a brown-gray skin color and a hint of green; the underside should have bright white meat fibers, and the body should not be swollen.
How to Properly Clean Octopus, Without Fishy Smell
- To eliminate the fishy smell of octopus, cut off the eyes, ink sac, and internal organs, then rinse several times with clean water.
- Next, wash and soak the octopus in a mixture of vinegar and wine, then rinse thoroughly several times with water until the octopus is no longer slimy and smelly.
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You don’t have to go through many steps, and the cooking time is short, you can immediately have 2 delicious dishes of stir-fried octopus with cucumber and pickled vegetables to treat your family. Wishing you success with this recipe!
*Refer to images and recipes from the YouTube channel Delicious Dishes from the Garden and Home Cooking
