How to Cook Soft and Delicious Octopus Porridge Easy to Make at Home

How to make Black pepper sauce for octopus

• 1

  Prepare the ingredients

  Wash the split mung beans, drain, then put them in the pan and roast until golden brown. Next, put the mung beans into the machine and grind them finely.

  Wash the chili, chop finely. Peel the garlic, chop finely. Squeeze the lemon to get the juice.

  

  Ingredients for Octopus Porridge For 4 people

  Fresh octopus 300 gr Fresh pork bones 300 gr White rice 1 cup (rice bowl type) Sticky rice 1/5 cup (rice bowl type) Fresh shiitake mushrooms 150 gr (shiitake mushrooms) Green onions 4 stalks Cilantro 4 stalks Onion 4 bulbs Garlic 4 cloves Crushed ginger a little Cooking oil 1.5 tablespoons Fish sauce 1/2 tablespoon Common spices a little (seasoning/ salt/ sugar)

  How to Choose Fresh Ingredients

  How to choose fresh octopus

  • You should choose octopus with smooth skin, a bright white belly, a body that is not swollen, and clear white eyes.
  • Do not buy those with cloudy white eyes, off-white skin, and a swollen body as these are signs of old or spoiled octopus.
  • Choose those that move quickly and are still flexible, with an intact body as they will be fresher.
  • If buying frozen octopus, choose those with a dark gray and greenish color on the back, with bright white flesh underneath as they are still fresh.
  • It is advisable to buy frozen octopus from reputable octopus supply stores and supermarkets to ensure your meal is safe and of higher quality.

  See details: How to choose fresh octopus

  How to choose fresh and delicious pig bones

  • To choose good bones, you should check the smell and condition of the bones. Choose bones that are fresh in color, not pale, and do not have a foul or strange smell.
  • If it is bone marrow, choose bones that are about 2 – 3 finger joints wide. Do not choose bones that are too small as they may come from sick piglets.
  • If you like tail bones, choose those that are of moderate size, with little fat and lean meat.
  • For rib bones, choose fresh ribs, with a light pink color and no strange smell, press your finger into the meat to check for elasticity, and the surface of the ribs should be dry.
  • If you prefer less bone and more meat, choose ribs with flat and small bones. Ribs with large bones will have less meat.
  • If you like pig’s head bones, you should choose medium-sized head bones that still have the brain intact, with fresh bone color and the characteristic smell of pig bones.

  How to choose fresh and delicious shiitake mushrooms

  • For a delicious meal, you can choose to use dried or fresh mushrooms.
  • Fresh shiitake mushrooms have a shape resembling an umbrella and are not bruised, with a characteristic and natural aroma of mushrooms.
  • Choose mushrooms that are of moderate size, with short stems, tightly closed caps, and a slightly yellow-brown color.
  • For dried mushrooms, choose those that are not broken and have bright brown caps, resembling the shape and color of fresh shiitake mushrooms.
  • Pay attention to the smell of the mushrooms, ensuring they are not musty or have strange odors, and that there are no white mold spots on them.
  • Buying mushrooms from reputable stores will ensure the quality of the product and safety for you.
  • In addition, you can substitute with other types of mushrooms according to your preference.

  See details: How to choose fresh and delicious shiitake mushrooms

  

  How to Prepare Octopus Porridge

  • 1

    Prepare the Octopus

    When buying octopus, use a knife to cut the part below the eyes to separate the body and tentacles. Cut the head off the body and slice it in half to remove the inner organs.

    Remove all the internal organs of the octopus (if necessary, also remove the octopus beak and ink sac).

    Finally, cut the octopus into small, bite-sized pieces.

    How to Clean Octopus Without a Fishy Smell

    • To eliminate the fishy smell and slime, place the octopus in a bowl and rub it vigorously with salt to remove the slime.
    • Alternatively, wash it thoroughly with water mixed with vinegar, alcohol, or smashed ginger to eliminate the fishy smell, then rinse again with clean water.

    See details: How to Clean Octopus Without a Fishy Smell

    

    

    

    
  • 2

    Preprocessing the pork bones

    To prevent the dish from being affected by the foul smell of the bones, you can wash them with diluted salt water, adding a little crushed ginger.

    Then, briefly blanch the bones in boiling water and rinse them clean to eliminate the odor and impurities.

    

    

    

    
  • 3

    Preprocessing other ingredients

    Shallots and garlic are peeled, washed, and then sliced thinly.

    The green onions are trimmed at the root, washed, then the roots are cut separately, and the green parts are chopped finely.

    Coriander is trimmed at the root, washed, and then chopped finely.

    Mix 1/2 cup of regular rice and 1/5 cup of sticky rice in a bowl, add cold water and soak for about 30 minutes to soften the rice, making it cook faster when preparing the porridge.

    Rinse the rice with water and dry roast it in a hot pan; when the rice is slightly dry, add a bit of cooking oil and continue roasting until the rice turns golden, then transfer it to a bowl.

    Soak the mushrooms in warm water for about 1 minute, then quickly remove them and place them in cold water for about 5 minutes to help clean the sawdust and straw smell from the mushrooms. Then slice them thinly for eating.

    Tip: Do not soak the mushrooms in boiling water as it will lose their flavor; use warm water for a short blanching, then immediately place them in cold water to maintain their crispness and flavor.

    
• 5

  Cook the porridge

  Place a pot on the stove, heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Wait until the oil is hot, then add chopped shallots and garlic, stir well until fragrant and golden.

  Add the pork bones and stir well. When the meat on the bones is slightly firm, add 4 cups of cold water to the pot and bring to a boil. Cover the pot until the water boils.

  Tip: When the water boils, skim off the floating meat scum for a clearer and more visually appealing porridge.

  Then add the toasted rice to the pot, tightly cover the lid, and turn off the heat. After 15 minutes, turn the heat back on to bring the porridge to a boil again, then reduce the heat to allow the porridge to expand and soften. This helps to save electricity and gas and prevents the rice from burning or sticking to the pot.

  When the porridge is fully cooked and soft, add all the sautéed ingredients to the pot.

  Add 1 tablespoon of seasoning, 1/2 tablespoon of salt, and 1/2 tablespoon of fish sauce to the porridge and stir gently.

  Cook for an additional 10 minutes, then turn off the heat. Add a little green onion and cilantro to enhance the flavor of the porridge.

  Note:

  • It is recommended to cook the porridge separately, and stir-fry the octopus and mushrooms separately, as this will make the porridge clearer and tastier. Especially, it preserves the flavors of the ingredients without mixing them.
  • Avoid stirring too many times during cooking. This will cause the rice grains to break and become mushy.

  

  

  

  
• 6

  Final product

  So you have a bowl of delicious mushroom octopus porridge. The sweetness of the bones, the freshness of the octopus combined with the characteristic aroma from the mushrooms and herbs will be very stimulating to the taste buds of the whole family.

  Garnish a little with cilantro to make the dish more visually appealing and enjoy it with your family!