Chargrilled baby octopus with olives and hand-pounded pesto
The octopus can be replaced with other seafood, and roast chicken also makes a handy substitute.
Ingredients
1/2 small clove garlic
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 bunch basil, leaves only
20g raw pine nuts
1 tbsp finely grated parmesan
40ml extra virgin olive oil, plus extra
juice of 1/4 lemon
1/3 cup Ligurian olives, pitted
12 cherry tomatoes, quartered
500g baby octopus
100g mixed salad leaves, washed
Method
Pound the garlic and 1/2 tsp salt to a paste with a mortar and pestle. Add the basil and continue to pound until the basil breaks down and a thick paste is formed. Add the pine nuts and work them in well so the paste has a creamy texture.
Add the parmesan, 40ml olive oil and lemon juice. Season with more salt, if required. Add pepper. Transfer the pesto to a bowl and add the olives and cherry tomatoes.
Chargrill the octopus over a high heat for 5 minutes or until it gets good colour and char marks. You want that nice barbecue flavour. Cut the octopus into bite-size pieces. Add it to the pesto mix and combine well.
To serve, place a small pile of salad leaves on each plate with some octopus mix on top. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
HOT TIPS
- Make the effort to hand-pound the pesto - you will never again use a blender. The pesto is great with pasta or other salads.
- Don't toast the pine nuts; they will overpower the pesto.
Appears in these collections
The best recipes from Australia's leading chefs straight to your inbox.
Sign up
Neil Perry is a restaurateur, chef and former Good Weekend columnist.Connect via email.
