Pulpo a la Gallega
Tender Galician-style octopus boiled until perfectly tender, then drizzled with Spanish olive oil, paprika, and sea salt. A classic Spanish tapa with minimal ingredients but maximum flavor.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 248
- Protein
- 24g

Ingredients
6 items — tap to check off
Missing one? Custrd suggests a swap that works.
Open the appInstructions
Step 1
Clean the octopus under cold running water, rubbing the body and tentacles to remove any sand or debris.
Step 2
Fill a large pot with 4 quarts of water and bring to a rolling boil.
Step 3
Add 3 tablespoons of sea salt to the boiling water.
Step 4
Carefully submerge the octopus in the boiling water. It will curl slightly—this is normal.
Step 5
Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 35-45 minutes, until the octopus is very tender (a fork should pierce the tentacles easily).
Step 6
Remove the octopus with tongs and place on a cutting board. Let cool for 5 minutes.
Step 7
Cut the octopus tentacles into bite-sized pieces (about 1-2 inches). Arrange on a serving platter.
Step 8
Drizzle generously with Spanish extra virgin olive oil.
Step 9
Sprinkle evenly with smoked paprika and fleur de sel.
Step 10
Serve warm or at room temperature with lemon wedges on the side.
Tools you’ll need
- Large pot (5-6 quart capacity)
- Kitchen tongs
- Cutting board
- Chef's knife
- Serving platter
Cook smarter
Get matched recipes for what’s in your fridge
Custrd is an iPhone and Android app that finds real recipes from the ingredients you already have. No more grocery-list aspirations. Try it free for 7 days.