Oktapodi Krasato(Octopus In Red Wine)

* Exported from MasterCook *

OKTAPODI KRASATO (OCTOPUS IN RED WINE)

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories :
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 1/4 lb Young octopus
8 tb Olive oil
12 oz Shallots
1/2 c Red wine
6 tb Red wine vinegar
8 oz Canned tomatoes
-roughly chopped
2 tb Tomato puree
4 Bay leaves
2 ts Dried oregano
Black pepper
2 tb Parsley -- chopped

First clean the octopus. Pull off the tentacles,
remove and discard the intestines and the ink sac, the
eyes and the beak. Skin the octopus and wash and
scrub it thoroughly to remove any traces of sand. Cut
it into 1 1/2 to 2 inch pieces and put it into a
saucepan over medium heat to release the liquid. Stir
the octopus until this liquid has evaporated.

Pour on the oil and stir the octopus to seal it on all
sides. Add the whole onions and cook them, stirring
once or twice, until they colour slightly.

Add the wine, the vinegar, tomatoes, tomato puree, bay
leaves, oregano and several grindings of pepper. Stir
well, cover the pan and simmer very gently for 60 to
75 minutes, checking from time to time that the sauce
has not dried out. If it does - and this would only
happen if the heat were too high - add a little more
wine or water. The octopus is cooked when it can be
easily pierced with a skewer.

The sauce should be thick, like a runny paste. If any
of the liquid separates, remove the lid from the pan,
slightly increase the heat and stir until some of the
liquid evaporates and the sauce thickens. Discard the
bay leaves and stir in the parsley. Taste the sauce
and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Serve, if you like, with rice and a salad. A Greek
essential is country bread to mop up the sauce.

A Taste Of The Greek Islands by Pamela Westland

found on rec.food.recipes Stephanie da Silva
(arielle@taronga.com), moderator



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