--- title: Tandoori Octopus Yogurt, Cauliflower, Grapefruit description: Tandoori Octopus image: https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hubfs/IMG_0473.jpg --- [![](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LUDO%2012-2020/images/icons/instagram-icon.svg) ](https://instagram.com/chefludo) [![](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LUDO%2012-2020/images/icons/twitter-icon.svg) ](https://twitter.com/chefludo) [![](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LUDO%2012-2020/images/icons/facebook-icon.svg) ](https://www.facebook.com/LudoBites) [![](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LUDO%2012-2020/images/icons/youtube-icon.svg) ](https://www.youtube.com/user/LudoBites/) [![](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LUDO%2012-2020/images/icons/mail-icon.svg) ](mailto:whatscooking@ludolefebvre.com) ![](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hubfs/IMG_0473.jpg) [![](https://assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_round_red_32.png)](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/) Pin This Recipe ## INGREDIENTS ### Octopus - 2 Tbsp Grapeseed oil - 1 each onion, coarsely chopped - 1 each carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped - 1 each celery stalk, coarsely chopped - 1 head garlic, halved horizontally - 3 each fresh thyme sprigs - 8 cups water - 4 cups dry white wine - 2 each large octopus (about 2 pounds each), rinsed - 2 Tbsp olive oil - Kosher salt and freshly ground whitepepper ### Marinade - 1¼ cups jarred tandoori paste - ¼ cup tomato sauce eggplants - 1½ Tbsp honey - 1 Tbsp molasses - 1 Tbsp sherry vinegar ### Yogurt Sauce - ⅓ cup goat’s-milk yogurt - ⅓ cup greek yogurt - Kosher salt ### Garnishes - 1 each large pink grapefruit, supreme - ¼ each head cauliflower - Kosher salt and freshly ground white pepper - Olive oil - Fleur de sel # Tandoori Octopus Yogurt, Cauliflower, Grapefruit [![](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LUDO%2012-2020/images/icons/facebook-icon.svg) ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/tandoori-octopus) [![](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LUDO%2012-2020/images/icons/twitter-icon.svg) ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/tandoori-octopus%0A) [![](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/LUDO%2012-2020/images/icons/mail-icon.svg) ](mailto:?subject=Tandoori%20Octopus%20Yogurt,%20Cauliflower,%20Grapefruit&body=https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/tandoori-octopus) Excerpted from the cookbook “LudoBites” by Ludo Lefebvre, pages 334 - 336, published by HarperCollins, 2012. To prepare the octopus Heat the grapeseed oil in a 6-quart pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, garlic, and thyme and sauté until the onion is translucent, about 5minutes. Add the water and wine and bring to a simmer. Add the octopuses and bring the liquid to a near simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover the octopuses with a small weight so that they are submerged, and simmer very gently for about 2hours, or until a small knife glides easily through one of the octopus arms. (Never allow the water to boil or the skin will fall away; slow and gentle is the key.) Remove the octopuses from the cooking liquid and let cool. (Discard the cooking liquid.) Cut each of the 8 octopus legs away from the head; discard the head. To marinate the octopus Mix all the marinade ingredients in a large bowl to blend. Add the octopus legs and toss them to coat completely. Refrigerate for 6 hours. Meanwhile, to make the sauce Mix the yogurts in a small bowl to blend. Season to taste with salt. Cover and refrigerate. To prepare the garnishes Cut the grapefruit segments into small dice; set aside.Remove the stems from the cauliflower florets. Using a mandoline, cut the florets into 2-inch-thick slices. To sear the octopus Heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Remove the octopus legs from the marinade and lightly shake off the excess marinade; the octopus should still be well coated. Add the octopus legs to the hot skillet and cook for about 3 minutes per side, or until almost black. Transfer to a cutting board. To serve Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the yogurt sauce into the center of each of eight plates. Mix the grapefruit and cauliflower in a bowl and season to taste with salt and white pepper. Place about 1 tablespoon of the grapefruit mixture on top of the yogurt on each plate. Cut each octopus leg into 3 pieces and arrange them on top of the grapefruit mixture. Lightly drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle lightly with fleur de sel, and serve immediately. #### Comments ## More Recipes [![Lamb Kebab and Bean Stew](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_5211.jpg?width=352&name=IMG_5211.jpg) ](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/lamb-kebab-and-bean-stew) ### [Lamb Kebab and Bean Stew](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/lamb-kebab-and-bean-stew) [Season 4](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/tag/season-4) [![](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Osso-Buco.jpg?width=352&name=Osso-Buco.jpg) ](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/osso-buco) ### [Osso Buco](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/osso-buco) [Season 8](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/tag/season-8), [main](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/tag/main), [italian](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/tag/italian) [![](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Recipe%20Photos/13387093303_59091011f0_b.jpg?width=352&name=13387093303_59091011f0_b.jpg) ](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/bread-soup-gruyère-marshmallow) ### [Bread Soup, Gruyère Marshmallow](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/bread-soup-gruyère-marshmallow) [soup](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/recipes/tag/soup) ![i-zmVpXCk-X4 (1)](https://www.ludolefebvre.com/hubfs/i-zmVpXCk-X4%20(1).jpg)