Grilled Octopus with Olive Oil Potatoes & Oregano

Grilled Octopus with Olive Oil Potatoes & Oregano

Mia

This stunning Mediterranean dish brings the flavors of a Greek taverna straight to your table. Tender octopus, first simmered until perfectly soft and then charred over high heat, develops a beautiful smoky crust while maintaining its succulent interior. The traditional cooking method ensures the octopus is never rubbery—a common concern that's easily avoided with proper technique.

The accompanying smashed potatoes are a revelation in simplicity. Boiled until tender, then gently crushed and crisped in generous amounts of fruity extra virgin olive oil, they provide the perfect textural contrast to the octopus. Each potato develops golden, crispy edges while staying creamy inside, soaking up the herbaceous oregano and bright lemon juice that tie the dish together.

This recipe embodies the Mediterranean Diet's emphasis on seafood, olive oil, and fresh herbs. Octopus is an excellent source of lean protein, vitamin B12, and minerals like iron and selenium. Combined with potatoes cooked in heart-healthy olive oil and finished with antioxidant-rich oregano and lemon, this dish is as nutritious as it is delicious.

Whether you're hosting a special dinner or simply want to transport yourself to the sun-drenched shores of the Aegean, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality results at home. The preparation is straightforward, and the impressive presentation makes it perfect for entertaining while staying true to the wholesome principles of Mediterranean cooking.

Nutrition

1 hour 35 minutes
None servings
485 calories
Fat 28.00g
Carbs 28.00g
Protein 32.00g

Ingredients

2.5 lbsoctopus, cleaned, tentacles separated if large
2 wholebay leaves
1 tspblack peppercorns, whole
1.5 lbssmall Yukon gold potatoes
1/2 cupextra virgin olive oil, divided
3 tbspfresh lemon juice
2 tspdried oregano
3 clovesgarlic, minced
1 tspsea salt
1/2 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
1/4 cupfresh parsley, chopped
1 whole lemonlemon wedges, cut into wedges for serving

Equipment

Cutting board
Whisk
paper towels
tongs
small mixing bowl
large skillet
serving platter
sharp knife
grill or grill pan
large pot for boiling octopus
medium pot for boiling potatoes
potato masher or glass

16:8 Diet

This recipe is perfect for the 16:8 eating window, providing a nutrient-dense, balanced meal with lean protein from octopus, complex carbohydrates from potatoes, and healthy fats from olive oil for sustained energy and satiety. The whole food ingredients help maximize nutritional intake during the compressed eating timeframe.

80/20 Diet

This recipe fits the 80/20 approach with nutrient-dense whole foods comprising the vast majority: fresh octopus for lean protein, potatoes for complex carbohydrates, extra virgin olive oil for healthy fats, and fresh herbs for antioxidants. The simple, wholesome ingredients emphasize the 80% nutritious foundation while remaining delicious and satisfying.

Ancestral Diet

This recipe fits the Ancestral/Paleo approach with wild-caught octopus as the protein, whole potatoes (a traditional food), olive oil for healthy fat, and fresh herbs for seasoning. It contains no grains, legumes, dairy, refined sugars, or processed ingredients, emphasizing whole foods available to our ancestors.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

This recipe is excellent for an anti-inflammatory diet, featuring omega-3-rich octopus as a seafood protein source, extra virgin olive oil with its powerful anti-inflammatory compounds, and antioxidant-rich herbs like oregano and parsley. The whole food ingredients, absence of processed foods and refined sugars, and emphasis on Mediterranean flavors make it ideal for reducing inflammation.

Clean Eating

This recipe exemplifies clean eating principles with its use of whole, minimally processed ingredients: fresh octopus, whole potatoes, extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs, and natural seasonings. It contains no refined sugars, artificial additives, preservatives, or processed ingredients—just real food prepared simply to highlight natural flavors.

Gluten-Free Diet

This recipe is naturally gluten-free, containing only octopus, potatoes, olive oil, fresh herbs, and seasonings—all of which are free from wheat, barley, rye, and gluten-containing ingredients. It's a safe and delicious option for those avoiding gluten while providing satisfying flavors and textures.

Heart-Healthy Diet

This recipe is heart-healthy, featuring lean protein from octopus (rich in omega-3s and low in saturated fat), heart-protective extra virgin olive oil as the primary fat, and antioxidant-rich herbs and lemon. The Mediterranean-style preparation avoids fried foods, processed ingredients, and excessive sodium while emphasizing cardiovascular-protective nutrients.

High-Protein Diet

This recipe is excellent for high-protein diets, as octopus is an exceptionally lean protein source providing approximately 25-30 grams of protein per serving while being very low in fat. The protein-rich seafood is the star of the dish, supporting muscle maintenance and satiety goals.

Intermittent Fasting

This nutrient-dense recipe is ideal for intermittent fasting eating windows, providing high-quality lean protein from octopus, complex carbohydrates from potatoes, and healthy fats from olive oil to promote satiety and stable blood sugar levels. The whole food ingredients maximize nutritional value during limited eating periods while supporting sustained energy throughout fasting windows.

Intuitive Eating

This recipe supports intuitive eating by offering a satisfying, flavorful meal that honors both taste preferences and nutrition without restriction or guilt. The combination of protein-rich octopus, filling potatoes, and healthy olive oil creates a balanced dish that promotes satisfaction and pleasure in eating.

Low-Sodium Diet

This recipe can easily be adapted for low-sodium diets by reducing or omitting the added sea salt and relying on fresh herbs, lemon juice, garlic, and black pepper for flavor. The fresh, unprocessed ingredients naturally contain minimal sodium, and the cooking method requires no processed or canned ingredients.

Mediterranean Diet

This recipe is a quintessential Mediterranean dish that emphasizes seafood as the primary protein, uses generous amounts of extra virgin olive oil as the main fat source, and incorporates traditional herbs like oregano and fresh lemon. The combination of octopus, olive oil-roasted potatoes, and fresh herbs embodies the heart-healthy principles of Mediterranean eating while avoiding processed ingredients and red meat.

Mindful Eating

This recipe is ideal for mindful eating with its varied textures (tender octopus, crispy-creamy potatoes), vibrant colors, and aromatic herbs that engage multiple senses. The whole food ingredients and Mediterranean preparation encourage slow, conscious consumption and appreciation of natural flavors, aromas, and visual appeal.

Paleo Diet

This recipe fits Paleo guidelines by featuring wild-caught seafood (octopus) as the protein source, using only whole vegetables (potatoes), healthy fats from olive oil, and natural seasonings from herbs and lemon. It contains no grains, legumes, dairy, refined sugars, or processed ingredients, focusing entirely on nutrient-dense whole foods that would have been available to hunter-gatherers.

Pegan Diet

This recipe can be adapted for the Pegan diet by reducing potato portions to 1/2 cup or less and emphasizing the vegetables and octopus. It features wild-caught seafood, healthy fats from olive oil, and is free from dairy, gluten, and processed ingredients, aligning with Pegan principles when potatoes are kept to appropriate portions.

Primal Diet

This recipe aligns with Primal Diet principles by featuring wild-caught seafood (octopus), whole vegetables (potatoes), healthy fats from olive oil, and natural seasonings. It contains no grains, legumes, refined sugars, or processed foods, focusing on nutrient-dense whole foods that support metabolic health.

Weight Watchers

This recipe aligns with Weight Watchers principles by featuring lean protein from octopus (which is low in fat and calories), using olive oil in controlled amounts as a healthy fat, and incorporating plenty of vegetables and herbs for flavor without excessive calories. The focus on whole, unprocessed ingredients and seafood makes it a satisfying, nutrient-dense option for weight management.

Instructions

1
8 min

Fill a large pot with water and add the bay leaves and whole peppercorns. Bring to a boil over high heat.

2
50 min

Once boiling, add the cleaned octopus to the pot. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 45-50 minutes, until the octopus is tender when pierced with a knife.

3
20 min

While the octopus simmers, place the potatoes in a separate pot and cover with cold salted water. Bring to a boil and cook for 15-20 minutes until fork-tender.

4

Drain the potatoes and let them cool slightly for 5 minutes. Using the bottom of a glass or potato masher, gently smash each potato until it's about 1/2 inch thick but still holds together.

7 min
5

Remove the cooked octopus from the pot and let it cool for 10 minutes. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Cut the tentacles into individual pieces if needed.

12 min
6

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until well combined to create the dressing.

2 min
7

Heat a grill or grill pan over high heat until very hot. Brush the octopus tentacles with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

1 min
8
8 min

Grill the octopus for 3-4 minutes per side, until charred and crispy on the outside. Remove to a cutting board.

9
10 min

In a large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the smashed potatoes in a single layer and cook for 4-5 minutes per side until golden and crispy.

10

Cut the grilled octopus into bite-sized pieces. Arrange the crispy potatoes on a serving platter and top with the octopus pieces.

2 min
11

Drizzle the lemon-oregano dressing over the octopus and potatoes. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side.

1 min

Frequently Asked Questions