Some of you would like to think I’m kidding with these recipes. I’m not. I try out every recipe possible before posting, to ensure it’s something I myself would eat. Take today’s recipe, for example.

While stranded on the waterworld of Rybar Tekh VII, I found myself in the position of having to make do with what was available once again. Fishing was difficult at best in the rough and savage ocean, but I soon discovered from the local indigenous population that is was Octopus birthing season; that meants literally thousands of baby octopi were available for those who would snatch them. (Hmmm, octopie, that would make an interesting recipe also)

Turns out baby octopus are cheap, healthy, and good eating when done up right.

Baby Octopus Salad

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 oz baby octopus
• 8 oz mixed greens
• 4 oz broccoli florets
• 4 oz carrots
• 4 oz red onion
• 2 tbsp chili garlic sauce
• 2 tbsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp lime juice

METHOD:

1. Cook baby octopus in a steamer for 60 minutes.
2. Chop up all your vegetables into bite sized pieces. With a food processor, this takes about 5 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, mix chili garlic sauce, minced garlic, lime juice and black pepper until blended evenly.
4. At 30 minutes, add vegetables to steamer.
5. Place mixed greens into a large tupperware bowl.
6. When steamer finished, add octopus, vegetables, and sauce from the small bowl to the tupperware.
7. Shake until mixed well.

The nice thing about this recipe is nearly everything in it can be swapped out to taste. Don’t like mixed greens? Try spinach, or romaine, or any other type of leafy food you like. Don’t like broccoli, carrots and red onion? Swap it out for any three vegetables of choice. I find eggplant, fennel and yellow peppers go nicely together. Don’t like what’s in the sauce? Make your own. Dijon Mustard sauce mixed with artichoke hearts, fat free ranch dressing with Mrs. Dash, they’re all good.

In fact, I enjoy this particular recipe so much, I had it for lunch yesterday, and am having it again today.

Baby Octopus is cheap and available at almost any grocery store.