Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 1 large carrot cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 medium shallot minced
- 2 celery ribs cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- One 14-ounce can chopped tomatoes
- 2 pounds baby octopus—cleaned heads halved, tentacles quartered
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 2 cups dry red wine
- 1 cup pitted kalamata olives rinsed and sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- crusty bread for serving
Instructions
- In a medium enameled, cast-iron casserole, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the onion, shallot, carrot, garlic, celery, crushed red pepper and bay leaf and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juices and simmer for 2 minutes, until slightly reduced. Remove from the heat.
- In a large skillet, heat 1 1/2 teaspoons of the oil until shimmering. Add half of the octopus, season with salt and pepper and cook over high heat, stirring, until starting to brown, about 2 minutes. Scrape the octopus into the casserole. Repeat with the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of oil and octopus. Add the red wine to the skillet and bring to a boil, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom. Pour the wine into the casserole.
- Simmer the stew until the octopus is tender, 30 minutes. Add the olives and simmer for 5 minutes longer. Season the stew with salt and pepper and stir in the parsley. Serve in bowls with crusty fresh bread.
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