Octopus sandwich

The salty of the sea, the crunchiness of the octopus, the freshness of its water squeezed in the embrace of the sandwich. Raw, boiled seasoned with olive oil, tomato and celery or grilled, octopus is a real 'must eat' of our summer days. Famous are the evenings in Mola di Bari during which young people, adults and families meet to walk along the beautiful seafront and savor the tasty 'roasted octopus sandwich'. If there is someone who does not know this all-Bari street food then he needs to take a dip in the flavors, those that never disappoint.

Imagine being on one of the beautiful coasts, where the moon is reflected in the Adriatic Sea and the breeze offers pleasant moments of refreshment from the summer heat: these are the most pleasant hours of the day, where you can relax with friends, tell each other about the days and enjoy the crunchiness of the octopus in a tasty sandwich. At this point a beer is a must, you choose which one.

The octopus sandwich best represents the typical culinary philosophy of Puglia: usually caught by hand, harvested among the rocks and stones that represent a large part of the Adriatic coast of the region, the octopus can also be bitten raw on the spot, processed on the spot, or grilled so as to take on a particular texture and a smoky flavor.

Thanks to the tenderness of its meat, octopus can be prepared in different ways, taking on various nuances and satisfying even the most refined palates. An ensemble in which an example of street food characteristic of the Puglia region is created, which has always been loved by all lovers of fish-based cuisine.

The sandwich stuffed with grilled octopus is a very popular and loved recipe in Puglia. It is particularly enjoyed in those cities that rise on the sea, where the fresh catch of the day is cooked. Cooking on the grill makes the octopus tasty and soft and the bread crispy, creating a perfect combination that satisfies even the most demanding palates. In Puglia you can enjoy the octopus sandwich in Bari, perhaps walking along the spectacular seafront, or during a tourist visit to the beautiful Polignano a Mare. 

Where to taste the octopus sandwich in Polignano a Mare

The Lido di Cala Paura allows you to enjoy a good octopus sandwich lying on a sun lounger in front of a crystal clear sea. This lido, in fact, in addition to offering umbrellas and sunbeds to bathers, is famous for its cuisine based on fresh fish, cooked immediately after fishing. You can choose from many specialties: from fried fish to grilled fish, without forgetting the tasty first courses.

Ingredients

1 kg octopus

4 sandwiches

1 glass of extra virgin olive oil

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

2 lemons

1 bunch of parsley

Salad to taste

10 cherry tomatoes

How to prepare the sandwich with roasted octopus and cherry tomato salad

To prepare a perfect roasted octopus sandwich with salad and cherry tomatoes, first carefully clean the octopus. Remove the teeth with your hands or with the help of a fork, then take the head and turn it upside down, leaving the eyes that you can remove once cooked. Place the octopus on the grill, sprinkle it with a sprig of celery, if possible, as if it were a brush, to flavor it. In the absence of this, rosemary is also fine. The embers should be left light, so that the cooking proceeds slowly but evenly. Many people consider the octopus cooked once they see the typical curl of its tentacles. When it begins to brown, grease it with a marinade of oil, lemon, pepper and salt. Once cooked, remove the eyes and use it as a filling for the sandwich with salad and tomato properly washed.