Octapodi Stifetho (Octopus with onions)

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Octopus is the kind of sea food that can be served hot or cold, as an appetizer or as a main dish. When you buy fresh octopus, if is not beaten already, it has to be beaten well to tenderize the meat. You can buy the frozen octopus which is beaten and cleaned.

Ingredients:

1 octopus of about kilo
4-5 cloves finely chopped garlic
½ a kilo of grated tomatoes
2-3 bay leaves
½ a kilo of very small onions
1-2 cinnamon sticks
½ a cup of wine vinegar
1 cup of hot water
½ a cup of olive oil
10-12 black pepper corns
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

-Wash octopus well, separate tentacles from the head and boil in salted water for about 30 minutes. Drain the water and when the octopus has cooled down cut in smaller pieces.

-Place the oil in a sauce pan and heat well. Add the garlic and all the octopus, fry for about 10 minutes and then add the vinegar. Stir for a while and add the rest of the ingredients (except for the onions).

- Lower the heat, cover the sauce pan and simmer for about an hour. Add the small onions and simmer for about another 30 minutes or until the octopus is tender and the onions are cooked.

- Serve the dish while is hot.