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Golden garlic butter octopus bites with parsley and lemon wedges on a light ceramic plate

Garlic Butter Octopus Bites

Tender cooked octopus gets a quick golden sear before being coated in a glossy garlic-lemon butter sauce with herbs and smoked paprika.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs cooked octopus cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 5 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • 3 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • Lemon wedges for serving

Method
 

  1. Pat the cooked octopus completely dry.
  2. Season with smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  4. Add the octopus in a single layer and sear for 3–4 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly golden.
  5. Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter.
  6. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  7. Add the lemon juice and lemon zest, then toss the octopus through the bubbling garlic butter.
  8. Cook for another 1–2 minutes, spooning the buttery sauce over the octopus.
  9. Remove from the heat and finish generously with fresh parsley.
  10. Serve immediately with fresh lemon wedges.

Notes

Because the octopus is already cooked, keep the final sear and garlic-butter finish brief to preserve its tender texture.