Garden Octopus Salad
It goes without saying that there are no octopus swimming in the tiny pond in our garden; this Garden Octopus Salad is thus called because, I do, on the other hand, grow tomatoes and herbs in the Veg Patch, and they all ended up in this deliciously fragrant and tasty dish, particularly enjoyable on a sunny and warm June day! Happy Friday!
Ingredients (serves 4):
a small bunch Garden Chives
a few fluffy sprigs Garden Dill
2 fluffy sprigs Garden Chervil
½ lemon
a good pinch of fleur de sel
and freshly cracked black pepper
¼ teaspoon Piment d'Espelette or (slightly less) Cayenne Pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 small shallots
900 grams/2 pounds cooked Octopus, cooled
1/2 large cucumber, rinsed
1 cup Garden Cherry Tomatoes, rinsed
Finely chop Garden Chives, Dill and Chervil, and spoon into a salad bowl. Thoroughly grate in the zest of the lemon halve.
Season with a pinch of fleur de sel and freshly cracked black pepper, and Piment d'Espelette.
Drizzle generously with olive oil, and give a good stir, to mix.
Then, thoroughly squeeze in the juice of the lemon halve, stirring energetically until well-blended. Set aside.
Peel and finely chop shallots, and stir into the bowl, coating in oil, herbs and spices.
Finally, cut the Octopus into small chunks, and stir into the salad bowl. Toss well to generously coat in dressing.
Dice cucumber and halve the Cherry Tomatoes, and stir into the salad, coating well in dressing, too.
Place salad bowl in the refrigerator to chill, at least one hour.
Serve Garden Octopus Salad cold, with a glass of chilled Pays d'Oc or Côtes de Provence Rosé.













