Portuguese octopus salad is a great salad to make. It is also very unique and a little tricky to make. If you enjoy octopus and salads, then this salad is a great one to make.
Soak the octopus in water for 1 hour. Add vinegar and soak. Then, rinse it with clean water.
Place a vessel containing water over high heat. Add carrots, white onion, garlic, bay leaves and lime zest to it. Also, add cilantro stems, whole black pepper and cloves to it.
Once the water starts boiling, put the lower part of the octopus inside the water for a few seconds. Then, add the octopus and cover the vessel with a lid.
Put it on medium heat for 40 minutes.
After 40 minutes, check the octopus by pricking it with a fork. If it pierces through the meat easily then, it is ready for the salad.
Cut the octopus into bite-sized pieces and put it in a large salad bowl along with the other chopped vegetables like onion, bell pepper and tomatoes.
Now drizzle the lime juice and olive oil over it.
Add some chopped cilantro leaves, salt and black pepper and mix everything. Serve it in a serving bowl.