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Pulpo a la Gallega

Tender octopus sliced into coins, laid over boiled potatoes, and finished with smoked paprika and a generous pour of olive oil.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 1 hrCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Pulpo A La Gallega

Pulpo a la gallega is Galicia’s iconic octopus dish: tender tentacles sliced into rounds, laid over potatoes, and finished with sweet paprika, olive oil, and coarse salt. Properly cooked, the octopus is meltingly tender, never rubbery.

You will find it served on wooden plates at every Galician festival and seafood bar. The paprika-oil-salt finish is the entire secret — three ingredients, perfect balance.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water with the onion, bay leaves, and a generous pinch of salt to a rolling boil.
  2. Dip the octopus into the boiling water three times, holding it by the tentacles, then lower it in completely.
  3. Reduce to a gentle simmer and cook, uncovered, for 45-60 minutes, until a skewer slides easily into the thickest part of a tentacle.
  4. Turn off the heat and let the octopus rest in the water 15 minutes, then remove and drain.
  5. Slice the tentacles into 1/2-inch rounds, keeping the tips whole if you like.
  6. Arrange the warm potato slices on plates, top with the octopus, and finish with a dusting of paprika, a generous pour of olive oil, and coarse salt.

💡 Chef tips & storage

The triple-dip shocks the skin and helps it stay intact. Octopus must simmer gently — a hard boil turns it rubbery, and there is no fixing that.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook1 hr
Servings4
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →