Pulpo Adobado a la Parrilla (Grilled Adobo Octopus)
Tender pre-cooked octopus tentacles painted with guajillo adobo and charred hot, with warm potatoes and pickled onion.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Guajillo adobo paste. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.19 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Boil the baby potatoes in salted water for 12 to 15 minutes until tender. Drain and keep warm.
14 min - 2
Pat the octopus dry. Cut larger tentacles into 8 cm pieces. Toss with your ready made guajillo adobo paste (see the base recipe) and half the oil.
- 3
Heat a griddle or heavy frying pan over a high heat until smoking. Grill the octopus for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until charred in places and hot all the way through.
5 min - 4
Toss the potatoes with the remaining oil, a pinch of salt and the lime juice.
- 5
Divide the potatoes between plates and arrange the octopus on top.
- 6
Scatter over your ready made pickled red onions (see the base recipe), coriander and radish. Serve with lime wedges.
Tips
- Buy ready cooked octopus. Raw octopus takes hours of gentle simmering to become tender.
- Pat the octopus really dry or it steams in the pan instead of charring.
- Keep the grilling short. Cooked octopus goes rubbery with long reheating.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten fresh. Cool leftovers within 1 hour and keep in the fridge for up to 1 day. Eat cold in a salad rather than reheating.
Questions
Where can I buy cooked octopus?
Large supermarkets, fishmongers and Spanish or Mediterranean delis sell it vacuum packed or frozen. Check it is cooked and tender.
Can I barbecue it?
Yes. Grill over a hot barbecue for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Octopus takes the smoky flavour well.
Is this gluten free and dairy free?
Yes. It contains no gluten, dairy or egg, as long as your octopus has no added ingredients. Check the label.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Panuchos de Cazón (Yucatecan Stuffed Masa Cakes with Fish)
DFEFNFTacos de Coliflor Rostizada con Cebolla Morada Encurtida (Roasted Cauliflower Tacos)
EFNFVChar Siu Pork Lettuce Cups with Pickled Onions
DFEFNFEnsalada de Garbanzos y Aguacate con Cebolla Encurtida (Mexican Chickpea Salad)
VGVDFSee every dish made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.