Thursday, June 26, 2008

tako salad

The first time I tried this recipe, the salad looked nice, but didn't taste good. It was really bitter.

The original recipe calls for watercress, shiso (perilla)(10 leaves) and boiled tako (octopus)--about 1 leg. The dressing is just lemon juice and some oil.

So, I changed the recipe and I think this version is better.

The day I wanted to make this, the supermarket had no watercress, so I subbed it with rocket/arugula. For the dressing, I used the bi bim kook soo sauce. Cut and toss.

Doesn't look as nice as the first photo, but sure does taste better.

13 comments:

KirkK said...

Hi Kat - Looks great....I love good tako.

K and S said...

Thanks Kirkk, I love good tako too.

Take care.
Kat

bourgogne said...

YUM. i have been dying for some grilled tako. this always reminds me of when our neighbors came over for a tako dinner when we were kids, and they were shocked, "THOSE aren't tacos!"

K and S said...

That is a cute story, Bourgogne :) Kind of like me trying to explain tacos to the Japanese and they are thinking about tako :)

Take care.
Kat

Deb in Hawaii said...

That looks so good! I really have to get over my fear of cooking with octopus and squid!

Tamakikat said...

Hi Kat,

I like eating octopus but have never tried cooking it myself. Please help me out with the following. How long do you boil tako for? Is the water salted or anything special? Cheers.

BTW when did you and your readers 1st eat tako? For me I think it was when I first came to Kyoto to live and had 'takoyaki'. As far as I know it's not eaten much (if at all) in NZ.

TK

K and S said...

I cheat with this debinhawaii, the octopus is already cooked, just add into the salad. I think if I had to do it with the whole octopus, I would be a wimp.

Take care.
Kat

K and S said...

Hi Tamakikat,

When you go to the supermarket, look in their seafood section, you will see mushi (steamed) & boiled octopus legs. I usually buy these to use in different recipes.

The first time I had octopus was in Hawaii growing up, it is often served as beer chasers to the adults, but for us kids as snacks before dinner.

Take care.
Kat

Rowena said...

I'll take bi bim kook soo sauce over lemon juice and oil anytime! Looks really tasty, although I bet it would've been even better with the watercress (another veg that I haven't eaten in awhile) :-(

Tamakikat said...

Thanks Kat,
I'll give 'tako ryouri' a go. And those bagels:)

TK

K and S said...

I think I will re-try this when I see watercress in the store, Rowena.

I hope you like them Tamakikat :)

Take care you two.
Kat

Anonymous said...

Your version of the tako salad sounds very good!

K and S said...

Thanks Lori, I hope you get a chance to try it :)

Take care.
Kat