Japan is an island nation surrounded by bodies of water. As a result, the Japanese have learned to enjoy many kinds of seafood in our cuisine. One seemingly exotic seafood is the octopus, my main ingredient for today’s recipe. Outside of Japan, you can find octopus enjoyed in Asia, the Mediterranean, and South and Central America. Japanese don’t eat octopus at home too often, but it’s one of the key ingredients we use for sushi, takoyaki (fried octopus balls), oden (hot pot), and in an octopus salad called Tako Su (たこ酢).
What is Octopus Salad (Tako Su)?
Tako su is a type of sunomono (酢の物) or vinegar-based dish commonly served as a side dish to the main meal. For this salad, we combine thinly sliced octopus with crunchy cucumber, dried wakame seaweed, and toasted white sesame seeds, then toss it in a light and tangy Japanese vinaigrette. In my opinion, the contrasting colors and textures is a celebration of what nature provides us and a beautiful example of what good food is all about. Making octopus salad at home is surprisingly easy if you can find sashimi or sushi-grade octopus (タコ刺身) in a Japanese grocery store. Even though we call it sashimi- or sushi-grade octopus, it’s actually boiled and ready to eat. To check if the precooked octopus is fresh, the skin should be dark purple and the flesh should be white. The texture is a bit chewy, but when sliced thin, adults can consume it easily. I know octopus may not be for everyone, but I hope those of you adventurous eaters will give this salad recipe a try. It’s yummy and low in calories, making it a delightful side dish to serve especially for a midsummer dinner.
Ingredients You’ll Need for Tako Su
octopus sashimi (boiled octopus) English cucumber — substitute Japanese cucumbers, or try Persian cucumbers; for a variation, you could add avocado or other vegetables dried wakame seaweed toasted white sesame seeds — for the salad and the tangy dressing rice vinegar (unseasoned) sugar soy sauce kosher salt
How To Make Octopus Salad
You’ll find this dish served in Japanese restaurants, but it’s easy to make at home with my simple instructions:
What To Serve with Tako Su
You can serve Octopus Salad as a refreshing appetizer or part of a complete Japanese meal. Here are some suggestions:
Main: Miso Cod, Baked Chicken Katsu, Simmered Beef and Tofu, or Teriyaki Salmon Sides: Spinach Ohitashi, Okra with Ginger Soy Sauce, or Pickled Tomato Rice: Japanese Mushroom Rice, Japanese Corn Rice, or Takikomi Hijiki Gohan Soup: Kabocha Miso Soup, Tonjiru (Pork and Vegetable Miso Soup), and Cold Miso Soup
Check out 15 Easy Japanese Side Dish Recipes for more options for salads and sides! Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
