

Polvo (Octopus)

- 2 onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- 4 baby octopuses of about 250 g each (softer and faster to cook) or one 1 kg
- octopus
- 0.5 dl of vinegar
- 2 dl of beer
- chili
- salt
- 1 dl of palm oil
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 ripe tomatoes

Thoroughly wash the octopus and cut it into medium pieces. Place in a pot together with the palm oil, chopped onions, chopped garlic, peeled, chopped and deseeded tomatoes, the bay leaf, and crushed chili. Cover and let cook on low heat, stirring occasionally. Add the beer after 15 mins.
Once the octopus is cooked, add the vinegar and let it boil for a bit longer with the pot covered. Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning.
Serve with white rice or, as is traditional, with “Papas de Farinha de Mandioca” (Cassava Flour Paste). To make the latter, mix 500 g of cassava flour with 5 dl of water and a bit of salt in a pot. Cook on medium heat for about 10 mins, stirring constantly.

Serve with white rice or, as is traditional, with “Papas de Farinha de Mandioca”


Other recipes
From mains to sides, and from desserts to snacks: our Ambassadorial community has the perfect recipe for every occasion. Check out all the recipes in our diverse collection and discover how our Ambassadors cook their favourite dishes!


Green Gazpacho, Miyan Taushé soup, and Hibiscus Refresher
Green Gazpacho is a cold soup prepared with cheap, locally sourced vegetables and herbs. It is the brainchild of the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Ketil Karlsen. He serves the soup ...


Algeria Couscous
This recipe was kindly contributed by Smaїl Chergui, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security.


Banitsa (Cheese Pastry)
If you prepare the filo pastry from scratch, mix the milk, salt, sugar, eggs, yeast and flour and allow the dough to rise. Otherwise, buy ready-made filo sheets. Tear small ...