Octopus Carpaccio with Black Olive Sauce

I learned a fascinating thing today. I’ve been wanting to make an octopus carpaccio with a black olive sauce I once had from a Peruvian chef at a conference but could not figure out how to slice the octopus into a paper-thin circle so I called on my new friend Fernando of Don Fernando in Lima. He instructed me to cook the octopus and put it in a smallish bowl, weigh it down and refrigerate.
Evidently it releases a very thick gel that makes it stick together and can even be sliced on a meat slicer!
As you can see, my first attempt at mastering the technique was not completely successful. What I did wrong: I did not put the octopus in a small enough container. It should have been really tight and I should have wrapped it tightly in plastic wrap and then weighed it down. But still I was able to make some paper-thin slices.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Peruvian
Servings 4
Calories 351 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Sauce

  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • 2-3 tablespoons black olive tapenade
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground white or black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Mix all ingredients together.

Nutrition

Calories: 351kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 20gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 267mgPotassium: 15mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 27IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 1mg
Keyword octopus
NOTE: Nutrition values are approximate and for informational purposes only. Values do not include optional or alternate ingredients, nor do they include the nutritional values for any secondary recipes that may be listed in the ingredients.