Octopus

An octopus is a cephalopod with an oval, soft body and 8 long tentacles-arms (up to five meters), a ring surrounding the animal's mouth. On the entire inner surface of the tentacles are suction cups, with the help of which the octopus captures its prey, and also easily attaches itself to underwater stones and corals. By the way, there are also taste and touch receptors on the same suction cups, in connection with which this mollusk distinguishes the taste of food with the help of "hands. "

This, terrible at first glance, inhabitant of the deep sea is a success among culinary experts around the globe. The sweet-tasting octopus meat resembles a squid, but it is significantly softer. It is quite interesting that the octopus is the only cephalopod that uses not only the body, but also the tentacles, which are prepared separately. During the cooking process, octopus meat takes on a creamy color with a slightly pinkish tinge. In terms of calories, the octopus is slightly inferior to its marine counterpart - 82 kcal per 100 grams.

As a rule, for culinary purposes, it is customary to use small octopuses, which are called mosquardines. Regarding the methods of preparation, we can safely say that there are an incredible number of them. They can be boiled, fried, extinguished, baked or marinated. In addition, whole octopus carcasses are often stuffed, and fish mince, vegetables, legumes and cereals are used as filling. A variety of salads and snacks, filling for pancakes and pies are made from boiled meat of this clam.

In Japan and China, it is believed that to reveal all the beneficial properties of an octopus, it should be consumed not just raw, but almost alive, when the tentacles, cut into pieces, still twitch. In addition, in Japanese cuisine, the meat of this clam is one of the most popular components for sushi. And not only Asian cuisine boasts numerous recipes for octopus dishes - it is often used in Spanish and Italian cuisines. For example, in Portugal there is such a dish - feijoado, which includes an octopus stewed with vegetables, red beans and burning spices. In general, knowledgeable connoisseurs of this marine delicacy advise enjoying deep-sea shellfish stew without a side dish, in order to feel on themselves not only the gastronomic, but also the useful properties of the octopus.

Benefits of octopus

The meat of this mollusk contains a huge amount of protein, healthy macro and trace elements, vitamins, as well as phosphoric and omega-3 acids, so the benefits of octopus for human health are obvious. Zinc, which is part of it, is able to slow down the aging processes of the skin, strengthen the immune system, optimize the activity of the pancreas and improve the functioning of the organs of vision and the brain.

In particular, the benefits of octopus have a beneficial effect on human health with its regular use due to the content of vitamin B12, which promotes the synthesis of myelin. This antioxidant in acute and chronic hypoxia enriches the body's cells with oxygen.