Octopus Salad Recipe: Fresh Spanish Summer Tapa, Tender & Smoky (64) 2026

This octopus salad is one of the freshest, easiest dishes you can put on the table, and it is made for summer. The combination of tender cooked octopus with colorful peppers, red onion, and cherry tomatoes makes it not only flavorful but also very attractive on the plate.

There is no cooking involved beyond slicing and mixing, so the whole thing comes together in about 15 minutes. Even better, you can make it ahead, keep it in the fridge, and enjoy it the next day as a delicious starter or tapa.

The simple white wine vinaigrette lets the flavors of the octopus and vegetables come through without masking them. Serve it well chilled for the best taste.

Ingredients for Octopus Salad

Serves 2

• ½ green bell pepper
• ½ red bell pepper
• ½ yellow bell pepper
• ½ red onion
• 5 cherry tomatoes
• 300 g cooked octopus
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

How to Make Octopus Salad Step by Step

1. Chop the Vegetables

Cut half a green pepper, half a red pepper, half a yellow pepper, half a red onion, and 5 cherry tomatoes into very small, similar-sized pieces.

2. Slice the Octopus

Cut 300 g of cooked octopus into thin slices, making sure all the slices are about the same thickness.

3. Put the Vegetables in a Bowl

Add the chopped vegetables to a bowl and mix them together.

4. Add the Octopus

Add the sliced octopus and mix all the ingredients well.

5. Make the Vinaigrette

In a small bowl, add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add 1 teaspoon of white wine vinegar and 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, then whisk until the vinaigrette emulsifies.

6. Mix the Vinaigrette with the Octopus and Vegetables

Pour the vinaigrette over the octopus and vegetables and mix well so everything is coated in the dressing.

7. Serve

Put the octopus salad in the fridge and chill until mealtime. For the best flavor, enjoy it cold, ideally the next day.

Tips for the Best Octopus Salad

Customize the Vegetables

Besides the ingredients listed, you can personalize this salad with other vegetables such as carrot or zucchini, or even add pickles like gherkins, spring onions, or capers, according to your preference. The versatility of this recipe means you can adapt it to your taste while always keeping a dish full of flavor and color.

Keep the Vinaigrette Simple

The vinaigrette for this octopus salad is very simple, made with vinegar, salt, a little pepper, and extra virgin olive oil. This way the flavors blend and enhance each other without being masked, giving you a delicious salad that is perfect at any time.

Make It Ahead

It is best to prepare it in advance, ideally a day ahead, and keep it in the fridge so the octopus soaks up the flavor of the vegetables and the vinaigrette.

30 Top Recipes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a balanced lineup ready to go: simple comfort dishes, well-known international plates, and desserts that make everyone happy.

On nights when I want something rich and indulgent, my picks tend to be this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this elegant Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever something fruity and soothing sounds good, this classic French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I keep coming back to.

For quick breakfasts and lighter plates, these fluffy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe are a regular in my rotation, along with a satisfying Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe and these fresh Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, this simple Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I like to prepare.

When tapas and Mediterranean flavors are calling, I move between this bold Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, creamy Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and refreshing Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is also a favorite of mine to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more special.

For filling lunches and cozy dinners, these are the ones I always point people toward: this comforting Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, rich Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and creamy Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. And if I'm after something even heartier, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the ultra-comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street food and party-style plates are another mood I cook for often, and that usually means this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, flavorful Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crunchy Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These easy Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another one I like to set out as a no-fuss appetizer or snack.

And when I'm building drinks and a full spread for company, dinner often gets paired with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this bold Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the table, this tangy French Remoulade Sauce recipe works great on the side, and this striking Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe makes a beautiful finish.

Additional Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of testing and fine-tuning recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the strongest dishes rely on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely keep coming back to—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more special for friends and family.

On the dessert side, the rich and silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I reach for when I want something elegant without much effort. Another sweet favorite is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something fresh and unfussy is what I'm after, I usually reach for the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a perfectly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For heavier comfort food, I'm quick to suggest the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the quick weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Traditional dishes from around the world are another thing I love to share, among them the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the classic Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is a category I turn to often too, since it saves time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my comforting Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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