Step 1

Wash the octopus well under cold running water. If not prepped already, remove the beak, ink sac and eyes, or ask the fishmonger to do it for you. Put into a large pan with the bay, onion, carrot, celery and peppercorns.

Step 2

Pour over cold water, until the octopus is covered. Cover with an upside down saucer if it won’t completely submerge. Bring to a boil, and simmer gently with the lid on for 1 – 1½ hours. Check after 1 hour by testing one of the tentacles with a knife. It should easily go through without much resistance. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool completely in the liquid.

Step 3

Drain the cooled octopus and cut into bite-size pieces. Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, garlic and oregano in a large bowl with some salt. Add the octopus pieces, and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

Step 4

Heat a griddle pan to high, and drain the octopus from the marinade. Sear the pieces for 2-3 minutes until heated through and starting to crisp and char. Transfer to a serving plate and sear the remaining pieces. Squeeze over the lemon, add a pinch more oregano and a little sea salt to serve.