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Octopus Salad (Tako Su)
4.6 from 56 votes

Octopus Salad (Tako Su)

Octopus Salad, or Tako Su, is a refreshing Japanese appetizer combining thinly sliced boiled octopus with crisp cucumber, rehydrated wakame seaweed, and a tangy rice vinegar-based vinaigrette. The flavors balance sweetness, acidity, and umami from soy sauce, complemented by the toasted sesame seeds for a subtle nutty note. The salad is chilled before serving for a cool, light dish.

Prep Time
15 mins
Additional Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 4
Calories: 40 kcal
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Japanese

Ingredients

  • ¼ lb octopus sashimi, boiled
  • ⅓ English cucumber (or 1 Japanese cucumber)
  • ½ Tbsp dried wakame seaweed
  • ½ Tbsp white sesame seeds toasted
For the Vinaigrette
  • 3 Tbsp rice vinegar unseasoned
  • 1½ Tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • ⅛ tsp kosher salt Diamond Crystal brand

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Gather all the ingredients.
  2. Slice ¼ lb octopus sashimi (boiled octopus) very thinly.
  3. With ⅓ English cucumber, peel the skin lengthwise in a striped pattern, peeling ½ inch (1.3 cm) wide strips alternately with unpeeled sections. With this method, the cucumber slices have some decorative dark green accents and a little bit of extra crunchiness. Cut the cucumber into small pieces (I use the Japanese cutting technique called rangiri).
  4. In a small bowl, soak ½ Tbsp dried wakame seaweed in warm water. Let it soak for 15 minutes. Drain and squeeze the liquid out. Set aside.
  5. In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients for the vinaigrette: 3 Tbsp rice vinegar (unseasoned), 1½ Tbsp sugar, 1 tsp soy sauce, and ⅛ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
  6. Add the cucumber, octopus, seaweed, and ½ Tbsp toasted white sesame seeds and toss them all together. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.
To Store
  1. You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 2–3 days.

Nutrition Information

Calories 40kcal (2%) Carbohydrates 3g (1%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 14mg (5%) Sodium 107mg (4%) Potassium 138mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 69IU (1%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 31mg (3%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 40

% Daily Value*

Calories 40kcal 2%
Carbohydrates 3g 1%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 14mg 5%
Sodium 107mg 4%
Potassium 138mg 3%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 69IU 1%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 31mg 3%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.