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Braised Octopus and Choy Sum

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Braised Octopus and Choy Sum

Braised Octopus and Choy Sum (gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, low-fat, low-carb) photo

Low-Amine Braised Octopus and Choy Sum (gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, tomato-free, low-fat, low-carb).

Low-amine braised octopus sounded like a good dinner idea at the time. Two hours later, I was proven right. It was delicious. The octopus and choy sum is served in a Spring Onion broth that balances the saltier low-amine “soy sauce” flavor a bit and makes it more delicate. This dish can be served split into two main components (as shown above), or served all together. I would have preferred to use fresh octopus, as it is both tastier and lower in amines, but I was not able to. If you can get fresh octopus, do so!

2 lb octopus, cut into small pieces.

20 pcs. baby choy sum (or baby bok choy)

2/3 C soy sauce substitute

2 medium yellow onions

5 Tbsp ginger slices, divided (3T, 2T)

5 C vegetable, chicken, or beef broth

10 cloves garlic, pressed

1 Tbsp butter or safflower oil

1 bundle green onions

2 kombu pieces

1/2 tsp nigella seeds (optional)

"Soy sauce" braised octopus and onions, served in spring onion broth (photo)

“Soy sauce” braised octopus and onions, served in spring onion broth.

  • Make soy sauce substitute, if you haven’t already. I suggest making a double batch so that you have some for later, but it’s up to you.
  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  • Cut one onion into rings and line the bottom of a dutch oven with the rings. Add about 3 Tbsp ginger slices on top.

Onion and ginger in the dutch oven for low-amine braised octopus and choy sum (photo)

Onion and ginger in the dutch oven for low-amine braised octopus and choy sum.

  • Add octopus on top of the ginger and onion, and pour 2/3 C soy sauce substitute over the top. Close the dutch oven and put it in the oven. Set timer for 1 hour 20 minutes.

Octopus (for lower amine, please use fresh octopus) (photo)

Octopus (for lower amine, please use fresh octopus)

"Soy sauce" poured over the top of octopus, ginger, and onion (photo)

“Soy sauce” poured over the top of octopus, ginger, and onion.

  • Roughly chop remaining onion, and cut 2 Tbsp ginger into matchsticks.
  • Heat butter/oil and cook garlic until starting to brown. Remove from heat.
  • In a larger pot, add onion, ginger, kombu, garlic, and broth. Bring to a boil and reduce to a low simmer. Cover.

Kombu for spring onion broth (photo)

Kombu for spring onion broth.

  • When the timer goes off, add well-washed choy sum to the dutch oven. Return to the oven for another 40 minutes.

Low-amine choy sum to be added to "soy sauce" braised octopus (photo)

Low-amine choy sum to be added to “soy sauce” braised octopus

  • Strain broth out using a colander, and return to the pot. Keep broth on low and warm.
  • Wash green onions and cut off roots. Discard roots.
  • Slice green onions on a sharp diagonal. 5 minutes before the octopus is done, turn heat on broth back up, and add green onions. Cook until lightly tender.
  • Scoop out octopus and choy sum and serve in a deep dish or bowl. You can separate the choy sum from the octopus and onion, or serve it together.

Low-amine baby choy sum sprinkled with nigella seeds, surrounded by spring onion broth. (photo)

Low-amine baby choy sum sprinkled with nigella seeds, plated floating in spring onion broth.

  • Ladle the spring onion broth around it, and serve with a sprinkle of nigella seeds.

Low-amine "soy sauce" braised octopus and choy sum with a spring onion broth (photo)

Low-amine “soy sauce” braised octopus and choy sum with a spring onion broth.

AMINE BREAKDOWN:

Very Low Amine: baby choy sum (or bok choy), onion, ginger, garlic, green onion

Low Amine: octopus, soy sauce substitutebroth, butter / safflower oil

High Amine: kombu pieces

Unknown: nigella seeds (optional)

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47.606209 -122.332071Published in:

on March 9, 2012 at 3:25 pm  Comments (10)
Tags: Cooking, food, octopus, recipes, scallion

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