Drowned Octopus

This is a common way of cooking octopus in the South. The gentle heat and long simmering makes it very tender indeed. Sometimes no liquid at all is added and the octopus simply stews in its own juices. This recipe works best with a small octopus, cooked in a covered terracotta pot. Fishermen drink the resulting liquid for medicinal purposes. It is, however, wonderful mopped up with bread.