Polpo, Moscardino

There is a famous stand in the middle of the Vucceria market in Palermo, Sicily where you can eat freshly cooked and locally caught octopus from an old aluminium pot. Into the boiling water goes the fresh, creamy coloured octopus and after a few minutes out it comes, extremely tender and an appetising pinky-red. It is cut up on the stall so that it can be eaten straight away. It does not need to be accompanied by any sauces or spices, nature has already provided all the essential ingredients.