Polbo feira/ Galician Octopus

O polbo feira un prato tpico de Galiza e bsico na sa gastronoma consistente

en polbo fervido enteiro e servido con sal, aceite de oliva e pemento. O seu nome provn de
que era unha comida tradicional nas feiras e romaras, nas que se serve en pratos de madeira
(mis doados de transportar), anda que agora van desaparecer por motivos de hixiene.
Polbo feira (Octopus market style) is a typical Galician dish which consists of a whole boiled
octopus served with salt, olive oil and paprika. It owes its name to the dish prepared at the
markets and outdoor gatherings where it was served on wooden dishes which were easier to
carry; however, these dishes are beginning to disappear due to hygiene issues.
Era un prato moi comn nunha poca en que os transportes eran moi lentos e o peixe fresco s
estaba dispobel preto da costa, porn o polbo seco (como o bacallau ou o congro) chegaba a
todas partes.
It was a very common dish at a time when transport was extremely slow and fresh fish was only
available near the coast and thus, dry octopus and other fish like cod was sent everywhere.

Ingredientes/Ingredients
1 polbo de 1 kg/ 1 octopus 1kg

pemento picante/ hot paprika


pemento doce/ sweet paprika

aceite de oliva/ olive oil


sal groso/ sea salt

Prato de madeira/ wooden dish


escarvadentes/ toothpicks


Preparacin/ Preparation
Hai que mazar o polbo para que non estea duro, anda que hoxe en da simplemente se
conxela./ Beat the octopus so it is not hard (or freeze it beforehand)

Unha vez mazado ou desconxelado, ponse a ferver auga abundante nunha pota de cobre.
Cando estea fervendo, cllese o polbo pola cabeza e mergllase unhas cantas veces na
auga (metndoo e sacndoo) para que non solte a pel./ Once beaten or unfrozen, we bring
water to bol in a copper pot and grabbing the octopus by the head we plunge it in and out
of the water a few times so that its skin peels off.

Dixase cocer de 40 a 50 minutos, dependendo do tamao do polbo./ Allow to boil for 40 or
50 minutes depending on the size.

Unha vez cocido, escrrese e crtase cunhas tesoiras en anacos de 1 cm. de groso./ Once
it has boiled we cut it with some kitchen scissors into 1 cm thick pieces.

Srvese nun prato de madeira aliado con sal groso, aceite e pementn./ It is served on a
wooden plate with olive oil, paprika and sea salt.

Dependendo do forte que o queiramos, engdese o pementn picante, doce ou
mesturado./ The mixture of paprika will depend on our palate.




O tradicional comelo con escarvadentes. Acompase, s veces, de patacas cocidas que se
se cocen na propia auga do polbo adquiren unha coloracin rosada.
Traditionally, it is eaten with toothpicks. It is accompanied, at times, by boiled potatoes which
are prepared in the water used for the octopus thus giving them a pinkish colour.


A preparacin do polbo nas feiras e romaxes facana mulleres que se chamaban "pulpeiras".
Nas vilas e cidades existen locais especializados denominados "pulperas".
Its preparation at the markets and outdoor gatherings would be done by women called
pulpeiras. In many towns and cities in Galicia we can taste this dish in specialized restaurants
also called pulpeiras.



Refrn/Saying
Se empeza o polbo a flotar, ameaza temporal.
If the octopus begins to float, you had better get off your boat.





Festas/ Festivities