Octopus Crudo with Pickled Strawberries & Blood Orange Vinaigrette

Crudos always feel like restaurant-only food—those beautiful, expensive dishes that seem impossible to recreate at home. But once you find a great sashimi-grade supplier, you’ll never stop making them in your own kitchen.

A delicious crudo is simple yet elegant, requiring just a few high-quality ingredients and the right tools to create clean and precise slices. We picked up precooked sashimi-grade octopus from Ten Itchi in NYC and turned it into this stunning Octopus Crudo with Pickled Strawberries & Blood Orange Vinaigrette—a dish that looks and tastes like something from a top-tier restaurant.

Why Crudo is the Ultimate Showstopper at Home

Few dishes have as much wow factor as a crudo. The delicate, thin slices of seafood, vibrant garnishes and perfectly balanced vinaigrette create an impressive presentation with minimal effort (and cost).

Unlike ceviche, crudo isn’t cured in citrus—this allows the natural flavor of the seafood to shine, enhanced only by a few simple ingredients. With the right knives, creating the perfect crudo is far easier than you think.

Octopus Crudo with Pickled Strawberries (Serves 1-2)

Ingredients

For the Pickled Strawberries

• 🍓 3 strawberries

• 🍶 2 tbsp white wine vinegar

• 🧂 Pinch of salt

For the Crudo

• 🐙 0.3 lb precooked sashimi-grade octopus

• 🍊 1 small blood orange

• 🍋 ½ lemon

• 🫒 1 tbsp olive oil

• 🥄 1 tbsp pickling liquid from strawberries

• 🌊 Pinch of algae (or any) salt

• 🌿 1 tbsp chives

Step-by-Step Preparation

1. Pickle the Strawberries

Use the Waltz Paring Knife to remove the tops, then the Pulse Utility Knife to slice them. Place the sliced strawberries in a small bowl with white wine vinegar and salt. Let sit while preparing the rest of the dish.

2. Slice the Octopus

Use the Essence Chef’s Knife to cut the precooked octopus into thin, even pieces. A sharp, well-balanced knife ensures each slice is clean and delicate.

3. Make the Vinaigrette

In a small bowl, whisk together blood orange juice, lemon juice, olive oil and a bit of the strawberry pickling liquid until emulsified. 

4. Assemble the Crudo

Arrange the sliced octopus and pickled strawberries on a chilled plate. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and sprinkle with algae salt and chopped chives for a pop of freshness.

💡 Pro Tip: This dish is even better eaten from a bowl with a spoon—so you don’t miss a drop of that amazing dressing!

Final Thoughts

Crudo is a dish that has the power to turn minimal effort into maximum impact—a true restaurant-grade plate that’s easy to make at home. With high-quality ingredients and precision knives, you can create stunning presentations that impress every time.

Try this Octopus Crudo with Pickled Strawberries & Blood Orange Vinaigrette, and you’ll see why crudo belongs in your home kitchen just as much as your favorite restaurant’s menu.