Octopus · 蛸 (たこ)

Tender yet bouncy, with a subtle sweetness. Japanese-style boiled tako is a textural masterpiece.

Sushi tako is massaged — sometimes with grated daikon — for the better part of an hour before boiling, turning rubbery muscle to silk.

Category: ikatako · Season: summer (peak Jun, Jul, Aug) · Origin: Japan (Akashi), Mauritania, Morocco

Preparations

Nigiri 握り · Sashimi 刺身 · Temaki 手卷

Shun 旬 — a field guide and tasting diary for sushi lovers.