Tako 蛸

Octopus sushi is eaten either raw or boiled. Raw octopus has a moist, springy bite and a slowly emerging umami. Boiled octopus offers a very tender texture quite different from raw, and matches soy sauce wonderfully.

This octopus is, in fact, a muscle-training food on par with squid. It is rich in taurine, said to help relieve fatigue. On top of that it is very high in protein and very low in fat, so it is healthy. Vinegared rice is a carbohydrate, another element your muscles need to grow. Unless you are in a cutting phase, octopus sushi looks set to be a valuable piece for building muscle.

Two kinds are mainly distributed, common octopus (madako) and giant Pacific octopus (mizudako), though much is also imported.

Origin: All over Japan Season: Varies by region