Webfoot octopus shabu-shabu that can be easily made at home during summer

Benefits of webfoot octopus

What is commonly called 'jjukkumi' is correctly spelled 'jukkumi.' In Gyeongsangnam-do, it is also called 'jjugemi,' while in Jeollanam-do and Chungcheongnam-do, it is called 'jjukkaemi.'

Like the long-arm octopus, the webfoot octopus has eight arms attached to its body, but it is relatively small at about 20 cm, compared with the former's maximum length of 70 cm. Unlike the long-arm octopus, which has one notably long arm, its eight arms are nearly equal in length and about twice as long as its body.

Webfoot octopuses inhabit rocky crevices in shallow coastal waters about 10 m deep and are mainly active at night. Because they spawn from May to June, their peak season is actually March to April, when they taste better than in autumn. In summer, webfoot octopus shabu-shabu is prized for its refreshing broth and can soothe a palate tired by the heat.

How to make webfoot octopus shabu-shabu

Shabu-shabu is easy to prepare at home, and using webfoot octopus gives it a refreshing flavor without requiring special attention to the broth, offering two benefits in one dish. Here is how to make webfoot octopus shabu-shabu.

1. Make incisions in the head of the webfoot octopus, turn it inside out, and remove the entrails and impurities.

2. Insert a finger into the head area to remove the eyes.

3. Rub with flour and salt, then rinse thoroughly under running water.

4. Remove moisture from the prepared webfoot octopus and prepare ingredients according to preference, such as beef for shabu-shabu, shrimp, clams, napa cabbage, bok choy, garland chrysanthemum greens, mushrooms, kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), fish cakes, and dumplings.

5. To make the base broth, add 1 L of water, 2 tablespoons of noodle soup base, anchovies, kelp, green onions, and radish to a pot and bring to a boil.

6. Once the broth boils, add the vegetables and webfoot octopus, cook them through, and eat them.

A seafood delicacy, webfoot octopus shabu-shabu

[FamTimes = Reporter Kim Young-ji]