Chef-approved Father’s Day recipe

To celebrate that special father in your life, ditch the chicken and beef for some octopus or salmon. Aris Athanasiou, executive chef at Movenpick Hotel and Residences shows us how to prepare that perfect meal

Grilled Octopus

Octopus meat is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Just what you need for a healthy heart.

Ingredients:

2 kg fresh octopus                                                                                                  3-4 bay leaves                                                                                          10 gm black pepper corn                                                                           40 ml red wine vinegar                                                                               150 gm of mirepoix (lightly cooked onions, celery, and carrots)                         150 ml olive oil                                                                                          20 gm fresh oregano                                                                                  200 gm red long pepper                                                                      10 gm smoked paprika                                                                         60 gm fennel                                                                                        10 gm star anise spice for flavour                                                                                  

How to do it:

In a saucepan, add the mirepoix, bay leaves, peppercorns, vinegar, star anise, fennel and octopus.

Let the mix boil for about 35-40 minutes.

Allow the octopus to cool then cut each tentacle and marinate it for several hours in olive oil mixed with star anise, fresh oregano, olive oil, smoked paprika and pepper.

Cook over a high grill. When cooked through, it is ready to serve.

Drizzle a mix of extra virgin olive oil, fresh oregano and red vinegar for elevated flavour. It is best served with fava beans. Enjoy.

Salmon Caesar Salad

Like octopus meat, salmon is rich in protein and inflammation-reducing omega-3 fatty acids.

Ingredients:

200 grams Salmon fillet Olive Oil Onion Fennel Parmesan cheese Avocado Orange marmalade Microgreens Cherry tomatoes Edible flowers Lemon Salt Pepper Pernod (an anise-flavoured liquor) Brandy Star anise (flavouring agent) Bread croutons Romain Lettuce

Procedure:

 Sear the salmon before marinating it with lemon, star anise, fennel, olive oil and Pernod. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.

In the meantime, wash the lettuce and leave it to drain. In a bowl, add lemon juice, avocado, a pinch of salt and pepper and let it rest for two minutes before making a puree of the mix.

In a bowl, add the croutons, lettuce, cheese, salt, pepper and micro greens. Cover it and let it rest.

Place the salmon in a hot pan and add the brandy and Pernod. Seal the pan. After five minutes, add some onions, olive oil, fennel, lemon juice, star anise and cook for two minutes.

Then place it in an oven for another five minutes before plating. Drizzle some olive oil and garnish with cherry tomatoes. 

Finally, place the orange marmalade on top of the salmon with a slice of lemon wedge and avocado puree on the side. Enjoy.