Poached Baby Octopus

Ingredients

• 2  bay leaves 
• 2  carrots chopped
• 3 ribs celery chopped
• 2 inch ginger fresh sliced
• 0.5 bunch parsley fresh
• 4 sprigs thyme leaves fresh
• 6  garlic cloves crushed
• 1 bunch green onions chopped
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt 
• 1  optional: lemon 
• 1 stalk lemongrass chopped cut in half and
• 1  lime 
• 2 cups merlot 
• 4  baby octopus cleaned
• 1  cranberry-orange relish 
• 20  peppercorns 
• 1 sprig rosemary 
• 7 pieces star anise 

Equipment

• pot

Directions

1. Fill a large stockpot with 1 gallon water.
2. Cut lemon, lime, and orange in half, and squeeze juices into pot; add rinds. Stir in carrot and next 13 ingredients. Bring to a boil; add octopus. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 90 minutes.