Sannakji
Sannakji or sannakji hoe is a variety of hoe, or raw dish, in Korean cuisine. It consists of live nakji (hangul: 낙지, a small octopus) that has been cut into small pieces and served immediately, usually lightly seasoned with sesame and sesame oil. The nakji pieces are usually still squirming on the plate. It can also be served whole.
Sannakji is the ultimate food dare for risk-takers wandering through Korea. This delicacy consists of fresh, wriggling pieces of live baby octopus, drizzled with sesame oil. After minimal preparation, it is served immediately. Although it looks quite frightening, the octopus itself is merely chewy and relatively tasteless.
Sannakji, small live octopus, is one of the most unique foods I have ever munched on. Sannakji is one of the rare foods that actually fights back when getting eaten, so you can’t take this food lightly. Sannakji is a small octopus prepared alive, and generally the tentacles are the meal. Strangely enough, the tentacles still have some kick in them, so you must chomp, chew, chomp and then chew some more. These post-mortem squiggling tentacles take a few human lives with them every year. Unfortunately, some exotic eaters do not chew the tentacles enough and they end up getting suffocated, but the number is quite small so no worries. The dish is unique to say the least, but the best part is the adrenaline rush.
The dish is typically served with sesame seeds and sesame oil to add flavor and allow for easier assess into the stomach. The flavor is quite mild and bland, but the texture is out of this world. Imagine a tiny, slimy, slippery and chewy wormesque creature that does not want to go the course, and instead relentlessly clinches to your mouth, tongue and cheeks. To help add more flavor to the dish It usually eat mine with gochujang (red chili paste), so that a little heat can be brought into the dish.
History: Octopus has been eaten in most Asian countries for centuries and is only now becoming popular in many European countries due to the increased availability of imports from the Pacific and Morocco. It is not as common a dish in the United States with the exception of Hawaii and the states that border the Pacific ocean.
Eating
Because the suction cups on the arm pieces are still active when the dish is served, special care should be taken when eating sannakji. The active suction cups can cause swallowed pieces of arm to stick to the mouth or throat. This can also present a choking hazard for some people, particularly if they are intoxicated.
Prevalence
Sannakji is served in Korean restaurants that serve sliced raw fish, but it also can be found at bars as a snack to accompany alcoholic beverages, such as soju.
Danger Several incidents of choking on Sannakji have been reported. One of the latest incidents occurred in Gwangju
How to Eat ?
1. In Seoul, go to Noryangjin station on subway line 1.
Noryangjin market is one of the largest fish markets in Korea. Search for baby octopi as you stumble through a maze of assorted shellfish, flatfish, blobs of sea cucumber, and pushy vendors. Negotiating prices through miming can be tiresome. It’s best to bring a Korean phrasebook or learn the numbers and how to say, “how much is it?” (Ol-ma-ae-yo?) You may even strike a better deal. Make sure to clearly specify how many octopi you would like. It is often sold in pairs. Restaurants within the proximity of Noryangjin fish market specialize in preparing any type of fish that you hand them. They will charge you for the preparation, a.k.a. chopping the octopi to pieces with scissors and sprinkling some sesame seeds on top. They will also give you some side dishes and dressings, including, but not limited to: sesame oil, different types of lettuce, and kimchi, Korea’s famous pickled cabbage. The price will be less expensive than eating out at a seafood restaurant.
2. Dip the tentacles in sesame oil.
When the waiter serves your long awaited plate of octopi massacre, dip the tentacles in sesame oil before chewing. The suction cups on the tentacles are still active due to residual nerve activity, even though the octopus has been chopped to bits. Sesame oil prevents the tentacles from sticking to your mouth or throat.
3. Chew thoroughly.
To avoid choking, chew each piece thoroughly. Choking on partially-chewed pieces of sannakji has led to many deaths, especially when intoxicated. Some expert sannakji eaters enjoy the feeling of squirming tentacles gliding down their throats, but novice eaters must be cautious.
4. Ask for the remaining octopi to be cooked.
Eventually the wiggling will lessen, and the restaurant will gladly cook the remaining octopi.
5. Next time, eat the entire octopus at once.
Traditionally, Kando fighters would eat an entire baby octopus wrapped around a set of chopsticks to give themselves strength. Sannakji can be served whole; however, it’s difficult to fit an entire octopus in your mouth, let alone chew all the thrashing tentacles.
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Sannakji is live baby octopus, called "nakji" in Korean, that is cut into small pieces and served with sesame oil. Sannakji is a popular offering of the food carts on the streets of South Korea. Sannakji is considered a "hoe," or raw dish.
Sannakji is served on a plate with sesame oil and sometimes with a sesame seed garnish. The pieces of sannakji are still moving on the plate when served, and since the suction cups are still active, care must be taken when swallowing or else the pieces can get stuck in the mouth or esophogus. The pieces must be chewed thoroughly before swallowing to prevent choking.
In Korea and other parts of Asia, sannakji is considered a delicacy and is eaten by most of the population. It is also eaten in parts of the United States, particularly Hawaii, Washington and Oregon. However, there is some controversy regarding the eating of octopus, since octopus is considered to be one of the most intelligent invertebrates, with IQs estimated to equal that of a common house cat.