AI-generated image
Octopus sausages (tako-san wiener)
Little frankfurters cut into octopus shapes and pan-fried until the legs curl
Open a Japanese child's bento almost anywhere in the country and there is a good chance of finding tako-san wiener: small frankfurters with the bottom half cut into legs, which curl out like an octopus when they hit a hot pan. They go in on school-trip days and sports days, often with a tiny sesame-seed face. They contain whatever your sausages contain; check the label for wheat, milk and soya. For children under 5, cut the finished sausages in half lengthwise to avoid a choking risk. Chef's tip: cut the legs only halfway up the sausage, or the head splits off.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- ½ tsp neutral oil
- 12 black sesame seeds (optional)for eyes
- 1 tbsp tomato ketchup (optional)to serve
Shop this recipe on Amazon
Links open Amazon in a new tab. As an Amazon Associate, WhatToEat.Today earns from qualifying purchases.
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: On a board, cut each of 6 small cocktail frankfurters lengthwise from one end up to halfway, then turn and cut again to make 4 legs. Cut each leg in half again for 8 thinner legs.
Step 2: Heat ½ tsp neutral oil in a small frying pan over a medium heat. Add the sausages lying down and roll them for 3–4 minutes, until the legs curl outward and the skins are lightly browned and the sausages are piping hot all the way through.
4 minStep 3: Stand them up on their legs to cool. A common mistake is cutting too far up: the 'head' needs to be at least half the sausage to hold together.
Step 4: Press 2 12 black sesame seeds into each head for eyes with a damp cocktail stick. Serve with 1 tbsp tomato ketchup.
Step 5: If it is going in a lunchbox, let it cool completely first (no more than an hour at room temperature), close the box and pack it with an ice pack. Leftovers keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 160 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 2 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does octopus sausages (tako-san wiener) take?
- About 10 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.
Rate this recipe
Sign in to rate and review this recipe.
You might also like
Yaki onigiriGrilled rice balls
Yaki onigiri (焼きおにぎり) are rice balls grilled until they form a crisp, toasty crust, then brushed with soy sauce glaze. They are eaten all over Japan, at izakaya, at barbecues and from the freezer section, as a snack or with miso soup. The inside stays soft and steamy while the outside crackles. Best eaten hot, straight from the pan. Chef's tip: let the shaped rice balls dry for 10 minutes before they go in the pan. A drier surface forms a better crust and won't stick, and the glaze goes on only at the end so it doesn't burn.
Miso soup
Miso soup (味噌汁) is drunk every day in homes all over Japan, at breakfast as well as dinner, beside a bowl of rice. The base is dashi; this vegan version uses kombu and dried shiitake instead of bonito, which gives it a deep, rounded flavour. Silken tofu and wakame seaweed are the classic fillings. It takes ten minutes; just remember not to boil the miso. Chef's tip: add the miso at the very end and never let it boil. Boiling kills the miso's fresh, fermented aroma; Japanese cooks say the soup should only 'smile', with the surface barely trembling.
Pfälzer SaumagenStuffed pig's stomach
Saumagen is the pride of the Palatinate, served at wine-village festivals and family dinners from the Haardt hills to Ludwigshafen. A cleaned pig's stomach is stuffed with diced pork shoulder, pork sausage meat, potato and carrot seasoned with marjoram and nutmeg, poached slowly, then sliced thick and fried until crusty. The stomach works only as a casing and is ordered from a butcher; if you can't get one, bake the same filling in a covered terrine in a water bath. Serve with sauerkraut and mashed potato. Chef's tip: fill the stomach only three-quarters full, or it bursts as the potatoes swell.
German
Perfect for:Kids' birthday party