Mauritian Octopus Curry (Cari Ourite): The Authentic Recipe

In Mauritius, octopus curry — cari ourite — is an institution. Octopus is the treasure of the lagoon: brought in from the fishing, patiently tenderised, then left to simmer in a curry fragrant with spices and caripoulé. It's the dish of the seaside, of family picnics and big weekend tables — the one whose aroma fills the whole yard.

Here is the authentic Mauritian octopus curry, explained step by step for 4 people. And above all, the move that makes all the difference: tenderising the octopus.

The ingredients (for 4)

• 1 kg octopus (ourite), cleaned and cut into pieces
• 3 to 4 potatoes (optional), peeled and halved
• 2 onions, sliced
• A crushed garlic-and-ginger paste (a generous tablespoon of each)
• 2 to 3 ripe tomatoes, chopped
• 3 tbsp curry powder (seafood massala)
• A few caripoulé (curry leaves)
• 1 sprig of thyme
• A handful of fresh coriander, chopped
• Oil, salt

The recipe, step by step

1. Prepare the octopus. Clean the octopus (rinse it well, remove the central beak) and cut it into even pieces — tentacles and body.
2. Tenderise it. This is the key step. Two traditional methods: either beat (pound) the octopus to break down the fibres, or boil it for 20 to 30 minutes in gently simmering water, then drain. This is what leaves it melting rather than rubbery.
3. The onions. Heat a little oil in a pot and fry the sliced onions until golden. Add the garlic-and-ginger paste, the caripoulé (curry leaves) and the thyme, then let it become fragrant for a minute.
4. Roussir the curry. Loosen the curry powder with a little water to make a paste, add it to the hot oil and cook over medium heat, stirring. This step — roussir (searing the curry powder in hot oil) — is what wakes up the spices: the oil should colour and smell wonderful, but never burn.
5. The octopus. Add the octopus pieces. Coat them well in the curry paste and let them cook for a few minutes, stirring, so they take on colour and flavour.
6. The tomatoes. Add the chopped tomatoes, crush them with a spoon and let them melt down into a thick, red sauce.
7. The potatoes. If you're using them, add them now, season with salt, then pour in water to halfway up and stir.
8. The simmer. Cover and simmer gently until the octopus is tender — allow 40 to 50 minutes (less if it was boiled first). The tip of a knife should slide in without resistance.
9. To serve. Off the heat, scatter over the fresh coriander. Serve hot with white rice and vegetable achards (pickles).

The secrets of a good octopus curry

Tenderise first. A poorly tenderised octopus stays rubbery, and no amount of simmering will save it. The old folks beat it against the rock; at home, a good going-over with a rolling pin or a 20 to 30 minute pre-boil in gently simmering water does the same job. Once tenderised, it melts into the curry.

Roussir without burning. This is the move that makes a curry. The curry powder has to cook in the hot oil until it releases its aroma — but if the oil is too fierce, the spices burn and turn bitter. The trick: loosen the powder with a little water before you add it, and lower the heat the moment it catches on the bottom.

Gentle cooking. An octopus curry can't be rushed. Over low heat, the flesh has time to grow tender and the sauce time to thicken. Too fierce a heat tightens the octopus; kept gentle, it stays soft and full of sauce.

Why fresh octopus changes everything

You can make a curry with any octopus. But with a really fresh one, the dish moves up a level. As with any fresh fish in Mauritius, freshness is what makes the flavour: clean flesh that tenderises as it cooks and keeps that clear taste of the sea. It's the foundation of an octopus curry with real character.

• Fresh octopus, subject to the day's catch — Rs 1,200/kg indicative, VAT included.
• Vacuum-sealed, cleaned, ready to cook.
• Price confirmed by weight, before delivery — every octopus weighs a little differently.
• Fancy a change of seafood? Discover our prawns and shrimp too.

Pay on delivery (cash or Juice MCB) · nothing is paid online · free delivery from Rs 1,500, anywhere in Mauritius.

Frequently asked questions